The record-union., 1898-05-26
THE MAGNITUDE OF THE TASK

The call for an additional force Of
volunteers to the number of 10000 con-
firms the belief that has been with
thinking men for some weeks that the
Government authorities are convinced
that we have undertaken a task much
greater than was at first supposed by
the mass Of our citizens.
That the people had been led to think
hhe invasion Of Cuba to secure it's paci-
6cation would amount to but very little
more than an excursion to give the
insurgents arms and ammunition to
overcome the Spanish troops, while we
relieved the distresses of the reconcen-
1rados was due in largest measure to
the unthinking chatter Of a certain
class of newspapers. It is now seen,
however, that President Mckinley and
Elis Cabinet were more far-seeing than
they had credit for being; that the
delays charged to them and which had
begun to develop harsh criticism and
sharp reproach in the mouths of the "on
to Havana" ardents, were the delays
OF necessity ana wisdom.
It is probable that the President from
the outset advised by the best military
judgment the nation has, was fully con-
WINGED that the invasion must be upon
9, scale the magnitude of which very
few contemplated, and for which we
were not at all prepared. He probably
also knew that the insurgent strength
had been much overestimated, and
that the assistance to be received from
the rebels would be inconsiderable
though of high value. Nor does that
fact in any respect initiate against the
principle upon which we justify our in
tervention. That the Spanish misrule
affected tens of thousands rather than
many hundreds of thousands in no wise
affects the principle involved.
We are therefore to understand that
no invasion Of Cuba with an inconsid-
cradle force is probable. That the fact
that we have to this date since the
declaration of war been unable to ex-
tend relief to the reconcentrados, and
that presently the last of them will
have been sent to their ditch-graves, in
no respect affects the principle upon
which we entered into this contest.
Prior to the declaration Of war we were
able to afford the sufferers some slight
relief, but the disposition Of Spain to
inhibit even that was too evident to be
ignored. Nor would continued effort
under the flag of peace to save these
wretched beings from the horrors of
death by starvation have tended one
whit to pacify the island and modify
the barbarity Of the Spanish system of
warfare and the clear purpose of ex-
Termination
The United States needs no plea, how
ever, Of justification in the eyes Of
the humane world What we have to
do with in the present is the Cuban
campaign. That this is to be more ex-
Eended and long lived than the many
supposed is now evident. But that it is
not to be prosecuted with vtgor because
we have taken time for suitable prep
aration, and for properly equipping an
Invading force, and behind it a reserve
of equal proportions, Is not thinkable
The Government is proceeding with
the caution, deliberation and fixed de-
termination that 1t should; that inspires
respect for it at home and abroad; that
proportionately will make the people
nistrustful Of the clamor of such of the
press and the inf1ammable and incau-
tious as make the Government officers
targets for sharp criticism because
Cuba has not been invaded, overrun
and pacihed on the instant.