The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-24

two hundred and fifty thousand soldiers
TO Cuba, and that perhaps half OF them
nave died OF fever starvation and misery.
the Island Is still unconquered and the
rebels as strong as ever; nor does 1t seen,
at all likely that any greater success Will
be gained In the future than in the past.
The policy Of Cancellation seems even more
ruitless. The rebels have made 1t clear
that they will accept nothing short of IN
dependence. and independence the Span
iards will not. or rather, as we have
said. cannot, grant The Spanish sense
or honor and Spanish pride and ignorance
demand that Spain shan cling 10 CUBA
even II the result be national ruin. The
Americans are gradually coming 10 rear
lie that this is the real state of the case
They began by making diplomatic pro-
tests and by taking up an attitude when
II the Spaniards had been a common
sense people wor 4 uosifivelv have
suited in independence for Cuba. Inc
Americans expected Spain to say: we
cannot fight both the Cnited States an,
our own rebels, ana therefore we VIII
Yield" The Spaniards have said noun
ing OF the kind, but instead have deter
mined that they would fight not only the
Union, but the whole world rather imam
yield This has gradually brought the
American people-.we mean by THE Amer
the cranks, but the mass of quieter clu-
zens-to see that diplomacy can do moth
ing and that they must take one or two
courses. Either they must allow Spain
to 90 on I'm Cuba in the future ms she
has cone on in the past, or else they
must intervene by means OF war. lhel'
is no third course possible. for half meas
ures only mean letting Spain have 4 free
hand I'm Cuba. Which course VIII the
Americans choose VIII they allow an
island which Is not very much further
from Florida than Jersey Is from Hamp-
shire 10 be turned into a permanent hell
upon-earth? or will they so to war to
secure some ameHoration OF the situation
In our opinion. they will reluctantly ana
with many hesitatiOns and misgiVings,
come TO the conclusion that Spain must
cease to reign I'm Cuba, and that they
must take action TO produce TINS result.
The likelihood of such a decision being
taken before long is increased by the tact
that the government of the United states
has now received a series OF consular re-
ports as TO the state Of the unhappy
Island These reports are said 10 show
that the effects OF Spanish rule in cuba
have been like nothing that the world
has seen in recent times. Thousands ol
the poaceful inhabitants who have only
desired 10 stand neutral have been driven
from their homes into the towns lest their
presence on the land should give succor
to the rebels. aud I'm the towns they have
died of disease and starvation. Mean
time tho starving and ill-dlscplined sol
dicrs have been far more iormldaDle anu
more dangerous TO the loyalists than TO
tho enemy. In fact the consular reports
will show. Il IS alleged condition or
things which is ptiable beyond words.
The island Is being utterly ruined ana
the life led there seems TO DE as .iull
of human misery as r. is possible 10
conceive. Possibly. If these reports had
appeared q year ago, they would not
have been much noticed. Now tnty VIII
will be read everywhere, for the desi uc-
ton of the Maine" has advertised the
existence OF the Cuban horror ana maze
every American realize that there IS such
place as Cuba. The destruction OF
the Maine though recognized as an ac-
cldent. has made cuba visible 10 Amer
Tea.
Under these circumstances We cannot
hold that the American preparations
make war less likely. They viii nor.
we believe. alter the situation for the
worse. hut without them the situation had
become critical I'm tn extreme. AS we
have said America has come 10 inc
meeting of the ways, and must decide
whether she will allow Spain % 40 Miidl
She will with her own. or whether she
will resolve that the reign OF misery ana
wrong resting on ineputude and prlde
shall cease I'm Cuba. In our belief Amer
ica will not allow cuba anarchy 10 con-
tlnue and in spite Of the very grave rea-
sons which exist for non-intervention.
She will before long take naval and mill
tarv action. As Afr. Kipling has said
the Americans are very irresolute ana
very full OF doubts up to the point when
they wake
"The drumming guns that have no
doubts" .,...,..,
After that there IS no more irresoluioh
till the last shot is fired.