The morning times., 1895-08-30

icy Is Fastening he Event.
The fact has become apparent that after
nearly q century of intermittent reyolu-
ton and unsuccessful attempts to estab-
lish independence of Spanish rule the
Island of Cuba is approaching the COM
plction of it's long struggle for liberty.
1t is a matter of common gossip, not
only in the State Department, but other
as stated exclusively i'll the Evening Times
yesterday, that the formal recognition OF
Cuban Independence must soon result,
both as policy OF diplomacy and necessity.
There are in Washington an unusually
large number of what are denominated
Cuban sympath thizers, ;" and these are now
rejoicing at the near completion OF that con-
test which their fathers Inaugural ted before
them. The demand for the independence
OF Cuba has always been very popular in
the United States, and the Presidential
campaign of 1874 was strongly permeated
with that principle and the additional one
of annexation. 1t was hoped that the island
could be secured by purchase, and attempts
have been made by subsequent admlnistra-
/ tioDs, notably that of Grant, TO ARA nge
terms OF sale with the Spanish authorities
bat without reaching Il satisfactory agree
ment.
1t is an indisputable fact that with Mr.
Olney's advent as Secretary OF State such
vigorous foreign policy was instituted
as has doubtless astonished Spain and
viii before the expiration of the present
administrations tenure OF office, cause
other aggressive powers to realize that
even il the Monroe doctrine means nothing,
the credit and self-Tespect OF the govern
ment will be maintained and the question
OF actual hostilities viii not be barrier
to the contamination Of this policy.
SPAIN SEES THE HANDWRITING
That Spain already realizes the speedy
success OF the Cuban revoIutiontsts and
their recognition by the great nations as
be.llgercnts is proven by her cOnseuting
after more than twenty years OF stubborn
refusal, to pay the claim Of Antonio Maximo
Mora, a Eatura!ized American citizen, an
amount a-gTHcatug 81 500 900. Tie
rae; cannot be dcu.cdthatth this payment VIII
he made to purchase the non-ntcrvcntion
oftLe United states in matters relating to
Z
feeling OF Spain. but simply shows to what
extremes the government has been driven by
the firm attitude assumed by the admins
tration.
There are those affecting to be well
posted in diplomatic lore who strenuouSly
insist that the arrangement by which
Spain IS topay the Mora claim was reached
as the result OF mutual agreement and
through the usual diplomatic circles, but
no position could be more fallaeious
The negotiations in the matter were
entirely one-sided, and Spain had no
alternative bat TO liquidate the long stand
| ing indebtedness or suffer consequences,
the far-reachins effect of which are not
at this time appreciated by the general
public.
The fact is simply this, that by prompt
payment of the Mora claim. without fur
ther remonstrance or delay. the semblance
of a foothold in Cuba could for a while
longer be maintained and the government
of Spain obviate the most embarrassing en-
tanglement with a foreign nation that has
occurred during its modern history.
SOME SPICY CORRESPONDENCE.
It is a matter of comment among officials
in the State Department that when the
correspondence between Secretary Olney
and Minister de Lone is published, the
vigor of its AmericanisIa viii be founS
| unsurpassed by any state papers in the ma
tional archives. After the preliminary
1 correspondence in reference to the prompt
payment of the Mora claim, Secretary
Olney determined to address his communi-
cations to Minister de Lone, instead of
ayin th.sf iN-nr
in close proximity to him. and letters
could be exchanged with less delay,
When the representative OF the Spanish
| government attempted to follow the for,
mer tactics of procrastination by constru-
ing the phrase reasonable time" to mean
until the assembling of Congress next De
cember. and urging that the Cortes had
not arranged the ways and means by which
the payment should be made, Secretary
Olney wrote an ultimatum which has filled
the State Department officials with en-
thusiasm, and would be satisfactory to
the warmest admirer of the late James G
Blaine.
Secretary Olney, in his ultimatum, said
that Spain must, without further delay, ad-
just and pay the Mora claim, without any
reference TO the action of the Cortes, or the
United States would at once take such steps
as it found necessary for the protection OF
its citizens.
A REASONABLE TIME
The Secretary stated that his construction
of a reasonable time" was at themaximum
limit, sixty days, and in his opinion thirty
days would, in this case. constitute
''reasona Bile time" Under no circumstanc
could a settlement be deferred until the con-
vening OF Congress.
The prompt acceptance by Spain of this
ultimatum doubtless prevented the ne
cessity of sending the N orth Atlantic
squadron to make Il display of force in
Cuban waters, or even the seizure of Ha-
vaDa and the collection of customs until
the amount had been obtained. There are
strong grounds for believing that all the
available American warships would have
been ordered to conduct naval evolutions
been adjusted.
There are unquestioned precedents for
making demonstration of force, President
Buchanan having sent fleet of fifty ty-eight
vessels up the Uruguay River to make
such a display of power as would bring the
government of Uruguay tn terms. The
most recent precedent for collecting q debt
by forcible occupation is shown in The
seizure of Corinto, Nicaragua, by the
British until her demands were recognized