Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-25
THE SUFFERING IN CUBA.

There is no longer any question that
want and disease are cutting an i'm
mense and CHASTITY swath in the ranks
Of the reconcentradoes Of Cuba. The grim
work of these terrible agencies is espe-
cially appalling In the province of Natan-
zas. and. making all allowances for ex-
aggeration aud for difficulty in getting
exact data, the condition of Affairs cries
aloud to humanity the world over This
must be generally conceded no matter
with which side to the Cuban struggle
we may sympathize Thousands of men,
women, and children have starved to
death, or died of disease due to a lack
OF food: thousands more are starving
and the gaunt procession Of these latter
towards the grave is being daily aug
mented. What is true of Matanzas, Is, in
great measure. also true of the other
Cuban provinces that are in the hands OF
the spaniards.
Assistance has been rendered by both
the Spanish authorities and this country,
but this has proved utterly inadequate
10 meet the necessities of the case Day
by day IL becomes more apparent that the
only hope of avoidance of a practical
decimation of the population of
the island is in the restoration
of peace. thereby opening the way
for the starving masses from the country
districts 10 return 10 the cultivation OF
the soil and the task of rehabilitating
the devastated fields.
AS we know. this government is pledged
TO giving Spain a reasonable opportunity
IN which TO test the programme Of Cuban
autonomy. That the Sagasta Ministry
has been acting, and is continuing to
act, in good faith in this matter, there is
no reason TO doubt. 1t is incumbent upon
the United States to act in equal good
faith. We have few things in common
with President Mckinley, but we agree
with him in his declaration in his mes
sage OF December last that it SIS honestly
due to Spain and to our friendly relations
with Spain that she should be given q
reasonable chance to realize her expec-
tations. and TO prove the asserted eff
cacy OF the new order of things 10 which
she stands irrevocably committed"
1t is true that many persons who have
studied carefully the Cuban situation
who have studied it Observation-Disclosures
whose views are entitled to great
weight, are quoted az having expressed
the conviction that autonomy IS a fail |
ure. Moreover, there have been recently |
many developments in connection with
the drift Of events on the island which |
would seem 10 justify that conviction. |
But. on tho other hand. the sagasta |
ministry. the Spanish authorities In cuba
and prominent native Autonomist lead |
ers still profess implicit confidence that
the new programme will vindcate itself. |
They too. have a side 10 the question. !
that Is in them. This would seem to In
dictate reasonable chance, at least, of /
SPANS realizing her expectations
How. then, is the great question Of hu-
mainly involved to be dealt with2 It has
been suggested that the International
Peace Conference take hold of the mat
ter. This organization has branches in
nearly every civilized country. and its
object Is to prevent war. by inducing set
Element Of all international disputes
through arbitration. II follows that it
would also come within It's province to
labor TO stop war that had actually COM
menctd. The idea is that it might use
ifs influence TO secure a settlement Of
the Cuban question by international
pressure-that Is. bring about a concert
OF the Great Powers OF the world for
the adjustment Of the trouble with honor
10 Spain and good government for the
distracted island. The suggestion Is
worth discussing. but in the discussion
one thing must be borne prominently ana
continuasiy IN mind This country can
not go into such concert until It shall
have been stipulated and agreed that
neither the formation Of the concert nor
any act Of It shall afford the slightest
excuse hereafter for any infringement on
the Monroe doctrine. On that point there
must he 40 fnfsfaLo