Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-11
The Duty of the Hour.

Congress, Dy the PRESIDENTS message,
las now been called into the Cuban bust
ness-not suddenly or passionately, but
formally and for the purposes Of definite
and final action. 1t is the body for action
1t represent tho sovereignty Of the people.
1t carries out their wishes through legisla-
ton, and it Is directly answerable to the
people. e..
In certain sense therefore 1t may be
said that the case of Cuba has passed
from the domain Of diplomacy ard negotia-
ton to that of action. The President has
acquitted himself well of his task. He
has heard Spain with patience and replied
to Ter with ability, calmness and candor
He has likewise met the European powers
with dignity and conservatism not easily
to be overpraised. What is the duty there
fore which Congress-, now that it enters
into the case, owes to the President, with
whom 1t is to cooperate; to the country
to whom 1t Is responsible, and to itself?
Clearly, to make good, promptly and in
some thoroughly effective form, the propo-
sition to which the government is commit
ted. that to secure peace for Cuba Spain
must resign her sovereignty absolutely in
the island.
This latest move of Spain in the direction
of an armistice will hardly receive serious
consideration either in Cuba or in the
United States. 1t is too transparent a
humbug. What nonsense it is for Spain to
talk about cessation Of hostilities" on
her part in Cuba! Why. there have been no
hostiHties in Cuba on her part against any
armed force in months! General Blanco has
done nothing In the field since his arrival
in the island. His troops have been cooped
up in the cities and towns, and In little
forts along the trochas, afraid to venture
out. The insurgents ride at leisure and
pleasure over whole provinces. Spain has
no terrors in Cuba except for the people
whom she has starved into a state of
helplessaess and object misery, And yet,
as if she were performing an act of mercy,
suspending thunderbolts, and hating a
conquering army on its march. she comes
forward at the last moment and proclaims
though not daring to use the word-an
armistice. explaining to her people that
she Of her condescension grants to the
rebels in Cuba breathing space in which
to make their submission.
What is this but repetition of the trick
Spain played on the Cubans in 1873 She
lad been fought then to her knees She
was helpless. She was playing for time
and second wind She promised the Gu
bans good government. They believed her,
and let her rise to her feet again. She de-
ceived her own people. She not only did
not give the Cubans good government, but
actually made her rule on the island Sc
verer and bitterer than ever.
She has been fought to her knees again,
and for the same C. use. She is helpless
She has resorted again to lying and decep-
ton. Does she hope to take the American
people in now, as she did her own people
twenty years ago?
The Cuban insurgents have repeatedly re-
fused to cease fighting in order to listen
to any proposals that were not based upon
the independence of the island from Span
ish rule. Is there airy one who believes
that the United States will either itself ap-
ply pressure to them or permit Europe t.
apply pressure to them to compel them to
submit again to Spanish oppression?
Spain in Cuba Is an affront to humanity,
and a menace to peace there and in the
United States. She must go.