Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-13
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the United States.
The recognition of the independence of
the people of Cuba is justified and de-
ma nded by the highest considerations OF
duty right and policy.
The insurgents hold the eastern portion
OF the island, to the practical exclusion of
Spain. This possession extends over one
body Of territory comprising fully one-half
of the area of Cuba.
The determination by Spain of the peace
full inhabitants of the western portion of
the island has affected the balance of
population between these moleties of Cuba
that the insurgents comprise in the eastern
half nearly one-third of the population OF
the island. That third of the population
pays taxes TO them, serves in their armies.
and in every way supports and is loyal TO
them This situation has existed ever
since the first few months of the war. The
armies OF Spain under Csmpcs. Weyler and
Blanco. successfully have been repealed in
every invasion that they have attempted
of the eastern half of the island.
The cause of Spain has continually grown
v eaker and that of the insurgents has
grown stronger. The former is making
substantial effort for the recovery of these
lost provinces. Their people are secure
from invasion and cruel administration.
Spain has never been able to subject them
to her unprecedented and murderous policy
of concentration and determination. Her
armies have been more than decimated in
the attempt to subdue them. Two hun
tired thousand of her soldiers have failed
I" reduce the insurgents The few rein
forcements that she is now sending TO Cuba
do not supply a 1.-THE of ner losses caused
by battle and disease.
Her control over the western portion of
the island is dominance over desolation
which she herself has created. Even there
she controls only the territory occupied by
her environments and camps. Outside these
the Insurgents are everywhere in presence
In the population OF Cuba the native
born preponderate in a very large proper
ti9n. probably of S to 1. We have been
surcl Ly the most unlmpsachable authority
1--WE mean Senators Proctor, Gallinger,
Thurston and Money! that the native-born
Cubans everywhere. even within the mill
tary lines of Spain, are opposed to the PAL
ent state and are in sympathy with the in
surgents.
We have also been assured by the sane
authority that the native Cubans by ST.
periority in education are better qualified
than the Spaniards. and are thoroughly ca
p.tDle to administer the government of the
ISLAND
The preceding observations have assumed
Il certain control and sovereignty by Spain
over the western portion of Cuba. We have
indicated its character. 1t is limited 10
scattered and fortified areas and it is not
a civil sovereignty. 1t is merely a mill
tary occupation of fortified places. Even
this dominion has been made possible aud
continues only by the infiiction of Il policy
for which the history of no people Tex
cepting possibly that of Spain HERSELF fur
n$heS any example The weird knows
what that policy is and all civilization exc
crates il 1t consists in compelling under
penalty of death the rural population Of
the western part of the island to leave their
homes. their fields. their stock and other
chattels and mass themselves between the
outskirts of certain designated towns and
d military Gordon intercepting their return
Into the country. AS they departed from,
their homes their houses were burned thu;
growth OF their fields was trodden down BY
cavalry. their agricultural implements. fur
niture and domestic utensils were destroy
ed. their cattle and horses were swept away
by Spain Throughout wide areas of a re-
gIon Of unsurpassed fertility, which had
been densely populated for more than two
centuries. not one living thing. brute or
human. not enc habitation not one pro-
uuctiVe field Is to be seen.
For the miserable condition to which an
entire population is reduced Spain has af-
foricd no substantial relief and the evil
and distress have become so huge and her
financial debility is so extreme that she is
now unable TO relieve, even if she could be
supposed to have the disposition to do so.
The result has been that over o0o oe, os
The subjects Of Spain have been killed by
The action of that government and .DD,sD
more are suffering from famine and disease
Ihtre has been no distinction of sex .or
age in this protracted and torturing mas
s'.cre- The children of this generation have
Teen starved to death, and the immola lion
OF womanhoOd has destroyed the possibility
OF posterity.
There can be no doubt that the contriver
OF this unexampled scheme of atrocity in
tended to depopulate, to the full extent of
an ability undeniably great in the ccncep-
ton and preparation Of colossal crime. the
island Of its native people and to repeop,e
IL by natives of Spain.
We can not consent upon any conditions
that the depopulated portions of Cuba shall
lie reco!onized by Spain any more than she
should be allowed to found Il new colony in
any other part of this hemisphere or island
Thereof. Either act is regarded by the
United States as dangerous to our peace
and safety.
That government has violated the laws
Of civilized warfare in the conduct of her
military operations. Her troops have
slaughtered prison ars after their surrender;
and have massacred the sick and wounded
irsurs"nt soldiers and their physicians and
nurses in their captured hospitals
An AfrOnt TO Civilization.
When publicists and jurists speak of he
f-%ht OF sovereignty of a parent state over
d people or a colony they mean that oil
vlnely delegated supremacy in the exercise
OF which man should show ''iikest God"
They never mean that a usurpation of
Ciabolism shall be sanctified upon the plea
that II is sovereignty none the less than
that OF well-ordered and humane govern
ment- Against such reasoning the
moral laws
of nature and Of nations speak aloud
and declare that the state which thus per-
voris and abuses its power thereby for
feits its sovereignty. And this principle
fas been the foundation of the repsa,ed
irtervcntions by the states of Europe in
IL