The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-01-15
THE CUBAN HORROR.

Daily the dispatches from Cuba bring
us fresh news Of the su tfer'ng and misery
being undergone on that little island.
Were such reports to come to us now for
the first time from any other quarter of
the civilized globe it would mean a quick
ening Of the sympathies and a loosening
Of the purse strings such as want never
fails to produce in sympathetic America.
But he.trouble is that we have for month
after month grown accustomed to reading
details of butchery and of starvation in
Cuba, until, like everything else, repeti-
tion has caused us to grow callous to u
certain degree to the suffering SO near
our doors, and we have simply come to
look upon this as Cuba's normal ccndi-
ton, reports OF fl esh atrocities and mis-
cries scarcely causing our pulse to
quicken its usual beatings.
That awful misery is now existing in
Cuba there can be no doubt; nor is there
any question of the fact that gaunt s.ar-
walton is stalking abb DAD in that island,
usually the home of plenty There is no
power of ascertaininG the true desires of
the Spanish government toward the relief
of suffering on this "gem of the ocean,"
but whatever may be it's good intentions
it is not likely that it has the power to
do so. Like one mar who has thought
lessly kindled fire and finds it spreading
to conflagraton beyond his control, the
Spanish government has brought about
condition of famine in Cuba which it
finds itself powerless to check Cuban
natives need lock fer no aid from gov.
ernmen5 which finds its own soldiery in
the direst straits, and yet through lack
of money finds itself unable to relieve
their wants.
1t is one of the curses of war TO entail
upon the helpless and innocent sulferings
for which they are not responsible. So
with Cuba to day, thousands of it's women
and children who have taken no part in
the war are called upon to endure all it's
miseries To thousands of these any aid
will have come too late, they having died
from no other Gauss than starvation
There is something awful in the thought
of 80 many perishing from hunger within
almost hands touch OF country whose
harvests, always gooi, have during the
past year. been superlativeIyss bountiful.
Appeals have been made TO us for aid,
and while some response has been given
1T is by no means sufficient TO an cliorate
appreciably the existing conditions. Re.
IN rt,,sr tt.nc
systematic work begun throughout the
country, and from now on it i. 10 be
hoped that better results will follow.
a dispatch Thursday from Consul Lee
outlines the character of gifts likely TO
do most good, such as summer weight
clothing, provisions of almost every de-
scription that vii! bear shipn ent, and
money with which to procure IN edcines
for the sick.
II tho pastors of our various CHURCHES
would call especial attention from the
pulpits to the dire needs of Cuba, and to
the fact that all contributions sent to the
Cuban central relief committee will find
their way safely to the sufferers, we be
generous responses from the people of
Roanoke. Were a committee from each
congregation in the city to be appointed,
and place designated where supplies
could be left, to be forwarded afterwards
in bulk, it would make the call more
nearly personal one, and would for that
reason be more likely to elicit heartier
responses. Whatever may be done in this
direction should be done quickly, since
every day but adds to the death list from
starvation.
VIII not the people of ou~ town take
some concerted action In this cause, and
while not forgetting the needy poor
among us, out of the abundance or small.
Less. as me case may he, of their own
stores spare something for starving
Cuba.
SHAWSVILLE ITEMS.
The golden wedding of Cant C. Col