The record-union., 1898-03-10
THE CAUSE OF HUMANITY.

The San Francisco Evening Post, -
in calmly and dispassionately review
ing the Cuban situation. says that un-
there is strong in-setting current OF
public opinion in America against the
Spanish policy in Cuba. 1t is conceded,
says our contemporary. that Spain has
cause of complaint against us because
of the material aid some of our people
have given the insurgents.
This is true in a sense. but it is a
fact that such complaining cannot run
against the Government. The Federal
Government to the Both of December
last had expended over $2.000,000 in
watching, catching and preventing the
departure of flibustering expeditions
With a coast line which Spain could
easily fence in with her ships and gun
boats and marine guards, how can she
expect the United States to head off
all nlibusters. when she is herself in
capable of preventing one in ten from
erecting landings after they enter her
waters?
However, if it is conceded for argu-
ments sake that the American Gov
ernment has not done it's whole duty
in this matter, this could afford no pos
sibie excuse to Spain for her method
of conducting in Cuba what she insists
is not a war, but an assertion of legal
force against an uprising of assassins,
and the bushwhacking tactics of bands
of rioters. 1t cannot in any respect
mitigate her crime of Furnishing the
Cuban non-combatants with starvation,
Imprisonment, torture and death
The Post" well says that Spain has
made strenuous efforts to prevent the
Quitting of flibustering expeditions,
and admits that these labors have
proved our good faith as a govern
ment, and are in accord with the peace
able relations existing between the two
governments. If, then, we are not To
be held to account for the acts of indi-
viduals after we have exercised all due
diligence in duty-doing towards Spain,
we are justified in turning to that ma
tion and asking in the name of COM
mon humanity If its conduct of the war
In Cuba can be justified before the
world?
We have no cause whatever to con-
ceal from Spain the fact that Amer
ican sentiment is preponderating that
the conflict on the island should be
Drought to a close by Intervention,
since Spain has demonstrated her in
ability TO pacify the island A condition
Of anarchy, says the Post" certainly
obtains there in the eyes of the people
OF this Republic, who are observing the
struggle with more than anxiety. This
anarchical condition has prevailed
with brief periods of quiet, for some
thirty years The commerce of the
island has been wrecked, our own
trade with it nearly destroyed, the in
terests of our people there resident 50
harmed that indemnity cannot respond
10 the damage. Beyond all this, as our
contemporary well puts it, there is the
fact that the conflict in Cuba has dc
generated into an iahnmen ana -es.x
barous warfare" The thinking people
of this nation have long since decided
that it is our duty to recognize the
belligerency of the Cuban insurgents.
Even Spain could urge no valid objec-
1ion 10 such recognition, for ii would
be based upon the custom of nations.
and finds ample precedent in the recog-
milton of the Southern Confederacy by
the Spanish Cortes."
We think this is sound, and that il
reflects public sentiment is unques-
toned. But at the same time, until
the Maine incident is cleared away
We are disposed TO believe that d.
mand for recognition OF the insurgents
would embarrass the administration
But that will be off of the calendar in q
few days more. so far as the import
ant facts involved are concerned. The
United States will then be free to in
iervene, but such intervention will be
based, indeed can only be grounded
upon the cause of humanity. upon the
right Of a people to war against, or