The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-31
copyright. 1881

tOoRyfiHhts 1870.
There can be no doubt from what
Uncle Sam has already SO thoroughly
performed in his work OF castigation OF
n set of beings whose principal military
method has been to starve women ana
children when not engaged in more
despicabIe practices that the cry OF "On
10 Cuba," has met with ready acquies-
cence from the hearts of an enthusiast
tic people who have so unitedly upheld
him in his purposes. They are only too
willing to do more, for there is almost
a universal feeling that never before In
the worlds history was there such
lust cause for an aggressive movement
or more sufficient reason for stern un-
relenting punishment.
son TO Cuba!" has been the warcry
of the people Of the United States-the
merchant the farmer. the miner. the
plowboy. the clerk, the soldier and the
ciyilian-whatever IL may have been IN
the more reserved and diplomatic phra-
seology of the government. Let US
hasten" they have said, ito end that
reign of barbarous despotism. or cruelty
to helpless females, that butchery and
diabolism which have been In reality a
condemnation of the virility and inteni-
gence of the great civilizing factor OF
the western hemisphere known as the
United States of America
And the means are two-our army
and navy, our twin dogs OF war. The
latter can continue to lombard and lay
in ruins the Notifications and defenses
OF the ports OF entry, and under cover
of that fire, though IL is not always
necessary, armed bodies OF men may
be landed to combat with the military
force Spain has on the island. This is
not a necessity. because after the de-
struction OF forts and inferior defenses
grandiloquently termed castles no
military body would appear on the coast
line to obstruct the debarkation or SOL
diers so long as powerful fleet was
within gun range to guard the trans
portation of men to the shore.
Again, our troops may land in shell
tered bays, as srits their purposes. far
from any frowning citadel or gloomy
fortress which is more forbidding In ex-
terror than dangerous as a means OF at
tack.
There is neither desire nor intention
upon the part of our military authori-
ties 20 lay waste the towns or cities OF
Cuba. 1t will not be done except in
such cases where It may be absolutely
necessary, and il is not even conjec-
tured that that will be probable. They
contain too many noncombatants,
starving Cubans and residences of for
eigners to render such a proceeding ad-
visable even IL the dictates of humanity
did not serve as an intervening motive.
Then many commercial interests af-
fecting us are involved. A large por-
ton of Cardenas belongs to Americans.
There is. perhaps unknown to some, an
immense amount. OF valuable property.
millions In total, throughout Cuba own
ed by native born American citizens.
Among more than a hundred individ-
uals in New York city alone who have
invested money in Cuba there Is one
who has expended 100000 in planta-
tions and sugar houses. the latter now
in ruins, though the Spanish govern
ment has kept a platoon OF soldiers on
his property and charged him for their
support. This is their pretext for in
tended future confiscation, providing
they remain masters of the island.
There are many Americans also in
Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and else
where who have had for years large
landed investments in Cuba, which they
will not be able to reclaim until peace
shall have been declared.
The demolition Of the outside defenses
renders the military occupation of those
towns and cities by United States SOL
diers not only feasible, but compara-
lively easy. There will always natural
ly be some fighting. A dozen men may
attempt to defeat the advance of COM
pany or a battalion in one place. or a
regiment may charge upon brigade al
another. The opposing forces may be
evenly matched In number of men at
some other time. but there will and can
be only one final result If the Span
fards will continue the struggle long
enough, they will not only be decimat-
ed, but virtually exterminated.
Our soldiers can be very effectively
landed at Guanabacoa. Just east OF Ha-
vana. or In the vicinity OF Port An
tonic and even farther east at Ma
tanzas or Cardenas, as is well known.
for larger base Of supplies and as an
easier method Of reaching down to the
gulf of Matamano. on the southern
coast. and creating new osginal
trocha that will make distinctively sep