The record-union., 1898-03-25
A NEW PLAN OF INTERVENTION.

It has been telegraphed Ihat CABINET
officers and Senators have impressed
the President with new way out OF, Or
into, the Cuban trouble, and that he
is inclined to adopt it. The fact that
a bill has been introduced to appropri-
ate S250.O00 for relief of starving Gu
ban pacifcos gives color to the story
Assuming it to be verify, let US ex-
anime it.
It is held that the independence cf
Cuba cannot be recognized beca"se
there is as yet no sufficient government
established by the insurgents. There
fore, to attain what is desired, and not
to be the aggressor in a possible war
with Spain, the following plan is pro-
posed: Declare the intention of the
United States Government to be to
send ample supplies to the starving peo-
pie of Cuba. and to land and distribute
them as this Government may choose,
without any interference or direction
on the part of Spanish authorities.
Second, to give Spain immediate no.
tice that the barbarities in Cuba must
cease. and that this Government will
employ any means it chooses to enforce
such declaration. There are, it is
claimed. good reasons for these plans.
They would be based upon humane
grounds only, and thus command the
sympathy and respect of all civilized
peoples. They would, in the second
place, cast the burden upon Spain of
any declaration Of war, and her only
reason for it would be-no other being
possible-that our interference in hui
name spirit and to enforce observance
of the rules of civilized warfare would
be unfriendly and an act of violence.
Now, let the other side of the ques-
ton be examined To extend the aid
necessary to stay starvation and death
1t is conceded would be humane, and
should be done. But it is Spanish duty
to do this. It was Spanish barbarity
that created the need for relief; it is
the duty of Spain to undo her wrong
so far as is possible. If now the people
of the United States are to be taxed
to support the starving pacificos with
out at the same time stopping the So
called war on the island, but which
is not conducted according to the de-
mands Of civilization, will be to play
directly into the hands of the Spaniard
Spain would. or should, be exceeding
glad to accept the proffer. The recon
centrados would still be in the towns
and cities at our cost, while she pro-
ceeded with renewed vigor to prosecute
the campaign against the insurgents
in arms. What better could she ask
than that? Instead Of putting an end
to barbarities we would be promoting
the Spanish cause against the Cubans.
True, the new plan includes a demand.
accompanied by threat of force, that the
barbarity shall cease. But it has been
accomplished; the deed is done. Spain
can well promise that there shall be no
more Of it, since there are no more
people in the central and western
States Of Cuba to congregate in the
towns and within the military corrals.
But, it is asked, shall we therefore
stand idly by and see these wretched
creatures starve to the last woman and
child, since they can not now be re-
turned to their desolated homes, where
starvation would assuredly be their
fate7 Certainly not What, then,
should be done?
The answer would appear to be SIM
pie. Compel a cessation of hostilities
in the name Of humanity, and contem-
poraneously feed the dying multitude
If Spain cannot be compelled to
do it. Assuredly, we are at fault
IN having permitted this shame to go
on SO long. We should have done more
than protest when Weyler's brutal or
der Of concentration and starvation of
women and children was issued and
enforced. We will never be rid of the
reproach of that neglect But by no
means viii it comport with the spirit
Of the American people that we shall
become allies of Spain by freely taking
care of those she has barbarously
brought to such a pass, and thus loose
upon the insurgents.
Suppose the proposed scheme is car
ried into effect. Suppose we forward
our supplies and our demand, and
Spain accedes and replies: There shall
be no more barbarous practices Wo-
men and children, the aged and infirm
shall no more be tortured, imprisoned,
concentrated, and left TO starve and to
rot in the cutters of the towns" What
then? Conditions will be improved for
these unhappy reconcentrados for the
future, but what of the past? Shall not
Spain be compelled TO atone for that
And the way to that end is to give
the relief, but to charge the cost to
Spain, and give her to understand that
we will enforce payment. Secondly. to
recognize the belligerency of the reb-
els, as in fact we will do by giving re-
lief to their friends, the country people
require Spain TO conduct her campaign
against the insurgents in a manner per-
Missile under the laws of modern war
fare
The insurgents themselves have de-
clared that they ask no more than this;
that they will be amenable to the same
compulsion we enforce upon Spain, as
indeed they must be, and that under