The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-14
WHAT OTHERS SAY.
Is TREACHERY BREWING;
Norfolk Pilot and Virginian.

ANOTlOlk llOI anu
From the very beginning of American
Intervention in Spanish-Cuban affairs,
the Spanish bond-holders have been
diligent in pressing their claims and in
terests on attention. They seemed to
take it for granted that money is the
most sacred of secular concerns, ana
that where it is involved, it's security and
protection must be considered and as
sured before life liberty, justice and
every other matter not solvent and con-
vertiblc into gold, and to be expressed
in terms of money. Thus, at the first
mooting of Cuban recognition in Wash
ington, it was urged that there was
a special obligation known as the Cuban
! debt. which must be first provided for.
The first proposition was that the United
States should assume this debt, SO that
the poor meritorious bond-holders should
not lose dollar of their precious money,
nor suffer in their elevated minds at
any apprehension of pecunary loss.
Mems lives and liberties. and the indie
pendence of nations were as but dust II
the balance to these sacred bonds, which,
moreover, amounted to no great sum
for the United States to assume, or guar
antee. being only $50, 900, 600, or $780,
100000.
A little research. however, disclosed
that these so-called Cuban bonds amour
ted to ut least $5O0O00.000, and might
reach 100000, 900; that the poor widows
and orphans holding them for the most
part were the Rothschilds, and other
millionaire capitalists of Paris: that the
money obtained on them went exclusively
to the Golfers of Spain for the ruthless
campaigns of murder and determination,
robbery. outrage, fire and blood, starva-
ton and ruin to desolatc Cuba; aud
that these Partisan bond-holders had
advanced this blood-money to Spain, well
knowing its bloody and inhuman pur-
poses. on terms that promised them inn
mense profits on the investment of cru
city. and the violation of women, with
the indiScriminate massacre of old men,
women and children, and the conhagra-
ton of crops and homes. This is the
holy debt created by the advance of
funds from brutal financiers to Il bru-
tai Spanish administration to enable it
to carry on the most brutal proceedings
in Cuba ever conceived in the magma
ton of the most depraved and barbarous.
1t was these proceedings that shocked
and aroused the world and forced the
government and people of this country
to intervene; and it is this debt, so
contracted by Spain for the most mon
strous and malignant dragonnades. that
Cuba is to pay and the United States
guarantee.
And yet it is insisted that Cuba must
pay this debt created by Spain. for
Cuban determination and dissolution 1t
is urged that the United States must
hn he +hn
blood-money. from any loss. The loan
of the money and its horrible use were
monstrous; but they are trihes light as
air compared with this Infamous pro-
position to impose the payment of the
bloodmoney upon those it was en-
ployed to destroy.
At any and every period, the honor,
humanity and common sense of JUS
tice should have compelled this gov
ernnlent to have forbidden the eXaction
of this blood-money from its victims;
but consider that all the Cuban patriots
asked of us, after Il long and heroic
struggle had exhausted Spain, which
had compelled her to abate her cruelty
and offer an autonomous government TO
the island; and when the insurgents were
in u position to dictate terms to her
tyrant and demand and compel her entire
freedom and independence, we rushed
in, with grand professions. with our ar
my and navy, though wholly unaSked,
and took possession of the situation.
when. all the Cubans desired was our
friendly diplomatic recognition, which
would put them upon Il footing of equal
ity as belligerents. and raise them above
the mere condition of reyolted subjects.
However, to declare war against Spain
and ayowedly because of her cruelty
and despotism in Cuba was a full en-
dorscment of the righteousness of the
Cuban revolution, and the war itself.
despite our refusal of diplomatic rec
ognition, was for Cuban relief, Succor
and benefit, or it WAS wholly ineXcusable.
IA mere buccaneering raid into Spanish
territory. After the declaration of war.
with the avowed causes and purposes
we stood for Cuba, and the Cubans. as
well as ourselves, or we were doubly
pirates; pirates against both Cuba and
Spain: mere invading conquerors for loot
and territory.
But, while this government may dis
grace itself and the country by all
sorts of perfdy, it cannot absolve it
self from its implied and necessary OBJ
legations incurred in thrusting itself,
when it did, between the advancing Gu
bans and the yielding Spaniards, and
now that the war begun on Cuban nc
count (for that was the preteXt, what
ever technical and diplomatic lies may
be interposedD has come to Il point
where peace is in negotiation, it is
Cuba and her interests that demand
our first attention in all good faith and
honor. If we did not begin this war
for Cuban liberty. independence and
benefit. but. the more effectually to sub
iect Cuba to the claims of the Spanish |
bondholders, who see all hope of any
payment of their blood-bonds gone with
the coming of real Cuban independence. |
of course we must not even now consent |
to Cuban independence; but if our decla-
ration of war was an honest response to
the popular American demand to help |
Cuba. THEN. then it was our duty. as
the initial preliminaries of peace. to in
sist on the Spanish recognition of Cuban |
$nO W.,