The record-union., 1898-03-13

would have the rights of prisoners OF
war. Possibly, also, it would stiffen
Cuban credit.
He holds that it is unreasonable
to ask of the Cubans as a condi-
ton precedent to recognition of bellig-
erency that they shall prove that they
have an established government oc-
cupy a seaport and engage armies in
general battle, because the insurgents
have conducted the war in the only
way consistent with success. 1t would
weaken them to garrison a capital,
hold a seaport or fight pitched battles.
without compensatng benefits.
But he thinks even recognition of
belligerency would not complete the
full measure of our duty. The preset-
walton of material interests. and even
national and political influence, have
been recognized as warranting inter-
vention. peaceful or armed, among civ
iliZed nations Russia interviewed IN the
Hungarian revolt. England, Austria,
Germany, France and Russia were in
vited to concert with the Netherlands IN
reducing the revolving Belgians, but
they interfered to uphold the insurgents
and aid them in establishing govern
ment; this to restore the equilibrium
Of Europe and stop the effusion OF blood
For seventy-five years the Powers have
interviewed in Turkish affairs to ''regu-
10 AonT1icitiOnS nv
European States in Africa have been
made to enlarge commerce, and for no
other reason.
We taught Cuba that rebellion against
wrong is commendable: we won, and
every day Cuba contrasts her condition
with ours Our people own Soo,0OO.U)o
of property in Cuba, and have mort
cages on as much more. This is all IN
peril. A trade of So, OO0,000 is being
destroyed, and our claims for damages
are becoming more and more fragile.
| We made an offer regarding Cuba IN
! 1913 and it was rejected; again in
1858 we made another offer. with like
result. Then the Ostend Commission
issued it's famous manifesto, that we
should annex Cuba if Spain continued
| her refusal to sell. The idea Of the
ultimate acquisition of Cuba has been
cherished by our greatest statesmen
from the beginning of our Republic.
Our interests on the isthmus and our
assertion of the right to control
isthmian transit, no matter by whom
the ways are built-and France has
resumed her Panama Canal scheme
have been constant. When in 1870
Mexico and Colombia proposed to in
wade Cuba, we gave them notice that
| the United States would not permit u
desolating war in the island, because
! it was against our interests. President
Cleveland warned Spain that if blood
shed and the ravages of war long con-
tinued on the island of Cuba, the Amer
lean people would be so aroused that
the Government would have to inter
! fere A year or more has elapsed since
then, but the ravages still go on;
while climatic diseases and nonsuccess
have weakened Spain, her treasury has
/ been emptled, while the insurgents re-
main belligerent, active and full of
courage.
He denies that the Cubans are a
mongrel people, or that they are turbu-
lent, asserting that no people ever hal
better cause for revolution. the oppres-
sion of the American colonies by Eng
land being bagatelle in comparison
with the tyranny and injustice of Spain
towards Cubans. who have been held
in subsection to satisfy rapacity and
greed. The ten years war closed in
1878, but the promised reforms then
put forth never came, and there is no
reason to believe new ones will.
The Cubans are desperate, carry &
burden of taxation no people ever felt
so onerOus. are governed by foreign
officials, and are shut out from public
employment, the fields of their ambition
cruelty circumscribed, and as justice
is sold their rights are never secure.
Finally. no failure at self government
in Cuba can be so deplorably bad as
the misgovernment Of the island by
Spain. The very recent form of au-
tonomy has been as much rejected by
Spaniards in Cuba as by the native
! Cubans themselves From all this and
much more the Senator gives it to be
understood that in his opinion the
American Government should inter-
vene in the Cuban matter in the inter-
ests Of humanity to stop the flow Of
blood, the deaths by starvation and
cruelty, and in protection of our own
material and suffering interests
j. T. Young, a very thoughtful and
able writer. in the Annals of the
| American Academy" has made lucid
the truth concerning decentralization IN
France. He points out that centraliza-
tion by which a few have been ena-
bled to seize upon the administrative
machine, does not date from Napoleon,
but came over from the old regime
This centralism, he points out, explains
much in French national life that has
been aScribed to fickieneSS and tho