The herald., 1898-02-24
NOT FORCED INTO WAR

IL ne ledtuTe OL the WdSuluStO
birthday address of Senator Cushma
K. Davis, at Detroit, was his declara
tion that "a large portion of the peopl
desire to force the president to war,
mark was its untruthfulness, unles
it be conceded that the government o
this country is powerless to put a stol
to the atrocities of Spanish warfare il
Cuba, and protect non-combatants from
its awful consequences, without en-
gaging in a war.
That the methods adopted by the
brutal Weyler for the subjugation of the
island, which have shocked al
Christendom, are still employed by his
successor, there is not much room fol
doubt. Evidence Of the most convinc.
ing character in support of the conten.
tion was presented to the senate in ex.
ecutive session on Tuesday, when Mr.
Morgan read stenographic report of ar
interview recently had by him with a
citizen of Boston, a man of high stand
ing in that community, who had just re-
turned from a thorough investigation
into the conditions existing on the island,
his observations extending over forty
three provinces. This persons state
ments were considered sufficiently i'm
portant and trustworthy to justify their
presentation to the senate by the chair
man of the committee on foreign rela-
tions, who laid great stress upon them.
In them he alleges that outside of Ha-
vana no effort whatever is being made to
take care Of the reconcentrados; that the
people are still dying in great numbers,
both as a result of lack of food and of
Spanish cruelty; that there is nowhere
any evidence of more liberal treatment
under Blanco than under Weyler; that
the condition of the people has been in
no sense ameliorated by the alleged
change in policy; that in no case are the
starving reconcentrados allowed to go
outside of the military posts for food,
nor are the areas set aside for cultiva-
tion Of food products permitted to ex-
tend more than 500 yards from the forts:
that the discipline is so severe that even
when small children attempt to go out
side the guard lines "they are shot down
as ruthlessly as if they We're enemies
in arms" that women and children are
wantonly abused by the Spanish
soldiery, one of the favorite pastimes
of these brutal emissaries of a degener-
ate monarchy being ''to kick the women
about as if they were dogs"
While these details of unparalleled
atrocity and cruelty We're being read to
the senate million American freemen.
many Of them survivors of a war suc-
cessfully waged for human liberty, were
parading the streets of a thousand cities
OF free America, bearing the emblem of
freedom and devices recalling the strug-
gle OF hundred years ago, so strikinelv
similar to that now being waged against
fearful odds by the Cuban patriots
to the strains of martial airs
that constrained a million men to haz-
ard all for great principle. Such
scenes, calculated to inspire the dullest
heart, were being simultaneously en-
acted all over the land, without a sim
gle demonstration hostile to a nation
which is responsible for the cruel war
Of determination being carried on AL
most within sight of our shores.
We cannot but regard the fact as con-
elusive evidence that Senator Davis
erred in alleging that the president is
being forced by the people into war"
while at the same time affordine an
instance altogether remarkable. if not
truly phenomenal, of national complais-
ance, of national patience and ma
ional forbearance-evidence, indeed
II spirit which, had not Ameri-
AN courage and valor and love
II humanity become an axiom
night be construed into national in
Inference If not national cowardice.
indeed, in view of all the facts. so IA
niliar to every one in this enlightened
aggravated by the terrible
ragedy at Havana, SO painfully fresh
n the memory Of all, it is marvellous
nat more hostile feeling was not
verywhere manifested, and that ad-
ssstage was not taken of the occasion
Ano;orce the president into war;" ,
4. 4. 4