The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-08
An English View of the Cuban War.

once more Il has been demonstrated that
circumstances are often stronger 'hd''
the will OF man. No serious or respon-
sible Statesman, either I'm Spain or In the
United States. desires war. In the FORM
err country tho accession OF Senior Sa
gasta 10 Office and the recall OF GeneraI
Weyler were earensts given long BEFORE
the catastrophe 10 the Maine OF the pas,
sionate desire Of the country 20 AVOID
q rupture with America. From the OUT,
set OF the trouble Mr. Mckinley has man
ifested a determination, which has some
times tried the patience OF the people, 10
keep the peace II that were possible. But
Il has been the old story; combustibles
have been accommodating for years in dan
gerously exposed positions, ana the
spark was provided by the destruction
OF tho Maine, whether II were due to ac-
cident or TO design. II is easy enough
10 look back and reflect that II steps
taken too late had been adopted earlier
the conflict might have been averted. HAD
Spain n few months ago offered the terms
she has rendered at the last moment,
they would have been gladly accepteu
by America. on the other hand, II the
States had exercised more vigilance IN
dealing with the nllbustering expeditions
which. fitted out from American ports
have kept the insurrection alive, spain
ance TO her authority Regrets. now
ever, are useless I'm the face Of stubborn
incontestable facts. Matters have de-
veloped. or. as some would say. nave
drifted 10 a point from which II mas
been impossible for either party 10 re-
treat with dignity. while the conscience
Of the English people speaks on behal,
OF the United States, there Is a hatuId
sympathy for an old and naughty natoh
driven 70 defend hopeless cause py
consideration for the national honor:
Those who condemn the conduct OF ule
United States confuse questions OF 'as'e
and tact with the most serious moral
and political problems. IL Is quite true
as we have had painful reason TO know
that American statesmen conduct inter-
national controversies with bluntnesS
and dlrectness which are almost brutal
and which show little regard for the
constituencies OF those with whom they
are In communication. The most OK
oulsito suavity Of polished diplomacy
could not however have disguised the
forbiddng realities OF the case. spain
has failed TO maintain even the elements
Of civilized government in cuba, ana the
geographical position of the island has
made its constant anarchy a standing
ANNOUNCE TO the United states. It ~
not only that American rade and com
merce have suffered, but the duty OF
keeping a check upon hlibustering. even
though it has been imperfectly fulfilled
has imposed q perpetual strain upon the
resources Of the Republic Had Great
Britain been IN the position of America
10 may be frankly doubted whether our
patience would have lasted as long. THESE
facts must be borne in mind before the
hastv Judgment OF Continental journals,
To- 10
American diplomatic methods, f. listen
Cd 10. Anarchy in cuba is no new thing.
Forty or fifty years ago the theme was
being discussed between the different
Powers. and the problem then was not
materially different from that OF to-
day. There Is another point OF view
which IS perslstently overlooked by most
OF the Centennial censors OF the united
States. They affect TO believe, with the
Vossische Zeituug. that the motives OF
humanity urged by the President In de-
fence of Intervention are a mere hypo-
, critical mask adopted 20 cover rapaci-
GUS lust for territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
This charge. al least Is unfounded. We
need notinsist upon the terms Of the reso-
luIion passed by Congress expressly dis
claiming any desire 10 acquire the SOW
ereignty OF the island. for false and plaus-
ible protests of this character are only
too common. It IS. however undeniaoly
true that there are few American states.
men OF standing who would care to see
Cuba annaxed 20 the Republic. What
would be gained by the removal Of OBJ
stacles 70 trade and commerce would
have been paid over and over again I'm the
cost Of overthrowing Spain and OF estab'
fishing settled government IN the coun'
try. Moreover, the character OF the
inhabitants-especlally Of the insurgents
makes the acquisition Of so motley and
lawless population a very doubtful
blessing TO a nation already sufficiently
troubled with racial difficulties. These
are considerations which lend such irony
IN the classical sense Of the word. 90 the
situation.
Triumph FOR the United States will IN
volve the painful duty Of tranquillising
a country populated with men OF alien
race and traditions. and hostile TO civil
lied government whether It come in a
Spanish or American gulse War indem-
mites. II they could be enforced, will not
cover even the bare pecuniary losses sus-
tanned and what compensation Will there
be for the dependents Of those who must
perish I'm the contest? Defeat for Spain
means almost certain reyolutiogn and
the downfall Of the Dynasty, accompa-
MED by internal commissions which we
do not care 10 contemplate. Even fOy
us. who are neutrals. and whose inter
ests are not likely 10 be affected war Is
making its terrors felt,-LOndon Daily
Telegraph.