The herald., 1898-07-21
THE CRISIS IN CUBA

The plot thickens. The Cuban patriot.
under Garcia are sulking In their tents
Il They are murmuring among themselves
The guns with which they have beer
provided by the United States. 1t is feared
may be turned against their deliverers
ehafter has directed that no more arms
or ammunition shall be delivered &c
them. Their chieftain has gone into thu
interior to confer with Gomez. History
y being made very rapidly.
Y Not many days ago it was announced
IN tho Washington dispatches that upor
tire faii OF Santiago the city would be
sturped over to the insurgents, that they
would be entrusted with the garrisonine
sof the place, and would at the same time
,be permitted to set up their government
there and put in operation the machinery
necessary to it's safe and decorous man.
;agement. They were, In short, to be pro-
svided with capital for their embryo re-
public and given an opportunity to ex-
pertinent with self-government. Suisse
squentiy these people, apparently forget
ting duty to themselves and their coun-
try. as we'll as their obligations to the
United States, made several hysterical
exhibitions Of themselves, displaying in
each the difficulty, If not impossibility, Of
restraining the riotous instinct and muir
derous impulse characteristic of theil
race. They shot the defenseless seamen
of Cervera's ships while they were strug-
Cling in the surf, and refused to desist
until the guns of the Iowa were turned
upon them. Later they sacked and
burned Ell Caney, their exploits there
being marked by the traditional saw
agery of their natures. Refused permits
sion to enter Santiago after its fall, they
began to intrigue against Shafter, and
we hazard little in guessing that they
have given him more trouble than did
Toral. Three or four days ago it was
stated that the Federal army would not
be returned to the United States, as had
been announced, but would be retained
indefinitely in the vicinity of Santiago
A small detachment Of regulars have
since been doing garrison duty, while the
main body of the army, the command
under Garcia and the puroled prisoners
have been camped on San Juan Heights
beyond the city limits.
The main facts above recited have come
to us through the regular news channels.
What has been lacking to make the rec
ord measurably complete may be inferred
without much risk of going far astray.
We may have to wait some time for the
details, and perhaps a still longer time
for the motives of the leading actors in
the drama that is now being enacted. 1t
Is. Of course, too soon to arrive at safe
conclusion as to the justification for SO
radical a change in the plans Of Cen
eral Shafter and his attitude toward his
native allies. There can be no doubt of
his wisdom in postponing the consumma-
ton of the program decided upon prior
to the development OF the murderous i'm
pulse in the surf massacre and the I'M
concealed determination to repeat the Ell
Caney incident at Santiago. The world
may accuse US of dishonesty and insin-
terity in the declared purpose of the war,
but it must not be permitted to say that
We needlessly resort to the sword or
the torch, or that we permit our allies
TO carry on in our name war Of murder,
arson and rapine. Nothing could justify
us or them in turning war for humanity
1nto war against humanity.
Now, however, a condition and not
theory confronts US in Cuba, as 1t Is also
likely to confront us in the Philippines,
when the climax Is reached there. We
ere not ready to believe that the Cuban
patriots, as we have been pleased to call
them, are ready to deliberately throw
aWav or seriously jeopardize the oppor-
4unity soon to be afforded them of try
~ their hand at self-Eovernment, of
Dacifying and tranquiIizing the island,
~ Of enjoying the legitimate fruits Of
leir long, bitter and bloody struggle
4keinst merciless foe. Fools indeed
ouId they be to do that. Nor have we
&olly lost confidence In the Judgment
11d He1trve common sense Of their lead
those fairness. sense Of justice and
eity have been often commended BY
( 4er41 ehafter and other representatives
~ United States who have been
AZ = contact with them. It II not
~ Garcia's men win prove par
ttot1blesome IN his ahsence.
~ that 81 occasionally u, be
Neoxo(1 Ionve khem without strong