The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-03-24
THOUGHTS ABOUT CUBA.
A PLEA FOR THE PAc1F1coS.
Let it be ''Cuba Libre."
BY "NEMO."

Copyrighted by Dave & Tabor.)
Three years and more have elapsed
since the present Cuban rebellion broke
out. 1t is probable that in history past
or to come no parallel to Its conditions
will be fonnd. The rulers OF the island,
unable to defeat the insurgents, elusive
ana triumphant and enduring beyond
usual measure in guerilla warfare, are
no nearer the actual accomplishment OF
OF their purpose than they, were at the
outbreak OF hostilitles. Nature and her
CHASTITY hand maiden, Pestilence, have
fought foi the insurgents; but Natures
battlings have been balanced by new.
arrivals OF Spanish soldiers-men, some
of them boys, many OF them-torced
almost at bayonet point to take the
places of the diseased and the dead.
Against the doggedness of the insurgent
the pride of the ruler has been matched
The insurgent can hold out indefinitely
the Spanlard aoiN.
~
While the stubborn warfare OF these
| unyieldlng forces has projected with
huctuating results that in the long run
have practically balanced each other,
third army of human beings has been
slowly ground to destruction. OF their
| woes we must think and, having
thought, we must act. Though the
Spaniards have been Chi efy confined
within the limit set up by themselves ;
prisoners, in fact, within their own fort
lficatlons, yet they have retained fear
compelling power over the feeble minds
of the children and the timorous natives
of both sexes who were afraid to fight
and did not dare to flee. These pacificos
quietly obeyed the government when
orders went forth through the country
regions to gather within town limits
and stay there. The expected freedom
to live in peace under the surveillance
of the Spanish army, changed at once
Into death-dealing bondage. Unable to
cultivate land to any great extent, herd
ed together in huts unfit for swine, sui
fering from lack OF food rendered more
| helpless and weak-spirited than before,
they have died like flies in autumn ;
and in dying have suffered woes that
are unequalled even by the bloody sui
ferings of the Armen1ans or the plague
ridden starvation of the HindoOs. The
language of moderate woman like
Clara Barton, the famous Red Cross
heroine and the stories pictured by the
truthful camera, more than justify
these comparisons. In one hospital
alone-a place where care and tender
oversight are expected-four hundred
OF the paciticos have died of starvation
The burdens of the insurgents, who, in
rebslling did so in full expectation ol
the fortunes and misfortunes OF war
/ have been as naught beside the woes OF
these unhappy nOn-cOm batants
Where Spain has slain its hundreds by
fire and by sword, it has slain its HUN
, DREDs OF THOUSANDS by hunger and by
, neglect. This has taken place and il
still doing so within ninety miles OF tht
, land that declares in favor "lite, hber-
ty and tho pursuit of happiness"
~
This war-measure OF Spain agains
harmless ones will ever stand out pro
minently in the annals OF the brutal
y | tiles of which our race is capable
q This is not war with its glamour OF ez
citment and of chance, but relentles
MURDER without the shedding {
blood.
When a man sees weak one pei
e secuted and refuses to side with tn
3 weak he is no man. The rule for
% man is the rule for a nation. Murde
It of women and children, helpless an
10 enfeebled and starving, is at our doc
n at last we begin to appreciate it. The
'e broken lives, their untimely death
'e their rights to a happier condition al
Is making themselves slowly understoe
ut among our people. Every stratum
society is permeated. The great und'
a. living love of fair-play is stirring tn
4 nation North and South. And 1t
-. Fairding 1t TO PUNISH and not TO wal
war.
~
Let us be careful that our motives
pure and our minds unconfused' =
ty wild talk of blundering official II
ss. De LONE is nothing to our great co
he serveatlve millions. War or even
ito thought OF war over such matter
/ desire to attest to the merits
Id Chamberlain's Cough Remedy as
ed of the most valuable and efficient p