The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-07
Presidents Friend
Wants Cuba Freed

United States must acknowledge a
Ii consciousness that that the hour
for American Intervention in Cuba
mas almost arrived. The tale of Spanish
oppression and impotence is complete.
The reign of misery, famine and desoa-
ton that has prevailed in the island since
feDIuary. 1898, has run its course of hCr-
ror ana decimation. The civilized world
today looks to the United States to put
an end to struggle at our gates which
has cost over 100000 lives in three years
and reduced an average annual trade
with us from Ss3, 600 to less than s2f,-
900 600.
Let the reader fix these figures in his
mind as measuring ia blood our duty to
humanity, and in cold cash the smallest
halt of our commercial duty to ourselves.
The loss of tIade with Cuba would give us
no just cause to intervene in the death
struggle between Cubans and their Span
ish oppreSSors. But the spectacle of a
war Of determination waged with re-
morseless barbarity and cruelty under our
very eyes has aroused such varying sem
timents of sympathy and horror in Amer
lean minds that it has become impossible
for us to ignore 1t. We cannot read tales
of butchery and brutality, of tyranny
and cruelty, of patriotic devotion and
misery, right across our borders and sit
forever waiting for Spain or extermina-
NAOil w Silu lho olduBnttl
%
The war in Cuba has become a domestic
affair of the United States which it can
not longer put beyond the sphere of its
national duty. Therefore it is that Presi-
dent Mckinley only waits the conclusion
of the labors of the court of inquiry to
approach Spain with the offer of the good
offices of the United States to put an end
to the conflict that is wasting the .e-
sources of Spain desolating and depop-
ulating Cuba and filling the United States
with uneasiness and indignation that
threaten its domestic peace with agita-
tion for war. The time for Intervention
anticipated in his first regular message 10
congress has arrived when the people of
the United States and the sentiment of
the civilized world will approve a de-
| mand for the cessation of the war in
Cuba. The disaster TO the Maine has not
precipitated this demand Rather it has
delayed il. But It has served to arouse
and concentrate the American mind on
all that our nation has lost and endurcs
by reason OF the wanton conflict at its
doors.
As to the Maine disaster, the people OF
the United States realize that interven-
ton between Spain and the revolving Gu
| bans cannot restore to life a single sailor
lost in that terrible disaster. If 1t should
| be found TO have been the result of
Spanish design it would Justify chastise-
ment and the eXaction of punitive in
demnity. But the duty before President
| Mckinley gees beyond chastisement,
| however terrible, or indemnity, however
| onerous. 1t requires the REIMBURSEMENT
| for all time of Spanish authority in Cuba.
| There can be no guaranty of peace on
| the island or this continent while Cuba
| is subject to Spain and recurring revolts
| against Spanish oppression. The auton-
off hKES Sns,fK, I,,INa 4, n,t
| failure-if it was ever even designed as
| an honest experiment. Independence is
| the only remedy for the ills that In crush
| ing Cuba irrtate the United States.
o.
Intervention In Cuba, peacefully il we
| can, forcibly If We must, is Immediately
| inevitable. Our own internal political
| conditions will not permit its postpone
ment. Who that has marked the signs
| of the times does not see that war for
| Cuban liberty" looms before us as the
| only rallying standard of the legions of
| our own national discomfort. Today the
| forces of national honor and honesty pre-
| sent a solid front to the disintegrating
masses of reputation and dishonor. All
| other questions between Republicans and
| Democrats are Insignificant along side
| of the currency question. On this the
| Republicans are united with the consar-
| vatlve element OF the people behind them.
|
| sension and open mutiny over silver. The
| party leaders are at sea and the camp
| followers clamor for party shibboleth.
| Let President Mckinley hesitate to rise
| to the just expectation of the American
people in regard to Cuba and VINO dare
doubt that war for Cuban liberty" will
! be the crown of thorns the free silver
| Democrats and Populists will adopt at
| the elections this fall? And who can
| doubt that by that sign, held aloft and
| proclaimed by such magnetic orators as
| William j. Bryan, they will sweep this
| country like a cyclone? l such a cam
| paign, organized under such a leader
ship. the war spirit would be infiamed TO
such a degree that all other issues would
| be ignored. Congress in both it's branches
would fall into the hands OF the free sill
yer Democracy. The president would be
| powerless TO stay any legislation. how
| ever ruinous TO every sober honest in-
| terest OF the couLtry, Cold imagination
| cannot picture the possibilities for ma
| tional dishonor that lie in the triumph OF
the Democracy through such a campaign
of passion and convulsion.
| o.
| No, the United States cannot afford TO
| let the settlement of the Cuban question
wait a single day after the court OF in
] ouiry has made it's report to the presi-