The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-03-25

OF these demands will be grounded upon
Christianity and humanity. The civil
lied world will have to endorse them
and approve their enforcement. Rests
tance by Spain could only be regarded as
barbarous and if war should result the
responsibility would rest upon Spain and
not upon the United States.
~
The President will not ask Congress to
divide the responsibility with him. He
will ask the cooperation of Congress,
not division Of responsibility. In this
respect the Presidents position has here
tofore been misunderstood and misrepre-
sented. He will assume all the respt nsi-
bility, asking only that Congress CO.
operate by furnishing the ways and
means for action.
M
1t is the intention of the President to
go still further in the way of affording re-
lief for the suffering reconcentrados in
Cuba and to provide not only food and
clothing but seeds for the planting of
crops. To make this form of relief
effective it is necessary that the Spanish
authorities on the island shall cooperate
with this government in encouraging the
reconcentrados to return to their farms
and to the cultivation of the soil. There
is great doubt whether Spain will con-
sent to relief taking this form. To do so
would be to reverse the policy initiated
by Weyler and continued by Blanco-
of concentrating the non-combatants in
the cities and towns of the island. In all
probability that is the rock upon which
the two governments will finally split.
Spain is very apt to regard this sort of
interference as equivalent to consent for
American occupation of the island and
American control of the civil govern
ment. 1t is likely that she will resist it.
Even interference in the form of food,
clothing and seeds, rendered in the name
of humanity, will embarrass Spain and
may be treated by her as an offensive
act. Yet the civilized, Christian nations
of the world could not withhold their
approval of such interference by the
United States without belying their
claims to civilization and Christianity
Therefore if they did not proffer their
sympathy with. they would at least be
compelled to maintain silence about this
course on the part Of the United States.
*.*
The President remains firm in his pol
icy as outlined in these dispatches here
tofore and of which intervention for
humanity's sake is the keystone. Cuban
independence appears to be the newt
able result of that policy. But actual
suffering will be relieved at any cost.
That is the first consideration of the
President. If it proves necessary to take
possession of Cuba by armed force and
Cuban independence results, civilized
nations will have to approve our course.
If Spain offers any resistance to any step
for the relief Of the starving thousands
of Cuba she will be on the defensive be-
fore the bar of civilization. In this fact,
made fact by President McKinley's
shrewedlY conservative course. lies the
strength of the American position and
the weakness of SPANS.
~
If Admiral Sicard is furloughed as
contemplated the command of feet will
devolve upon Commodore Schley, who
holds with "Fighting Bob Evans that a
war with Spain will largely increase the
use of the Spanish language in Hades in
the near future.
EDWARD WRIGHT BRADY.