The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-04-01

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TOTHING could be made more
natural than the sympathy Of
ricans with other Americans who
gls against oppression, and with
poor victims Of the struggle who,
consequence Of it are reduced to
gation and misery That the bloody
destructive conflict In Cuba be
light to a speedy conclusion, and be
owed by reign Of liberty, law and
d, Is therefore the sincere wish Of
he good people Of this country
q wish springs from generous
iment, and it is strengthened by a
appreciation Of the annoyances,
nmercial and other, which are caused
the frequent recurrence of distract
disorders at our very doors. The
ught that it may be the business Of
republic to put an end to the
uble BY friendly counsel and medi-
on or, If that be Of no avail, by
cble interference, finds, under such
cumstances, much favor, even among
sons who do not think lightly Of q
b with its incalculable sacrifices in
Boa and treasure which interference
force would bring on. But it is BY
means inconsistent with SO generous
isposition calmly to examine, aside
IA other considerations Of right OF Of
crest, the question whether the at
nment Of The immediate object Of
b interference the adjustment Of
nish rule in Cuba, would really have
desired effect Of securing to the
BE Of tha5 island the blessings Of
Re, liberty, and a fair measure Of
government In this respect we
hot without valuable experience.
the early part Of this century The
Is Of the Spanish colonies on the
Brican continent 10 achieve their
pendence excited much sympathy
Tie United States Henry Clay
mpioned their cause with character
fervor Those efforts appeared to
1 like a repetition Of our own Reyo,
mary war He attributed to the
ggling South Americans all the
tical capacities of lis own people
thought as to their fitness for
dom the people Of South America
"a in some particulars even in adj
ee Of u.s. He fiercely attacked the
aroe administration for not aiding
b effectively He urged the repeal
81 onr neutrality law FOR their benefit
insisted that their independence
formally recognized while the strug-
was vet undecided He predicted
them a glorious future. His glow
speeches created a great stir in the
ntry, but the administration re-
med firm inits conservative attitude
N March, 1921, Henry Clay had an
rview on the subject with the Sec
ary Of State John Quincy Adams,
$40 thus recorded his part Of the conver-
on in bis diary y regretted the
erence between his Claws views
those Of the administration upon
th American affairs. That the final
pe Of their present struggle would be
ir entire Independence of Spain
had never doubted That it was our
lue policy and duty to take no part in
contest was equally clear The
hciple Of neutrality in all foreign
was, in my opinion, fundamental
HE continuance Of our Liberties and
81 Union SO far as they were con
ding for indep6, fence I wished
"a to their cause but had seen, and
see, no prospect that they would
ablish free on liberal institutions Of
ernment Arbitrary power mill
N and ecclesiastical was stamped
on their education upon their habits,
upon all their institutions civil
5ension was infused into all their
ninal principles War and mutual
Tuction were in every member Of
air organization moral political, |
physical Of these opinions, both
IS tClay's) and mine, time must be the
Time has been the test and it is now
nerally recognized that John Quincy
dams predictions have proved far
ore correct than those Of Henry Clay.
fact seven years after the interview,
ay himself. in answering q compli
entary letter from Bolivar, the famous
5uth American leader could not re-
bin from giving words to his disap