Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-23
Adopting Spanish Subjects.

Yesterdays cable from Havana brought
the following:
LA Discussion today criticises the edi-
toriai of La Lucia referring contemp-
tuously to the charitable work of Amer
leans in the island, and says that the edi-
torial was inspired by hatred of the Cuban
people, from whom La Lucha has derived a
large part of its income. The editor of La
Iucha, says La Discussion, knows that
there arc :iU0,000 victims of starvation, and
would not care if there were as many dead.
He is ignorant of the great charities main
tanned by the United States, and also of
the gifts Of supplies from the United States
to other countries than Cuba in time Of
need "
The editor of La Discussion adopts the
same tone with regard to the American re-
lief for the reconcentrados that Senior de
LONE did at the time the measure was first
proposed Senior de LONE, it will be re-
membered, at once explained that Spain
could with entire propriety receive this as.
sistance for the Cubans, as other countries
had accepted similar service at the hands
of the United States when their people
We're in distress.
But this entirely misstates the case.
There is no likeness whatever between the
cause of the distress in Russia and Ireland
which the people of the United States so
promptly assisted in relieving and the
cause of the distress in Cuba to which they
are responding today. The distress in Rus
STA and Ireland was caused by failure of
the crops. The people We're helpless
through no fault either of their own or of
their home government. The uncontroll-
able action OF nature had robbed them of
their support. The people of the United
States gave OF their bounty literally, as, if
placed in similar circumstances. they would
would not hesitate to accept of the bounty
of others.
But in Cuba the case is not only entirely
different, but is in every way most extra
ordinary. There the distress OF the people
is the act of the government. 1t was de-
liberateiy planned, as part of the policy to
bring the insurgents under, to starve those
of the native population who were in
capable of bearing arms Their homes
were destroyed, their cattle confiscated and
they themselves penned up to die. Nature
had no hand in the work at all. 1t was the
work of the Spanish government wholly.
General Weyier's infamous order was ap-
proved at Madrid, and every necessary
Spanish agency in the island was employed
in executing it.
In accepting American assistance for the
Cuban people, therefore, Spain, however
MUCH she may Try 10 uiSSUlSc Tie ldCt,
virtually accepts rebuke of her own bar
barity. Every morsel put by the American
people into the mouths of SPANS starving
subjects is indictment at the bar of hui
mainly of the Spanish policy which has
made that assistance necessary.
And in the very nature of the case this
must be taken into account now that the
crisis is at hand. The policy of the United
States now is to be to save as many of the
reconcentrados as possible. The govern
ment will in effect adopt those unhappy
people. If it may do that, may it not also
raise it's voice about Cupas future? Are
the victims of Spain's policy to be cared
for, and yet Spain be allowed to proceed
with that policy? Shall the United States
simply undertake Spains hospital service,
leaving Spain free to go on with her drawn
sword and unextinguished torch, adding to
the agony of the people and the waste of
the land?