Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-03-11

great wealth and large circulation, and
which from the beginning has been one
of the warmest supporters of the Nc
Kinley administration, speaks in no UNI
certain words upon the same subject.
The whole matter is thus ably summed
up in recent editorial of this last paper
Every intelligent student of political and
popular sentiment in the United States must
acknowledge consciousness that the hour
for American Intervention in Cuba has almost
arrived. The tale of Spanish oppression and
impotence is complete. The reign of misery,
famine ana desolation that has prevailed in
the island since February, 1895, has run its
course of horror and defamation. The civil
lied world today looks to the United States
to put an end to n struggle at our gates which
has cost over 100000 lives in three years and
reduced an average annual trade with us
from $50 900, 900 to less than e26O00,0O0
Let the reader fix these figures in his mind
as measuring in blood our duty to humanity,
and in cold cash the smallest half of our com
mercial duty to ourselves. The loss of trade
with Cuba would give us no just cause to in
tervene i'm the death struggle between Cubans
and their Spanish oppressors. But the spec
tacle of a war of determination waged with
remorseless barbarity and cruelty under our
very eyes has aroused such varying senti-
ments of sympathy and horror in American
minds that it has become impossible for us to
ignore it.
we cannot read tales of butchery and bru-
tality, of tyranny and cruelty, of patriotic
devotion and misery, right across our borders.
and sit forever waiting for Spain or eXtermi-
nation to end the slaughter The war in Cuba
has become a domestic affair of the United
States, which 1t cannot longer put beyond the
sphere of its national duty.
Therefore it is that President Mckinley
only waits the conclusion of the labors of the
court of inquiry to approach Spain with the
offer of the good offices of the United States
to put an end to the conflict that is wasting
the resources of spain, desOlatng and depOp-
ulating Cuba, and filling the United states
with uneasiness and indignation that threat
ems its domestic peace with agitation for war.
The time for Intervention anticipated'in his
first regular message to Congress has arrived
when the people of the United States and the
sentiment of the civilized world will approve
n demand for the cessation of the war in
Cuba. The disaster to the Maine has not pre-
cipitated This demand; rather II has delayed
it. But it has served to arouse and concen-
trate the American mind on all that our
nation has lost and endures by reason of the
wanton conflict ut its doors.
As to the Maine disaster, the people of the
United states realize that intervention be-
tween Spain and the revolving Cubans cannot
restore to life n single sailor lost in that ter
ribe disaster. If it should be found to have
been the result of Spanish design it would
Justify chastiscment and the eXaction of pun
tive Indemnity But the duty before Presi.
dent Mckinley goes beyond chastsemcnt,
however terrible, or indemnity, however
onerous. 1t requires the REIMBURSEMENT for
all time of Spanish authority in Cuba. There
can be no guaranty of peace on the island or
on this continent while Cuba is subject to
Spain and recurring revolts against Spanish
oppression.
The autonomy offered by Spain to Cuba
is n fiat faiure-if il was ever even designed
as an honest experiment. Independence is
the only remedy for the ills that in crushing
Cuba irritate the United States. As 10 the
means for its contamination, they must be
the subject for negotiation between the
United states and spain. Exactly what form
the proposals of the president may take has
not TRANSFERRED. That they will be such as
Spain can accept with the least loss of dignity
we cannot doubt But that they will be form
uated without passion or room for fear or
regret we may be sure. That they will be
made with a full realization that they may
arouse to an expiring effort to retain her
American dominions all who know President
Mckinley are clearly aware.
DO what we may, we cannot avoid the pos
sibility of war over Cuba And in view of
that last resort the American people wishing
and pray ing for peace must make every prep
aration for war
Even though the United States should offer
to assist Cuba to buy her independence by
guaranteeing the payment of the purchase
price, administering the revenues of the
island to secure itself, there is no means of
knowing that Spain would accept the propo-
siton. Intervention in Cuba, peacefully if we
can, forcibly if we must, is Immediately in
evitable.