The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-04-27
Tie Issue Clearly Stated.
spain's Case Made Out aud
Fully Answered.

A professor in Rutgers college. John
C. Van Dyke. who evidently thinks ,ha
the Uoited States is in the wrong 10
the controversy with Spain. has sub
mite d to the young men 10 his classes
sbe following statement of facts fer their
meditation
First-The United States demanded
better governmcns in Cuba Spain re
piled to this request By granting au
tonomY.
Second-The United States claimed
damages for the loss of the Maine
Spain 10 reply otfered 10 submit the
matter to arbitration. which Is per
festly just way of settlement. Tie
Uai:ea States refused this.
Third-The Uoited States demanded
that Spain stop starving the reconceo-
tsados in Cuba IL answer to fhie,
Spain released the reconcentrados aud
granted $500. 900 for their sus,enanee.
Foarsh-The United States declared
that fighting in the leland be stopped
Spain in reply granted 40 armistice
and since then has done no ofessive
6ahting
Fifth-Tbe Uoi,ed States demanded
that Spain should leave Cuba entirely
Spain 8 reply sto this bas been silence
Itis to be hoped that Professor Vao
Dykes young men understood the facts
better than be does Let US answer bis
statement in order:
Firss--rbe susoaomy tia. Spaio
granted vas seriously defective aud
whatever it vas, it came so :ase that
1t had not the slightest effect upon the
War, sinca the insurgents would then
scoept nothing short Of independence.
Second-Ths Uoited States has not
claimed damages for the loss of the
Maine. Spain has offered to arbitrate
aud the United States has not refused
the offer. Th. resolutions passed BY
congress do not make the loss of the
Maine easus belli
Third-While Spain uader pressure
issued an order releasing the recoocen-
trados, it came too late to help them :;
as for the $500, 900, also granted under
pressure. it is the testimony Of those
best qualified TO know that l. will never
reach tho reconcentsados Perhaps
Professor Van Dyke knows nothing Of
the corruption Of Spanish ofioialdon 10
Cuba.>
Four,h-Presideat Mckinley asked
for an aenistice until Ostober l. during
which negotiations for peace were to
Be attempted with The good cfi,es Of
the President . Spain refused. saying
che would grant one only if Gen.
Gomez should ask for one. Later on.
when The President, in view of Spaip's
unsatisfactory reply. bad decided to
refer the whole matter to Congress,
Spain suddenly declared suspension
Of bossi!isies. which vas clearly a
diplomatic trick, sisce no provision vas
made whereby President McKin;sy
could use his "good Offices" to bring
about permanent peace moreover, ao
..srmistiee" Of, any sort to which the
iusurgen. leader did rot consent was
an absasdity cp it's face.
Fifsh-The United States has deman.
ded that Spain leave Cuba entirely, aud
with good reason. although her evacua-
ton might hare been accomplished by
less perempsory method than Congress
bas adopted. Bu. tia. must always be
10 doubt.
The moral reasou Why Spain should
sbaudou Cab.. all quibb.ing over tech
nica!isies aside. is that she is totally
inf. to haze control of Cubs. How
apy cue who knows hcr history, her
past failures. her more recent expert
ence both in she Philippines aud 10
Cuba, can doubt that s,atement-that
Spain is uo6t-is mystery. Her uD
6tness is go extreme IS to destroy our
owa domesti tranquility because Cuba
is at our very door. If. therefore.
Spain will no. rehpquisb ber sovereign
y, aod if her rebelIious subjects cannot
be reconciled TO ber rule. the forcible
election Of the Spanish government
from the leland IS the only course open
to tue United States