The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-12-11

DOM" Regarding Cuba, the president
| says:
For Peace in Cuba.
these inevitable acknowledgements ct
the united States with the rebellion in
In Cuba, the large American property
interests affected and consiC CREATIONS
OF philanthropy and humanity in gen
eral, have led to vehement demand
In various quarters for some sort of
positive intervention on the part of the
United States. 1t was at first pro-
posed that belligerent rights should
be accorded to the insurgents-a pro-
| position no longer urged, because
ultimately and in practical operation
clearly perilous and injurious to our
own interests. 1t has since been and
IS now sometimes contended that the
independence of the insurgents should
be recognized. But imperfect and re-
stricted as the Spanish government of
the island may be, no other exists
there-unless the will of the military
officer in temporary command of q par
ticular district can be dignified as
species of government. 1t is now also
suggested that the United States
should buy the island-a suggestion
possibly worthy of consideration if
there were any evidence of desire or
Willingness on the part of Spain to
entertain such proposal. 1t is urged,
finally, that, all other methods failing,
the existing internecine strife in Cuba
should be terminated by our interven-
ton, even at the cost of a war between
the United States and Spain-a war
which its advocates confidently pro-
phesy could be neither large in it's
proportions nor doubtful in its issue
Right and Not Might Our Rule.
1.-THE correctness of this forecast need
be neither affirmed nor denied. The
United States has nevertheless char
acter to maintain as nation, which
plainly dictates that right and not
might should be the rule of it's con-
duct. Further, though the United
State is not nation to which peace is
a necessity, it is in truth the most pa
cific of powers, and desires nothing SO
much as to live in amity with all the
world. Its own ample and diversified
domains satisfy all possible longings
for territory, preclude all dreams of
conquest and prevent any casting of
covetOus eyes upon neigh boring re-
gions, however attractive. That our
conduct towards Spain and her do
lninionS has constituted no exception to
this national disposition is made mani
fest by the course of our government,
not only thus far during the present
instruction, but during the ten years
hot oil fIA sCir ct IN
1868. No other great power, it may
safely be said, under circumstances of
similar perplexity, would have mani
tested the same restraint and the same
patient endurance. 1t may also be
said that this persistent attitude of
the United States toward Spain in con-
nection with Cuba, unquestionably
evinces no slight respect and regard
for Spain on the part of the American
people. They in truth do not forget
her connection with the discovery of
the western hemisphere, nor do they
underestimate the great qualities of
the Spanish people, nor fail to recog-
nize their splendid patriotism and
their chivalrous devotion to the ma
tional honor.
Genuine Autonomy OUR remedy
''They view with wonder and admi-
ration the cheerful resolution with
which vast bodies of men are sent
across thousands of miles of ocean. and
an enormous debt accumulated, that
the costly possession of the Gem of the
Antilles may still hold it's place in the
Spanish crown. And yet neither the
government nor the people of the Uni
ted States have shut their eyes to the
course of events in Cuba, or have failed
to realize the existence of conceded
grievances, which have led to the pres
ent revolt from the authority of Spain
grievances recognized by the queen
regent and by the cortes, voiced by the
most patriotic and enlightened of
Spanish statesmen. without regard to
party. and demonstrated by reforms
proposed by the executive and APP
proved by the Legislative branch of the
Spanish government. 1t is in the as
sumed temper and disposition of the
Spanish government to remedy these
grievances. fortified by indications of
influential public opinion in Spain,
that this government has hoped TO
discover the most promising and effec-
tive means of composing the present
strife. with honor and advantage to
Spain and with the achievement of all
the reasonable objects of the insurrec-
tion. 1t would seem that if Spain
should offer to Cuba genuine autonomy
"a measure of home rule which, while
preserving the sovereignty of Spain,
would satisfy all rational requirements
of her Spanish subjects-there should
he no lust reason why the pacification
of the island might not be effected on
that basis. Such result would appear
To be in the true interest of all con-
cerned. 1t would at once stop the con-
aict which is now consuming the re-
sources of the island and making 1T
worthless for whichever party may ui-
timateIy prevail. 1t would keep In
tact the possessions of Spain without
touching her honor. which will be con-
.ulted rather than impugned by the
ADEQUATE redress of admitted griev-
ances. II would put the prosperity OF
the island and the fortunes OF It's IN
habitants within their own control
-. ...varinV the natural and an