Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-04-05
THOUGHTS AsoUT CUBA.
RY MEMO

Three years and more nave elapsed
since the present Cuban rebellion broke
out. 1t Is probable that In history past
or to come no parallel TO Its conditions
will be found. The rulers OF the island
unable to defeat the insurgents are them
selves undefeated; and the insurgents
elusive and triumphant and enduring
beyond usual measure In guerilla warfare
OF their purpose than they were at the
outbreak Of hostilities. Nature and he'
chastity hsnd-msiden, Pestilence, have
fought for the insurgents; but Natures
battlings have been balanced by new sr'
rivals Of Spanish soldiers-mep, some oi
them; boys, many Of them-forced al
most at bayonet point TO take the places
Of the deceased and the dead. Against
the doggedness OF the insurgent the
pride OF the ruler has been matched
The insurgent can hold out indefinitely
the Spaniard ,ciii.
While the stubborn warfare OF these
uuyielding forces has proceeded with
fiuctusting results that 10 the long rur
h,ve p'actics lily balanced each other, q
third army OF human ings has been
slowly ground TO destruction. or thei'
woes we must think and, having thought
we must act. Though the Spanisrd:
have been chi, fly conflued within th'
limits set up by themselves; prisoners
In fact, within their own Notifications
vet they have retained a fear-compellinl
power over the feeble minds Of the chill
dren and the timorous natives OF both
sexes who were afraid to fight and die
not dare to fee. These pacificos quietly
obeyed the government when order'
went forth through the country regions
TO gather within town limits and sta,
there. The expected freedom to live IL
peace under the surveillance Of the
Spanish army, changed at once Into
desth-dealing bondage. Unable to cult
vste land to any great extent. herded to
geiher in huts unit for swine, suffering
from lack OF food, and by lack Of foot
rendered more helpless and weak-spirit
ed than before, they have died like fiie'
In autumn; and in diving have suffered
woes that are unequslled even by thu
bloody sufferings OF the Armenisns o'
the plague-ridden starvation Of th'
Hindoos. The language Of = moderate
woman like Clara Barton, the fsmou,
Red Cross heroine; and the stories
pictured BY the truthful camera, mor'
than justify these comparisons. ln one
hospital slone-a place where care an'
tender oversight are expected-fou
hundred OF the pdcidcos have died o.
starvation. The burdens OF the insur
gents, who, In rebelling did so In full ex
pectation OF the fortunes and misfortune
OF war, have been ss nsught beside tn
woes of these unhappy non-combstsnts
Where Spain has slain its hundreds b,
fir- and nv sword, it has slain Its HUN
DREDS OF THOUSANDS by hung
and by neglect. This has taken plsc'
aud is still doing so within ninety mile,
OF the land that declares in favor Of life
liberty and the pursuit OF happiness"
This war-measure OF Spain agains
harmless ones will ever stand out promi
nently In the annals Of the brutslities o
which our race Is capable. This is no
| WAR with its glamour OF excitemen
and of chance. but relentless MURDEl
without the shedding of blood.
When y man sees q weak one persecut
ed and refuses to side with the weak h
is no man. The rule for man Is tn
rule for nation. Murder Of women ant
children, hopeless and enfeebled anf
starving, Is at our door, at last We begiI
to appreciate il. Their broken lives
their untimely deaths, their rights to
happier condition are making themselve
slowly understood among our people
Every stratum Of society Is permexted
The great underlying love Of fair-play i
stirring this nation North and South
And it is girding itself 10 PUNISH ant
not 70 wage war.
| Let US be careful that our motives ar
pure and our minds uncOnfused. Tn
wild talk of blundering official like d.
LONE Is nothing to our great conservs
tive millions. War or even the though
Of war over such matter Is unworthy
our contemplation. It would be an ab
solute reversiOn to the barbaric irasci
bility of olden times. We have grow
away from such things.
The selfish motives of tobacco factor
and sugar gamblers In pointing out to
great, fsir-minded country chance y
filch from Spain, because she is weak
that which Is hers as truly as New Eng
land is ours, has moved US only to con
demn and not to approve. We refuse 4
add to our racial problems at the nod o
self seeking men. The heart OF the ma
tion Is unrespOnsive to such temptation
and furthermore even the terrible Main
disaster, with It's sorrow and Its loss IN
grsndly shown to the world that we ar
slow to anger and plente0us In conservs
tism. Despite all guesses to the con
trary, our people have refused to believ
that the Spanish government could b
suicidal enough to have direct conneC
ton with the disaster. We believe tina
she would foresee more damage TO hel
self than to us in this sudden and horr
BILE event. II this were all that had hsI
pened, an indemnity would be sufficient
and q war bs quite contrary TO intel
national precedents.
But while this nation, set In might I
lead the Western hemisphere, can stan
insults to its vast self It cannot perm
inhumAnity to It's weak neighbors.
will enter into conflict with Spain NJ
because certain Of victory, but becaus
Spain slaughters the innocent. This ~
ti0n believes in the glories OF peace, 81
1t must be "peace with honor" and NJ
with dishOnOr that assuredly comes froI
silence In the presence Of brutal abuse
By its own past, 1t knows full well q
horrid cost Of war. Yet its great, tru'
: heroic heart beats high to declare that
Is better to die In protecting the defenc
less than to live In falseho0d 70 lie ow
grand past. Its conscience is arouse,
It's arm Is barred to smite and that swif
: ", lest there be none OF the starvin
left to save.
With such pure motive, its actor
will have the cordial goodwill Of Eur
! pean nations. Short, decisive work vi
/, be made Of the solemn task, and wht
: the smoke has cleared justice Will hs,
: been done to the unjust, and "Cul
Libre" may then develop In quiet Ito on
individuality.
s.You wee, my dear" said Mr.. Y0uuI
Q | husband to bis wife triumphantly, ct
s AN. the other morning, .'the moment