The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-20
THE COWSRDSI

THE EDWARDS!
The blood of every man with the least
admixture Of honesty and patriotism
boils at the rampant cowardice of
those who pretend to represent this
people in the national house Of repre-
sentatives. There was a scene there
the other day that should cause every
American head to hang in shame The
cuban question was precipitated upon
the house by proposition to attach to
one of the appropriation bills as a rider
the senate resolution recognizing the
belligerency of the insurgents. There
upon there arose a howl and a commo-
ton that makes men wonder what sort
of degenerate fools these fellows be-
lieve their constituents to be, when
they pracce around and paw the air in
this fashion only to exhibit their own
arrant cowardice and lack of all the
qualities of manhood.
We sympathize with any rebellion
against the despotic rules Of the house.
as far as that is concerned, against
the suppression of freedom of debate
there and the absolute control of one
branch of congress by the occupant Of
the speakers chair. We sympathize
with the Cuban people also, and no
voice would be raised more strenuously
than ours in support of any PROPOSE
ton or policy that aimed to be helpful
or hopeful for them. But the members
of the house were neither freemen as
serting their independence, nor honest
men exhibiting their sincerity. Their
interest was exhibited in a buncombe
resolution designed only for political
effect and carrying with it serious dis
advantages to the Cuban patriots. All
they wanted they got out of it, which
was a chance to below forth their al
legged love of freedom and to declare
what great things they were going to
do little later on, with or without the
consent of Gar Reed, unless he should
permit unlimited freedom Of debate on
some lingo platitude.
What a pack of miserable towards
the whole lot of them are whenever
this Cuban question is raised! Suppose
this resolution recognizing belIigerency
had passed, what would it have done
for Cuba? 1t would not have added
man to her force in the field or put a
rifle in the hand Of any patriot, or Of
fered a mouthful of food to the starry
ing Wretches who are dying there by
thousands. It would not have given
them any moral support worth having,
for the whole world knows already that
the sympathy of the United States is
theirs. 1t would have Increased their
difficulties greatly by preventing such
material assistance in the way of re-
cruits and munitions of war as have
undoubtedly made their way secretly
into Cuba from our southern coasts.
This paper pellet which congress would
shoot from it's pitiful pop-gun against
the Spanish power is a device which
might we'll make glad the heart of
Weyler himself We doubt if there is
a single member of congress, low as the
average intelligence there may be, who
does not know this What he
hopes is that his rant and fustian will
be taken for patriotism; and, without
mourning responsibility by supporting
a bold or manly policy, he can pose
upon the platform as lover Of liberty
and friend of the oppressed.
We have more respect for Weyler
himself, more for the Spaniards who
are rioting in the streets Of Havana
because not enough blood has yet been
spilled to safe their appetites, than
we have for the poltroon who profanes
the very name of liberty by shouting
for a worthless paper recognition, in
imical to the interests of Cuba herself,
for the sole purpose of advancing, as
he believes, his own political interests,
and deceiving people into a belief that
he is true American, instead Of the
miserable thing that he confesses him
self to be. If we really sympathize
with Cuba, if we believe what these
congressional takers say about it.
there is but one thing for US to do and
that is step into the breach and say to
Spain, by the message of the lannon's
mouth, that this war of murder and ex-
termination must cease. If we cannot
do that, let us observe the grace of
silence. Least of ALL let US follow the
towards role that is SO dear to the
congressional heart and seek to make
political capital for worthless men by