Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-04-15

humanity, has succeeded the blood
thirsty Weyler.
The order of concentration of the
Cuban people, which produced such
terrible mortality from starvation, has
been revoked and those people are
returning TO their homes.
Food has been freely carried in for
the relief of those who require it.
An armistics throughout Cuba has
been declared, and if hostilities con.
tinue it will be by the insurgents
and not by the Spanish.
These changes have been accom-
plished for the relief of suffering
Cuba and they are not small.
The question of the blowing up oil
the Maine, we have always insisted
and still do insist, is utterly removed
from the Cuban question. and to ouI
mind is both at home and abroad to
be judged from an entirely different
standpoint.
We are free to confess that the
domestic troubles of Cuba have never
moved us for an instant nor indeed
any body we know to take up arms
against Spain; but the destruction Of
the Maine may become a casus belli
in which the whole people of the
United States would be united as
one man. We think that Mr.. Nc
Kinley has been wise in widely sepa.
rating these two subjects.
We have no reason to believe that
the destruction of the Maine will not
be explored with every effort to find
out the very truth of it; and should ii
appear, as we believe it will, if the
truth can be discovered Ia Spain is
either expressly Or implieGSy respons-
ible for it, a reckoning will be had
according to the usagcs of civilized
nations, which should satisfy every
American that this country is willing
and able to protect its citizens in
every portion of the world. Until,
however, responsibility is affixed on
Spain, she cannot and should not be
held as convicted of this heinous of
fence, any more than jefferson Davis
should have been held responsible
and convicted Of the assassination OF
Mr.. Lincoln by the fanatical Booth.
There is an intense desire on the
part of the American people to learn
every fact connected with the Maine
disaster and that they will upon
proper cause yiudicate the rights OF
Americans need never be doubted.
So far, so right, Mr.. Mckinley, but
the wisdom of armed Intervention by
this country in order to make peace
in Cuba and to establish a stable
government there is quite another
question, and our country cannot
move too cautiously in this matter.
We have had some experience in
reeonstructing States, and our sue
cess has not been such rs to warrant
our government in undertaking the
business gratuitously for our neigh
bors. The effort to harmonize the
differences between the Union ele-
ment and the Confederates, and the
white people and the negroes in the
Southern States under the acts OF
March, 1867, was fraught with dis
astrous results, and the Ku Klux was
the first Offset to the combination of
carpet Dagger and negro, then ballot
box stuff'ing to negro suffrage, and
after thirty years Louisiana is still
struggling with the burdens which
were put upon her then by people
who did not understand her situation.
Other Southern States who have not
already done so are preparing them
selves for a struggle against the
effects of that unwise legislation.
In view of our own experiences it
seems to us simple madness for the
United States government to under
take to reconstruct Cnba regardless
of Spain and to establish "a stable
form of government" there for the
people whose very language we do
not understand, who are of different
race, habits, antecedents, customs,
prevailing religion and education;
with absolutely nothing in common
with ourselves except that both are
human beings.
The ferocity with which Colonel
Ruiz was murdered by his own for
mer friend because he proposed to
him that autonomy should be con-
sidered, shows the temper of those
people and the hatred which the
insurgents have for the Spanish 10y
alist. Yet we are told that the prin-
cipal towns are for the most part in
habited by those who are loyal to
Spain and who would feel that they
were being turned over to certain
destruction if the insurgents were put
in power. 1t has been said of the
Spanish loyallists that their property
has already been appropriated and
they themselves sentenced to death
by the insurgents, and the execution
of both purposes only awaits the in
tervention of the United States and
the independence of Cuba.
1t seems to us that if the Spanish
government should to-day pull down
its flag from every staff from which
it floats in Cuba, and authorize
General Blanco to tender to the
United States the Office of restoring
peace to Cuba that this government
should decline the offer without thanks
not merely as something which our
government is wholly incapable of do
ing, but as something that it is un-
willing to incur the responsibility of
XNA0%SM O