The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-26
Presidents Plan Of
Cuban Intervention

From Walter Wellmans Washington
Correspondence in the Chicago Times
Herald
r. IRST, an intervention of mercy;
III second, an intervention of force.
IP This is the programme OF the Unit
III ed States government, with the
president and the congress cooper
atinE, which has now been outlined. In
other words, the United States will feed
the starving first and fight afterward II
necessary. The programme is to be put
into operation almost Immediately. An
appropriation of $780, 900 will be made by
congress within few days to feed the
starving people of Cuba. and this relief
will be administered by the United States
government. At first the supplies will be
sent forward by merchant ships and their
distribution intrusted to our consuls and
the existing relief agencies, but If any re-
sistance or trouble is encountered, then
they will be forwarded by naval vessels
| and their distribution be given into the
| hands of the officers and marines of our
ships.
Moreover, Spain has consented to this
| intervention of mercy. She has assented
| to relief in Cuba at the hands of the
| United States government. For the first
| ''aIe in the history of nations q poue er
| that pretends to hold its head high among
| the family of nauons has permitted an
| other power to come into it's territory and
| feed its own people. Spains admission
| that such intervention of mercy is neces-
| sary, that she cannot herself feed the
| starving 100000 of her own subjects, is
practically a surrender of sovereignty.
| No nation that expects to enjoy the re-
| spect of the world can admit another
| power to feed It's people while it claims
only the right to rule with the bayonet
| and the taXgatherer. From such an in
| tervention of charity to an Intervention
! of force, if force shall be necessary, it
| is but step. and that Is precisely what
will follow in this instance.
! It need not be imagined that Spain will
| ingly gave consent to this interposition
! of the strong hand of the United States
| government to save Cuban women and
| children from starvation. The statesmen
| at Madrid are not tyros in diplomacy,
| and tLey were not unmindful of the moral
ard International effect of such step.
| They reanZe that once the United States
| gees into Cuba to feed, It will stay there
10 fight. If lighting is necessary in order
| to solve the problem of humanity there
| presented. That Spain has consented to
| such course is evidence enough of the
! desperate straits to which that nation
is reduced, and of the swagger and
| traYado which the world must ascribe
| to her reputed Willingness to engage in
| battle with the great power before which
she now bends the knee so humbly.
%
Nor is this all. The plan contemplates
! genuine effort TO solve the humanity
and industrial problem which exists in
Cuba. Instead of merely feeding the re-
concentrates who have been penned up
| in the fortified places by Spain's cruel
policy, the United States will encourage
the men and women who are able TO re-
turn to their homes and farms and start
anew the battle of life. AS Senator Proc .
| tor pointed out in his senate speech
which was read by the president himself
before it was delivered, the poor people
cannot start up their farms without some
thing to start them with. They need
tools, food. seed TO plant. All these the
United States proposes to provide them.
In other words. the United States will
step in and endea'or 70 undo with char
ity the evil work OF Spain's cruelty, to
restore agriculture in Cuba, to take the
people out of the horrible pens in which
Spain has confined them, and TO start
anew the wheels of industry which shall
make them self-supporting.
O.
This governments errand of mercy fol-
lows naturally and as a matter of course
tlose upon the heels of the presidents $
to relieve Cuba's woes by private con-
tributions. In thus moving along the
lines of Christian charity, first by pri-
vate and then by official agencies, the
| United States is giving the world les.
son In tolerance, generosity and patience
! These steps are taken at n time when
the minds OF our people are natur-
ally flled with sorrow for our
head sailors, when our whole coun,
try is inclined to acts OF venge,
ance now that II Is known officially the
Maine was destroyed by Spanish crime
But instead Of revenge the United States
moves forward with food and clothinl
and medicines and tools which shall alt
stricken people in saving their lives and
reclaiming their farms from the waste OF
| Spain's wicked war.
This splendid object lesson in Christian
government will not be lost upon tn,
world, but II may be lost upon Spain
The government at Madrid has assenteC
to relief at the hands OF our government
bnt ~ Mndr1 'hsy nay no. know tha