Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-08

and a srill greater disparity in equip
ment. the supporters of Cuban lipert9
have steadily out-generaled and out
fought the Spanish forces. 1t Ill be-
comes the President of this great re-
public after they have sustained them
selves for two years in the face Of
overwhelming odds. to seek in anyway
TO impugn their courage. or prejudice
their cause with the American people
| One thing the President establishes
very clearly, and that is the fact that
the United States has through it's i'm
mense commercial relations with and
| property rights in the island or
Cuba as we'll as by the very heavy
| expense this government has
undergone, and is still undergoing. to
police our coast and prevent the escape
of filibustering expeditions, has di-
come of this struggle. His sympathies
| however, so far as he seems to have
any, appear to be with Spain. He dis
poses of the suggestion that the United
States buy the island as possibly
worthy of consideration, if there were
any evidence of a desire on the part
of Spain to entertain such PROPOSE
ton
II is evident however, that this is
not the Presidents favorite plan for
ending the Cuban rebellion. That he
proceeds to develop at some length. He
would have Spain grant Cuba salts
factory measure of home rule" and
imparts the somewhat astounding in
formation that lit was intimated by
this government to the government of
Spain some months ago that. if a sat
isfactory measure of home rule were
rendered the Cuban insurgents, and
would be accepted by them upon
guarantee of its execution. the United
States would endeavor to find way
not Objectionable to Spain, to furnish
such guarantee.
Quixotic character of the one by which
Mr.. Cleveland undertook to restore his
great and good friend Lii upon her
tinsel Hawaiian throne. 1t is Utopian
and impractical. 1t overlooks the facts
of history. and takes no account of
Spanish or Cuban character. History
has shown the Spaniard to be an ac-
complished and constitutional liar. 1t
also establishes the fact that the intel
ligent Cubans long ago learned to put
no faith in any promises that might be
made them by the government at Mad
rid. Spain has never yet learned how
to deal in good faith With colony.
and this is the principal reason why
she has lost them, one after another
Mr.. Cleveland suggests however. that
the United States guarantee good faith
on the part of Spain. This could only
be done by taking that government
by the nap of the neck and obliging it.
by force of arms if necessary. to keep
its promises: yet Mr. Cleveland is san
guine that this could be done in way
mot Objectionable to SPAIN"
The very important fact is over
looked. too, that Cuba is fighting. not
for home rule under Spanish sover
eighty but for complete independence
from Spanish tyranny. 1t is quite GER
tain that they would not lay down
their arms, and come again under
Spanish rule, when, as Mr.. Cleveland
admits, they are able to roam at will
over at least two-thirds of the island -
and when there is hardly a limit.
save in the rapid approach of Spanish
bankruptcy, Ito the time during which
hostilities of this sort may be pro-
longed.'
1t is only in the closing paragraphs
of his treatment Of this question that
the President shows "glimpses of rea-
son." and comes slightly in touch with
American sentiment and the spirit of
American institutions He will have
tne cOTuldl support Oh all the pdtrlOtlc
citizens of his country in his assertion
that Whatever circumstances may
arise, our policy and our interests would
constrain US to object to the acquis-
ton of the island or any interference
with its control by any other power"
Again he may rely upon the support
of the American people in his declara-
ton that When the inability of Spain
to deal successfully with the insurrec-
has become manifest, and it is demon
strated that her sovereignty is extinct
in Cuba for all purposes of rightful ex-
istence, and when a hopeless struggle
for it's re-estabishment has degener-
ated into a strife which means moth
ing more than the useless sacrifice of
| human life, and the utter destruction
of the very subject matter of 1.-THE con-
| hict, a situation will be presented in
which our obligations to Spain will be