The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-23
Net War. But which War.
lFrom the christian-at.w work.

if'tL titt = lit - 'i--
which WARRIOR that is the real
question which the Government and the
people of this country will be called up
on to answer at d time not far removed
from these Ides of March. Those who
are continually raising the inquiry. Shall
we have peace? are missing the vital prin-
ciple at the heart of the matter; at least
they lose sight of the main issue In
deed, there is manifest not a little of
the commercial and the Wall Street spirit
in the way in which this inquiry is being
raised in some quarters. For it assumes
that for this country to take up arms.
no matter how just the cause. would be
the greatest evil the worst calamity.
that could possibly befalI it, But would
it be? Let us look at the matter
And right here let us express at the
outset our utter adherence of the cruel
ties of war our profound regret that
the country should ever be driven to
MAIN and kill by cannon and rifle. bv
carbine and sword. Rather than resort
to the way of blood for settling rb-
quarreIs between nations. we wOud make
every possible concession and utilize
every honorable means to- escape from
1t. And. having said that. we revert
10 the original question. (Which wa.
shall we have-supDosiuS all eudeavors
TO end the suffering in Cuba faiI-war by
the United States with Spain or shall
the war in Cuba with its atrocities and
heartrendire crueIties be permitted To go
ON Unamelorated. unchecked?"
They who have any adequate c0ncep-
ton of the harvest of horror and Of
death which is being reaped in Cuba at
the present time. outside of those who
are participants. are few. But some OF
the facts are known; and We take coca
sion right here and now to give one
pregnant fact which is fearfulIy signif-
cant. and as authentic as il is heart
rendlng, The truStwOrthiness OF the
statement 10 he made. we may add is
confirmed in a carefully prepared arti-
Gle in HarperS Weekly of last week.
and consists in the tragiCaI statement
that under the Infamous order of Gen
Weyler forcing the peasants Of the
country districts 10 abandon their homes
and concentrate inside the lines of forrf-
fed towns, 100000 people mostly women
and children, were crowded into these
centers without shelter without food
without any adequate means OF sustain
ing ME But more remains to be said
OF these 6O0C00 poor sufferers three hum
dred thousand t3Ql U0D or oue-haIf. died
last year of sickness and starvation
brought on by want by the lack of med
lcal attendance, and the absence of any
attempt at relief, WeyIer haDpiIv is
gone. and his order has been revoked
But 1t is all too late-the misery and suf-
terinG continue. These poor creatures
who have raised no finger against the
government are now dying at the rate
OF LOCO day; few months more viii
eNterminate them an except the few
relieved through Miss Eartons agency
that Is. unless this country iuterveneS
and that speedily.
Now the reader can understand the in
quiry that heads this articIe-"Nbieb
war; And which shall il be- Shall we
intervene at the very earliest available
opportunity. and by our superior re-
sources stop this misery and arrest ,he
dreadful carnage i'm a short time even "a
the risk of shedding American blood y,
shall we take refuge in calm indifference
TOLD our arms complacentlY and say 20
Spain: Go on with your bloody work In
your own unique way. and bring back
Weyler if you wiu?"
The purely commercial spirit. the spiri-
of comDlacent content in the midst rf
luxurious ease. all Indifferent 10 tn
pleadings of humanity, intent upon moth
ing and desiring nothing so much as 10 ia,
permitted TO enjoy its state of calm re
t'sNs VIII I'lbE UP the Ilti LOF peace
peace al any price however others may
suffer. Cuba? cuba? What have /. wha-
have we to do with Cuba? Am I my
brothers keeper
Right here question arises which may
well induce careful thought on the part
of every American: we have upbraided
the great powers for permitting the mas
sacres in Armenia. How much less guilty
shall we be if we permit the atrocities in
Cuba TO go on undimiuishsd, while W.
sit idly 10y aad do nothing Surely there
is gospel authority for the statement that
no nation liveth unto itself We have
duty to other peoples as well as 10 our
selves, and that duty We may not shuu
but at our peril.
If we understand the attitude of our
patriotic and high minded President and
the Government if we interpret rightly
that vote of fifty millions the other day
if we comprehend the tone and temper
of the American people never exhibited
more admirably than row the Cubaus
can see the bow in their sky. for relief
is at hand And If war be thrust upua
US, if Spain will not listen to our demand
that she cease her bloody work in Cuba,
then be ours the opportunity and hers the
responsibility!