Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-02-18
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY IS, 1898.
CUBA.

of the Cleveland administration towards
the great and persistant effort of the
Cubans to free themselves from the
dominion of Spain has thus far been
closely followed by Mr.. Mckinley's adj
ministration, but very strong evidences
are beginning to appear that the Republic
can party of the nation will not permit
such a state of things to continue much
longer. The great body of the Republic
cans are not in sympathy with Mr..
Cleveland's policies, nor disposed to
assist in carrying them out. And If the
leaders at Washington wish to keep in
line with the rank and file of their party,
they will have to reverse this Cuban
policv, the quicker for them the better.
The rank and file upon this subject they
cannot control. Practically the whole
American nation recognize that the time
has come for the final and complete
separation of this magnificent American
island from control of Spain. This is
more matter of judgement than senti-
ment, although of course the sentiment
is all one way. But the American
people understand perfectly that the
condition of affairs in Cuba, joined to
Spain, has always been undesirable and
has become intolerable, without the
slightest possible chance of improve
ment. and therefore should be 'termi-
mated at the first opportunity; and this
opportunity they recognize has arrived
Exactly what is at the bottom of the
policy thus far pursued by two admin
istrations it is difficult to say. Want OF
patriotism, cowardice and incompotency
with those who lead at Washington may
be the explanation of it, although it is
more probable, as charged by the OPP
position, that some monied interest is
enlisted on the Spanish side, by the
ownership of Spanish bonds or other
wise, that is influential enough in the
Washington counsels to control.
Against this policy of cowardice and
indecision, Senators Cannon of Utah and
Mason Republican of Illinois, have
Just made earnest protest, as appears in
the following account from the Wash
ington Post of Feb 10;
The tide of Cuban interest rose high
in the senate yesterday. The mere an
nouncement that resolutions declaring
for the recognition of the independence
of Cuba were to be debated attracted to
the capitol throng that rivaled in point
of numbers an Inauguration crowd. The
galleries were early filled to their utmost
capacity, and then in the lobbies there
gathered long lines of eager people, who
waited patiently for hours in hope of
admission. The sympathy of the audit
ors, too, was very evident. Once, when
Senator Mason emphasized in ringing
tones the fact that the Cubans had
maintained their own in spite of every
effort on the part Of the United States to
deprive them of assistance, and that this
administration could bring peace, the
applause was so spontaneous and hearty
as to cause cessation of business for
couple of minutes.
There were three speeches. Senator
Cannon of Utah, in calm and dispassion-
ate tone, advocated the recognition of
the beligerency, and then of the indie.
pendence of Cuba, but charged that the
administration was in league with Span
ish bondholders. Senator Mason of
Illinois, in earnest and emphatic Ian.
guage, appealed for the passage of "a reso-
luton directing the president to intervene
in behalf of peace in the island. Senator
Hale of Maine took the opposition
ground. He upheld and eulOgized Presi-
dent Mckinley for what had already
been done, notably the securing the re-
lease of American prisoners In Cuba and
the sending of the Maine to Havana, and
said that the policy of the adminstra-
ton was the most certain preventive of
trouble. Senator Mason's speech was
quite long, lasting for over two hours,
but it was listened to with close at
tentiOn.
While Senator Cannon did not indulge
in any verbal pyrotechnics, he did not
mince words. He began by asking why
there seemed to be a general opinion that
nothing would be done by congress be.
yOnd mere talk, and asserted that if
something was not done to carry out the
will of the people regarding Cuba, the
officials of the administration would feel
the effect of popular indignatian. He
then said:
The war is ended in Cuba. The brutal
heroism of battle has given place to the con
troYersY of hunger. Spain no longer has the
courage or the credit to maintain offensive
operations in the field. She is only holding
TO the appearance of a struggle with Cuba in
order to satisfy the creditors who have adj
vanced the millions by which she has sought
to hold the Cuban people in subsection.
spain has been bankrupt in money for many
years. She is bankrupt now in credit Her
greatest statesman has gone; her people no
longer have the ability to furnish arms for
the field, and the policy of Spain toward
Cuba is not that of warfare, as we have al
ways understood the word, but it is policy
TO subdue by bribery, by corruption, and
starvation, the people whom Spain and her
cohorts cannot conquer in the field
Mr.. Cannon then made this statement: