The record-union., 1898-07-31
NOT A WAR FOR THE INSUR-
GENTS.

Our esteemed contemporary, the CO.
lusa SUM- appears to have wandered
into a maze from which it is unable to
extricate itself; it reasons in circle,
and gets deeper into the tangle. We
pointed out the other day that our con-
temporary was wrong in it's statement
that the United States went to war with
Spain to establish the Government of
the Cuban insurgents. But the sun"
returns TO the subject in this wise:
Yet it was to maintain the Govern
ment'' set up by these fellows that we
began this war, and we have pledged
ourselves to maintain them in self
government. When the war is over
when Spain says she has enough and
leaves the island - are we in honor
bound to leave too? Is it any wonder
that the people of Cuba are declaring
that they will fight to the last against
any such arrangement as we have pro-
posed? What kind of a Government"
will these barbarians be able TO give
Cuba? republic" Ell? We would
like to see them conducting an election.
But we are in for it now. and we must
whip Spain 10 a finish; but as we go
along the fact that we are ostensibly
fighting for men who are simply band
of robbers ought to ameliorate our feel
ings toward Spain and make our terms
less hard-should make US more mag
unanimous. And when the end OF the
war comes it may be that the humanity
we invoked in the beginning may impel
us to refuse to leave Cuba in such
hands. and take possession of it our
selves.
The conclusion of our contemporary
as to the possible if not the probable
outcome of the war is sound, but its
intended sarcasm is i'll directed. 1t pro-
ceeds from false premises. We did not
go to war with Spain to establish the
insurgent Government, but to put an
end to an intolerable nuisance. The
United States distinctly and positively
refused to recognize the insurgent Gov
ernment, or whatever it is. 1t positive
~ refused to go so far even as to recog-
nize the belligerency Of the insurgents
1t held no official communication with
them, refused TO recognize their repre-
sentatiyes accredited to Washington,
and over and again declined TO give the
leaders recognition of any kind.
Arrived in the island. we found GER
tain bodies Of men, armed or asking
arms, TO aid us in our contests, and We
very properly accepted their aid. We
went so far as to send guns and pro-
visions to some Of these armed bodies
in order to secure this assistance, but
this cannot be tortured into recognition
of their Government The United States
started out to do two things-drive out
the Spanish forces and disestablish
Spanish rule, and thus put stop to
their barbarities and warfare upon nom
combatants; secondly, to secure for
Cuba a free stable tand competent Gov
eminent
How that was to be done we did not
state, but we distinctly, affirnratively
and unmistakably did set forth that a
safe and free Government must be es-
tablished. This. on the basis of the be-
lief that the Cuban people are capable
OF setting up and maintaining such a
Government, in. which justice, mercy,
humanity and liberty shall predom-
mate. This imp lies and carries with it,
of necessity, the, negative OF the propo-
sition, that if these people prove inca
pable, we will keep the peace in Cuba
and maintain over it protectorate un-
I'll the time ar rives when the end in
view can be &C complished.
If the people. themselves, insurgents,
non-combatanjt Cubans and all others,
those in arms and those who are not.
fail to avail of the opportunity we offer
them, but one thing remains, and that
is to hold Cuba, and this we may do
indefinitely or by annexation. But in
the latter case we apprehend that il
will be done 1pon vote of that people,
and in accordance with their freely ex-
pressed desire. This we believe will be
made manifest With the Spanish
forces driven out. there viii come to the
front the greater body of Cubans now
cowed, those who are not in arms,
with most Of those in the field, and