Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-02-26
CUBANS THREATEN.
ISLAND SEEMS RIPE FOR AN
OTHER WAR.
Natives Demand Withdraw of Troops
and Refuse Guarantees = Belief in
Washington that Crisis in Our Re-
1ations Cannot Long Be Deferr ed.

The most serious question now before
Congress and the President, although the
people at large seem to have little appre-
citation of its real gravity, is rapidly COM
ing to head, says Washington CORE
spondent. 1t would be impossible to ex-
aggerate the serious concern with which
the cabinet at recent meetings has dis
cussed the Cuban situation, both as to
the relations of the Cubans toward each
other and Of the future relations between
the United States and Cuba. There has
been such an official decrying of "sensa-
tionaliSm" that most of the Washington
correspondents have refrained from using
exact words in referring TO the outlook,
hence the masses of the people have not
appreciated how critical it really is. One
word describes both the fear and the an
ticipation of official. Washington concern
ing the question: War. Those who have
given serious attention to the subject will
regard it as almost a miracle if open rup-
lures between the two peoples concerned
and a resort to arms by misguided Gu
bans is avoided.
a year ago the Cubans were apparent
ly grateful to Americans for what had
been and was being done for them. To-
day they say that they had about attain
ed their independence before the United
States stepped in, and their charges that
the United States was an interloper with
sinister purposes are accompanied by CO.
vert threats of war Not only are the
Cuban factions at swords points with
each other but the dominant radical ele-
ment has shown itself wholly unamena-
BILE to the wholesome influences of the
United States, and in the preparation of
q constitution they have adopted a high
handed and insulting attitude toward this
country. So far as it goes, the proposed
constitution, apparently with intent, COM
pletely ignores this country, makes no
provision for a naval base for us, gives
US no specific rights over Cuba's policies,
which we will assuredly demand, and re-
serves the right to eXpel any foreigner
las pernicious to the government" and
this last provision is doubtless aimed at
any Americans who may become trouble
some to the Cuban authorities.
Cubans Talking of War.
To show that the air of Cuba is full OF
serious talk of war against the United
States it is only necessary to quote the
following extract from an editorial from
one of the conservative journals of the
island, Ell Vigilancia:
1T must not be forgotten" says Ell
Vigilancia, that the first cry of armed
rebellion, the first shot that echoes
through our fields, will be the signature
written by Cubans themselves-to the
death sentence of the independence of the
country. The courage, tenacity and will
ingness to suffer demonstrated by the
greater part of the Cubans who fought
against the Spanish army We're magnif-
cent. But the American army is twenty
times more numerous, and American re-
sources twenty times greater.
I'VE would lack the support of great
nation such as we had yesterday against
Spain. We would lack a refuge to which
to fly; we would lack arms, ammunition,
even field in which to operate; in fact,
we would have nothing with which to
carry on war except men, whom we as
suredly could find among the former reyo-
lutionists. That our ultimate victory
would be impossible is indubitable.
Our long-sustained ideal would be ev-
erlastingly placed beyond our reach by
the brute force of a potent race. To pre-
vent this, to preclude the possibilities
of any opening shot being fired, is a work
of humanity and worthy labor for intelli-
gent patriots"