The herald., 1898-03-29


acknowledged the sovereignty Of Spain
over the island. For fifty years the re-
public stood over 1t much in the relation
Of protector. declaring that no other
European power should ever possess It,
Until the land became coveted by an ele-
ment in the United States. peace pre-
vailed upon the island, the flag was re-
spected, the annual tributes were cheer
fully paid, and patriotism was dis
tinguishing characteristic of the masses.
The Yankees, by various insidious
means, have sowed seeds Of discord, nur-
tured sentiment of disloyalty. stirred
up strife, encouraged revolution. The
ten years war would not have lasted ten
months but for the aid and encourage
ment the rebels received from the United
States. The present revolt would have
been crushed out in few weeks but for
the support it received from the Yankees.
The strength Of the Spanish navy has
been employed for three years in pa
trolling the island-not in waging a war
against the rebels, but in abortive efforts
to prevent the landing of men and NUM-
tions from the United States. A quarter
of million Spanish soldiers have been
sent to Cuba. force sufficiently large
to have driven the rebel hordes from the
island in a single movement, but for the
guerilla methods adopted and the hostil-
ity Of the alleged on-combatants to our
cause. They have put the torch to the
fields, and destroyed the utilities essen
tial to the production of food and the fur
nishing of shelter to our soldiery, and
they have hid themselves away in the
mountain Businesses whenever our
troops have made sortie from our only
safe base of supplies. The policy of
concentration was forced upon the gov
ernment by the extraordinary situation
and environment. Weary of the struggle
and its terrible cost in life and treasure,
however, we have made overtures for
peace, our offer to the rebels compre-
hending every concession consistent
with the national honor and national
dignity. More cannot be granted.
Spanish sovereignty over Cuba will
neither be bartered to the money chang
ers nor surrendered in the face of men,
ace from the United States. RESPONSE
bility for the Maine disaster must be
fixed by an impartial tribunal. Spain is
guiltless, and will never submit to the
humiliation Of granting American de-
mands for indemnity. We must have
more time to pacify the rebels. The
United States must keep hands off until
we shall have exhausted our present
plans of satisfying their demands. The
scheme Of provisioning the reconcen-
trados is but cloak to help the in
surgents and to secure foothold upon
the island. It but Ill conceals the
Interior designs Of the Yankees to drive
US out. take possession, and perfect their
scheme Of annexation. Our people are
a unit in opposition to this insidious
demand. The elections show that the
ministry will have the support Of all
classes at home, as well as the help Of
all loyalist parties in the colonies, and
the sympathy, If not the active assist
ance, of Russia, Germany, Austria.
France, and other European states, who
cannot but view the aggressiveness of
the western republic with alarm. Vive
Espana!"
AS to the attitude Of the people of the
United States, in the event of a war,
there is not left room for the shadow of a
doubt. But until war is declared there
will be division of sentiment as to the
wisest course to pursue. On one side
the president, on the other congress and
the people.
The former, for reasons that have a
hundred times been stated in these COL
umns, stands for peaceful solution of
the question. His loyalty never ques-
toned, there is yet no manner Of doubt
that he will exhaust every remedy
within his grasp to avert clash Of arms.
But, even as he has been powerless to
prevent the violation of neutrality laws,
and the arming and provisioning of the
Cuban patriots by American sympa-
thizers, so may he be unable to restrain
the humane and patriotic impulses Of the
people, which now dictate the most ag-
gressive efforts upon the part of their
government to stop war unparalleled
for brutality and savagery; to rescue the
survivors Of the atrocious methods of
the Spaniards; restore peace to land
so near to our own as to render con-
tinuance of hostilities a menace to the
peace of the republic; give freedom to
people who have earned it even as we our
selves did; and dre-establish the commerce
Of the country with the island upon the
favorable basis upon which it rested
before the revolution began.
We no longer discredit the reports Of
the awful sacrifice of human life on the
island, nor have we difficulty in placing
the responsibility where it belongs. We
all believe Spain responsible, for the de-
struction of the Maine and the tragic
death of nearly three hundred of our
gallant seamen.
Few of us have any faith in the re-
newed protestations of the Spanish min.
stry that the war is to be brought to n
speedy close, or that it contemplatesl
offering any terms to the patriots which
hey will accept.
The temper of the people all over the
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