The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-26
The Cuban Ins ureer.s


Ii is the opinion of the Philadelphia
Record that
The sympathy of the American people
with the starving reconcentrados IL q
very different thing from the alleged sym
pathy with the Cuban rcbels, who have
added "a new horror 70 civil war by the
cold-hlOOdrd assassination of bearers of
flags Of truce. The indcpendenCe
Of cuba with the insurgents in unre-
strained possession Of the government Of
the island would be n prolongation Of
the horrors Of civil war. Under
| their rule the incendiarsm of civil war
would he exchanged for the vengeance
and prescriptions of a miserable peace.
Hence the United States would assume
a heavy weight Of responsibility i'm driv-
ing the Spanards across the Atlantic and
in setting the insurgents up in govern
| ment over Cuba and over the happiness
Of its inhabitants.
our contemporary of course knows
that it's first sentence is absolutely
| false. 1t has been reported officially
| to congress by Consul General Lee that
no such thing as tlagof truce has ben
known in Cuba since the insurrection
| began. Senator Proctor afiirms that
! the discipline in the insurgent ranks is
| strict, considering the circumstances of
! the ware and every reputable news
| paper correspondent who has made
! personal investigation in Cuba corrob-
crates the senator as to the superior
| ity of the insurgents in character and
| methods over their Spanish antagon-
| lists
If Spain is eliminated from Cuba it
| is clear that the insurgents must sue
| ceed to the management of affairs.
| They have done the fighting; have
| borne the heat and burden of the
! struggle; they alone among the native
! Cuban population represent strength
! and perseverance and courage. What
| ever compromise or concessions are to
| be made to the milk-and-water nom
| combatant element, the so-called "au-
! Economists" now conducting under
| Spain's orders an opera bouffe govern
| ment without revenue or subjects.
| must come voluntarily from the insur-
! gents. Whatever may he the domi-
| nant opinion in the editorial sanctum
! of the Philadelphia Record, the fact in
| Cuba is that the Insurgents already
| rule the rOost They have whipped
Spain out Of the country into the for
titled towns. Spain holds today not
one-tenth part of the area Of the
! island. She cannot hereafter hold
more. She is certain even without
/ American intervention soon to hold
| less.
| When the insurgents come into COM
plete control there will be grave prob
| lens Of reconstruction and affairs will
| not for some years be altogether tran
! gull. Americans know how that is.
They once had a reconstruction period
Of their own. But Cuba under recon-
! struction cannot be worse than starv-
! ing and bleeding Cuba under the iron
heel of Spain. The same skilful man.
agement which has carried the pres
ent insurrectior in safety through in
| estimable difficulties, overturning all
the prophecies Of the nations, may be
relied upon Ia master the perpleXities
| of success. There will be radical
changes, OF course. Otherwise the in.
surrectiOn would have no excuse for its
existence. The Spaniards who hold in.
defensble titles to confscated Cubar
estates will be made to surrender
stolen property, The whole system OF
Spanish prescription, eXtortion ant
robbery will be torn up by the roots
Murderers Of women, old men and de,
fenceless children will he brought tC
justice. The vultures who have re-
duced Cuba from uneXampled fertility
and charm to gaunt desolation will bt
expelled, very probably without cere
mony. But honest inhabitants neet
not fear. In order 20 accomplish tn,
restoration OF the islands productive,
ness the insurgent government woult
have 10 act SO as to invite instead o
repel outside confidence and capital
If necessary the government of tn,
United States would put forth a guild
ing and restraining hand.
The Records fears are but the re
hections OF SPANS guilty conscience.
|
In a letter to the Havana cores