UNITED STATES AND SPAIN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11538, 26 March 1898, Page 4

UNITED STATES AND SPAIN.

It is difficult to avoid tbe suspicion tliat the present strained relations between the United States and Spain are largely due to an idea among the Americans that they have been insulted. Senor de L6mo’s now famous

letter, in which President M’Kinley i-. was described as a “low-class politician,” may have something to do. with the question, and again there is the feeling in the States that the • Maine disaster was the work of ,aa enemy. The Naval authorities ,at Washington very unwisely announced - that the Maine and the Marblehead were ready to put to sea immediately ; on an emergency, and at once came the news that the Maine had been J blown up. If war is to be declared, however, the United States have a > far better casus belli than the desire for revenge. On January 1 it was;’ announced that Cuba should have autonomy, and that the evil condition of the people should he remedied. So far no active measures have been ' taken to carry out either promise, and 1 the latest news points to inhuman neglect on the part of Spain. So far , as Cuba can bo said to have a natural protector, the United States is that protector, and if the, Mother Country refuses to aid the starring • colonists, then America should stepin ; and do her work, whatever the cost’ may; be. When the New colonies rebelled against England * there was no question of inhumanity it was a mere matter of taxation; < whereas for a whole century the. Cubans have been held less than ' slaves, and promise after promise of • reform has been broken, We are not writing with any feeling of hostility to Spain; indeed, it would,; be far more profitable to that country if Cuba were lost to her for ever.,' Itl seems to us that the men who have - suffered worst are the’ of raw recruits that have been transported to misery and death. But the spirit of humanity demands that i the Cuban horror shall speedily cease. It is little short of a disgrace to the civilised world that such appalling misery should have existed in the unfortunate island during the paat few years. It reminds one of the, “negation of God,” that figures so largely in accounts of the Middle Ages. Monroe Doctrines and International Law may forbid if they choose, but by every law of God and of humanity it is the duty of civilisa-. tion, and particularly American civilisation, to intervene in Cuba. v"’