Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-08-04

and Justice, over passion, ~eeinsnneSs,
inertness, timidity and distrust." And
that 1t is for such work that Democra-
cies are fit.
In these two civilizations there ia an
irreco Notable difference. Cuba is
within one hundred miles OF coast;
commercially we are of the same
community, and a contact of these ir-
reconcilable civilizations must neces-
sarily have brought on a clash.
We have had a Cuban question al
most since the formation of our Gov
eminent. At different times it has had
a plank in the platforms of the differ
emit parties. The Rebellion of 1923
the ten years. Revolution from 1858 to
1878, and the Revolution which has
been in progress since 1sS5-the bar
barities of the Spanish soldiery toward
the Cubans-the d%esolation OF this fer
tile Island until a large part of the
population has perished Of starvation,
has disclosed that Spanish rule in that
Island has been, and as it has been In
the past, will, unchecked, continue to
be in the future, a menace to the pub
lie peace of the western hemisphere
and the United States, in the interest
of herself and the oppressed of Cuba,
has been compelled to drive from the
Island that disturber of the public
peace.
Nearly every President has had to
deal with the troubles of Spain with
her colonies on this hemisphere, and
on account of the nearness of Cuba to
our shores, especially with her trou-
bles.
The controversies over the methods
of Spain in that Island make a series
of chapters of vexatious diplomatic
trouble.
Many of our ablest statesmen, as
secretaries and as ministers to other
countries, have had to deal with 1t,
and none have been able to settle 1t.
One President after another has trans
mitted it to his successor, until in 1896,
MIR. Cleveland distinctly expressed the
opinion that the United States might
find herself in the condition of recog-
nizing a higher duty than simple neu-
trality toward Spain. The constant
trouble arising from the efforts at fill
clustering by sympathizers in the
United States with the oppressed
Cubans had the attention of nearly
every Secretary of State for the last
thirty years.
The difficulty with which all ques-
tions needing immediate attention
between this Government and Cuba
were transacted with the powers at
Madrid, as no officer in Cuba was in.
trusted with any foreign business.
proved a great annoyance to our Gov
eminent.
In 1885, Secretary Bayard complain
ed of serious obstruction to travel and
forms of heavy personal expense and
inconvenience upon travellers be.
tween Cuba and the United States, an6
that, at a time when rigid surveillance
of travel was nc longer required by
other countries.
There are many notable instances OF
disregard of the rights of citizens of this
country by the Spanish Government,
due simply to it's method of dealing
with other nations and its colonies.
In 1873, the Virginius, a vessel sail
ing on the high seas under the flag Of
the United States, and registered as
part of the merchant marine of the
United States, was seized by aSpanisf
gunboat, carried into the port of Santi'
sgo,and a number OF it's passengers an6
crew-some being citizens of the
United States-were, under a charg'
! of piracy, put to death without du'
process of law.
Finally Spain made due PREPARATION
for this wrong, and war at that time
was averted.
Despite the fact that we have haC
periods of comparative quiet, the OLE
trouble has constantly reappeared
until it vas finally by Mr. McKinle!
referred to the present Congress fol
attention. You are familiar with tn
events of the last few months leading
up to an armed Intervention in behal
of the Cubans.
l urcrrrIr arJoN on THE WAp
In the we'll settled rules of Interna
tional Law is found the justification o
our Intervention. Nations in theirr re
lations toward each other, like per
SONS, have duties and moral claims, a
well as rights and obligations, ant
these claims and duties are to a grea
extent determined by the circum
stances of each special case.
For many years Cuba has been re
garded by Spain simply as a place t.
be plundered. The Captain-Genera
sent out to govern the Island, wit
their followers, have robbed and NAL
treated the inhabitants and take
them as long al they had anything t
tax, and these funds, so extorted, hav
largely gone into their pockets an
those of their assistants.
The cruel butcheries of Weyler, an
the cooping up of thousands Of tn
inhabitants with neither shelter nc
food, and left to the fate of certa1
starvation, until thousands have die
of hunger, are facts well known to al
Notwithstanding all these ~crueltiel
though having destroyed q great arm
in the effort, Spain was still unable
bring about a peace.
These alone, without appealing t
the commercial interests and repos
Of America, are sufficient to justit
the interference of the United State
on the score of humanity.
Again, it is justified on what ia Gale
the Monroe Doctrine. AS I hav
stated, the conditions of affairs
Cuba for the last ninety years has cor
stantly been q source of annoyance
our diplomatic relations with Spail
more than once bringing about a
estranged condition between thi
country and our own.
At times it completely destroye
our commerce with Cuba, imperiled
in the whole Caribbean Sea, and ha
at Times. threatened the public pea(