The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-05-04
The Issue Clearly Stated.
Spain's Case Made Olt ard Fully
Answered.

toe wrong IN the controversy Wlln
Spain. has submitted to the young
men in his classes the following state
ment Of facts for their meditation:
First-The United States demand
ed better government in Cuba.
Spain replied to this request by
granting autonomy.
Secord-The United States claim
ed damages for the loss Of the Maine.
Spain in reply offered to submit the
matter to arbitration, which is per-
fectly jast way Of settlement. Tne
United States refused this.
Tuir d The United States de-
mauded that Spain stop starving the
rt couceut.ados in Cuba. II answer
to this, Spain released The reconcer-
trados aud granted S600,O00 for
lh.lr sustenauce.
Fourtb-The Uuited States de
cl4red that fighting in the island be
stopped. Spain in reply granted an
aru.istice and since then has done no
offensive fighting.
F.tlh-The United States demand
ga that Spain should leave Cuba
entirely. SPANS reply to this has
been silence.
1. is to be hoped that Professor
Van D. young men understood
Tie facts better ,bun he does. Let
US answer his statement in orde,:
Fitst-The autonomy that Spain
granted was seriously defective; aud
whatever it Was, it came so late that
it had not the slightest effect upon
tie war, since the insurgents would
then accept nothing short of inde-
perdence.
Seccnd-The Uuited States has
not claimed damages for the loss Of
the Mime. Spain has offered to
arbi,ra,e and the United States has
rot refused the c1fer. The lesolu-
tons passed by Congress do not
make the loss of the Maine a caucus
btlli.
Third-While Spain under pres
sure issued al order releasing the
reconcentrados, it came too late to
help ther: as for the S60O0O0, also
granted under pressure, it is the tes-
tinony of those best qualified to
know that it will never reach the
recorcentrados Perhaps Professor
Van Dyke knows nothing Of the cor.
ruption of Spanish officialdom in
Cuba.
Fouitb- President Mckinley asked
for an armistice until October l,
during which negotiations fer peace
we're to he attempted with the good
lhices Ct the President" Spain
refused, saying she would grant Ole
oily if Gen. Gomez should ask fo,
one. Latter or, when the President
IN view Of Spain's unsatisfactory
'tpIy, had decided to refer the whole
un;ter to Congress, Spain suddenl.
/. ciared IA Suspension of ho>t!lities,
>lich was clearly diplomatic trick
lice nc provision was made wbereb,
President Mckinley could use hl,
''-o,.d oifi'ts" to b,ing about perma
ent peace; moreover, an "armlstlce'
any sort t. which the iusur gem
leader did not consent was an absur
nty Oh : face.
Flf;h-The Uulted States has de.
narded that Spain leave Cuba en-,
rely, and with good reason, although
uer evacuation might have been &C
compllshed By less peremptory
method than Congress has adopted
But that must always be in doubt.
The moral reason why Spaiu
~hould abandon Cuba, all quibblipg
over tschuicallties aside, is that she
is totally unAt to have control o;
C1ba. How any one who knows hel
history, her past failures, her more
recent experience both in the Phillip
pires and in Cuba, caa doubt that
statement that Spain is unft-is 8
mystery. Her unf;ness is to des
roy cur own domestic trarquality
| because Cuba is at our very door. II
therefore Spain will not relirquisb
her sovereignty, and if her rebellious
subjects capGot be reconciled to her
rule, the forcib!e election of the
| Spanish government from the island
is the Only course open to the United
States.