The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-12-11

which its advocates confidently
prophesy could be neither large in its
proportions nor doubtful in its ISSUE
The correction 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 its conduct.
No Acquisition of Territory.
Further, though the United States is
not a nation to which Cuba is a neces-
sity, 1t is in truth the most pacific of
powers, and desires nothing so much as
to live in amity with all the world. Its
own ample and diversified domains sat.
isfy all possible longings for territory,
preclude all dreams of conquest and
prevent any casting Of covetous eyes
upon neigh boring regions, however at
tractive. That our conduct towards
Spain and her dominion has constituted
no exception to this national dispo-
sition is made manifest by the course
of our government, not only thus far
during the present Instruction, but
during the ten years that followed the
rising at Yara, in 1868.
1t would seem that if Spain should
offer to Cuba genuine autonomy, a
ulOdSulo VI HOule RUE WHICH, Wnlle
preserving the sovereignty of Spain
would satisfy all national requirements
of her Spanish subjects, there should be
no just reason why the pacificatior
of the island might not be effected or
that basis. Such result would appear
to be in the true interest Of all con
cerned.
Spain's Good Faith.
Nevertheless, realizing that suspic:
ons and precautions on the part of tn,
weaker OF the two combatants are al
ways natural and not always unjustifi
| able-being sincerely DESTROYS in III
| interest of both as well as on its owl
account that the Cuban problem SHOULD
be solved with the least possible delay
| it was intimated by this Government t
the Government of Spain some month
ago that If a satisfactory measure o
home rule were rendered the Cuban in
surgents and would be accepted b.
them upon guarantee of its execution
the United States would endeavor t
find a way not Objectionable to Spai
of furnishing such guaranty.
Definite Action Must Result.
1t should be added that it cannot b
reasonably assumed that the hilbert
expectant attitude of the United State
will be indefinitely postponed. Will
we are anxious to accord all due respeC
to the sovereignty of Spain, we cannC
view the pending conflict in all II
features aud properly apprehend on
inevitable relations to it and its poss
BILE result, without considering that b
the course of events we may be draw
into such an unusual and unprecedente
! condition, as will fix a limit to oil
patient waiting for Spain to end ii
contest, either alone and in her ow
way or with our friendly cooperation.
When the inability of Spain to de
successfully with the instruction hi
become manifest, and it is demonstrate
that her sovereignty is extinct in Cub
! for all purposes ofits rightful existenc
and when peoples struggle for its r
, establishment has degenerated into
, strife which means nothing more this
the useless sacrifice of human life, an
j the utter destruction of the very obje
matter of conflict, a situation will
, | presented i'm which our obligations
the sovereignty of Spain will be su
! posedlv higher obligations whi'
we can hardly hesitate TO recognize al
: discharge.
! A contemplation of emergencies tn
may arise should plainly lead us
= | avoid their creation, either through
: careless disregard of present duty
|, even an undue stimulation and
p timed expression of feeling But