The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-03-02

ONCE. as ne intended TO bme 90 con-
gress i'm place OF Corliss. On he come?
Watch him. His friends ~ that he il
a conner.
Our Relations with Svsip.
The relations between /he govern
ments of Spain and the I lifted States
have been strained for mo 'e than two
years. The people Of both lations seem
want TO get at each other. In warlike
grapple. President Cleveland and
President Mckinley have stood firmly
for peace.
International lawyers at the national
capital claim that there has ileen at no
time a cause for war betwesh the two
countries. although the people. and
many of their representatives. seem TO
be eager for trouble. Who i 10 blame
for this condition of affsirs3 That is
question which is calmly discussed in
the higher official circles. sind the an
swer is not difficult TO disclose.
The government OF Spain has always
been brutal towards her dependencies
For example. let US look at the history
of Peru. ON the afternoon of Aug. 20.
1888, Pizarro peacefully entered the
capital of Peru with his Spanish army.
He was met Ivy the Inca, the beloved
Atahualpa with followers bearing rich
and costly golden gifts for the strange
white men. The Spaniards strangled
Atahualpa in the public square and
slaughtered many Of the innocent men
who had come peacefully to welcome
them. The slaughter was led by the
priest. Valerde, and he was afterwards
made bishop of Cuzco. The big bandit,
PiZarro, was made marquis of Spain.
The atrocious vilIainy was rewarded by
the government OF Spain.
Wherever the Spaniards went in the
new world they left pathways marked
with the blood of innocent aborigines.
That was called conquest. and the gov
eminent of Spain rewarded her free
hooters with titles, riches and numerous
honors and marks OF approval Every
one Of the Spanish dependencies In the
new world has been wrested from Spain
because of her unciviliZed conduct,
Cuba alone remaining under her domin-
ion.
Barbarous Rule In Cuba.
The administration Of affairs in Cuba
has always been severe and unusually
barbarous. The natives have rebelled
again and again. Three years ago
rebellion began which has continued TO
this day. The rebels, or revolutionists,
have captured the entire island. except
ing only Havana and a small portion Of
the contiguous province. They have
conducted civilized warfare, and no out
rage has been committed by them.
What has the course of Spain been
towards these insurgents? II has been
a course of brutality which shocks the
world and awakens the sympathy OF
every nation. The people of the United
States have long felt ii TO be their duty
to interfere and compel the Spaniards
to surrender Cuba. But have we the
right. and is ii our duty to intervene?
That is the question.
We know that Spain has not fought
battles with the purpose Of putting
down the rebellion. On the contrary.
we know that Spain has driven inno-
cent and weak women, children and in
valid men into places OF concentration.
surrounded them with soldiers, and
starved them TO death. Yes, starved 10
death more than 200 coo of these people.
II is horrible. 1t is A.rbarous. 1t is
causing civilized mankind TO blush for
Spain and her government.
Senator Mason 6f Illinois and others
in the senate and in the house OF repre-
sentatives have publicly expressed the
sentiments of a great majority OF our
people. There can be no doubt of that.
The senate has passed a resolution
providing recognition of the belligerent
rights of the Cuban insurgents The
house OF representatives has not been
permitted for eight months, 10 take up
that resolution for consideration. Presi-
dent Mckinley and Speaker Reed have
co-operated in this matter. Meanwhile
starvation and rapine continue, al
though the Spaniards have been obliged
by public sentiment TO suspend some of
their atrocities. But the Spanish spirit
still pervades the government or CUBA.
Typical of the Spirit Of His Country.
II was typical of the spirit of Spain
that the Spanish minister at Washing
ton should go before our officials with
bows and smiles. Sinking like con-
sumate hypocrite while at the same
time he was writing letters 10 Spain
denouncing our national administration
and sneering at our president. One or
his letters was captured or intercepted.
and the Spanish minister was obliged
to leave Washington without delay. 1t
was necessary for Spain to disavow the
sentiments expressed by her minister.
but you will find that the writer of the
offensive letter will receive honors and
emoluments from the Spanish govern
ment, Just as Pizarro and Valerde, the
murderers. were honored for their das-
tardly work.
1t was typical OF Spanish treachery
that the battleship Maine should be en-
tertained i'm Havana harbor; that her
officers should receive every polite at
tention. and that while the sailors and
marines were peacefully sleeping in
what was supposed to be peaceable
port, the vessel should be blown up.
completely destroyed. and the blue
Jackets sent suddenly to eternity. No
body here OF any consequence believes
that our battleship was lost by acct
dent.
Rut under the rules of international
law. recognized by all nations. we have
had no occasion to go to war with
Spain under all OF these trying circum-
stances. President Cleveland was
right and President Mckinley has been
right But both of those presidents