The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-01-03
CUBA AND SPAIN


settlement of the Cuban question. The
United States either has, or has not, the
right, by it's good offices, if they be suf-
ficient, or by force, if that be necessary,
to intervene on behalf of Cuba. UP to
the present time it has generally been
said that the United States mas no right,
according to the law of nations, to in
tervene, or, what is the same thing, to
assist Cuba in throwing off the Spanish
yoke.
Again, it has generally been argued
that the United States has not the right
according to the law of nations, to recog-
nize the pretended Cuban government
as belligerents, because, among other
reasons, it has no fixed government, is
not in possession of a seaport or in per-
manent possession of any particular
part of the territory of Cuba.
These arguments and assertions are
true, as general statements, but interna-
tional laws, like all other restrictions of
civil conduct, have exceptions. 1t Is
said by good authority that one nation
has the right to intervene in the affairs
of another and assist, with force if nee
essary, the revolving subjects thereof
when there has been breach of compact
or violation of the fundamental rights
of the subjects.
England interfered in Spanish affairs
when she gave assistance to the Prince of
Orange in his struggles for the liberation
of the Netherlands from the tyranny Of
James II of Spain. Writers upon inter-
national law have agreed that this in
tervention and assistance were justih-
able according to the law Of nations.
In this case the social compact and the
fundamental rights of subjects had been
violated by the establishment of a state
religion and the compulsory profession
and practice thereof by all subjects I'M
der the jurisdiction of that monarch.
The world knows the history of the
Spanish inquisition in the Netherlands
Citizens were decimated again and again
by the AK and the torch of the cruel in
quisitors, until finally the few surviving
patriots under the leadership of the
Prince of Orange, revolted against the
tyranny of man whose delight was in
human sacrifice and whose cunning was
that of a devil. They fought and were
defeated, yet they fought on and on till
their appeal for assistance touched the
hearts of Englishmen, who saw an op-
portunity of performing the double Of
flee of assisting a brave people to gain
freedom and at the same time Of adj
vancing the interests of their own ma
ton.
That the Cubans are justified in fight
| ing for liberty and government no
one has denied. The abuses of farming
| the taxes of Cuba, the exorbitant trib-
utes and taxes that are laid upon the
| island to fill the empty treasury of de-
caying monarchy, and the pernicious
system of creating offices and filling
them with the bankrupt officials of the
royal house of Spain, are a few of the
causes that have compelled the people
of Cuba to fight for independence rather
| than continue in slavery.
| But while our hearts are touched with
| the justice of their cause, and while we
applaud the valor of their arms, yet.
from the cold-b looded standpoint of in
ternational law and precedent have the
Cubans no other ground for claiming
| the assistance of our government?
| The avariciousness of the Spanish
government has been succeeded by the
ferocity of it's arms. In it's attempt to
suppress the Cuban revolt it has, in vi
olation of the laws of nations and Of hui
mainly, astonished the world and dis
gusted mankind by substituting the
starvation post for the inquisition stake.
1t has attempted to conquer a rebellious
people, not by defeating the arms OF
| their soldiery, but by the starvation of
their wives and children. 1t has prohib-
tied the cultivation of the soil, taken
possession of the food products and OF
the cattle of the island, forcibly evicted
| families from their homes and corraled
them within military lines.
Has the United States the right. when
! a nation has violated the social compact,
i the fundamental rights Of it's subjects