The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1896-12-10


ya.tion which plainly dictates that right and
. might should be the rule Of Its conduct
!. Further. though the United States Il not Z
nation to which peace Is a necessity. It Il. IL
truth, the most pacific of powers and desires
nothing 90 much as to live at amtty With al
. the world Its own ample and diversified
dom aims satisfy all possible l0ngings for ter
! ritory. preclude all dreams Of conques and
. prevent the casting of any covetOus eyes
upon neighboring regions, however attract
i've. That our conduct towards Spain and
| her dominions has constituted no exception
|, to this national disposition 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. No other great power. II
NAV safely be said, under circumstances of
similar perplexty. would have manifested
the same restraint and the same patient en-
durance.
1t may also be said that tbs ~ sistent at
::tude of the United States 6Sws. - Spain In
connection with Cuba will professionally
evince no slight respect ara regard for
Spain on the part of the American people
they in truth do not forget her connection
with the discovery of the Western hemis-
phere. nor do they underestimate the great
qualities of the Spanish people, nor fail to
fully recognize their splendid patriotism
and their chivalrous devotion to the national
honor. They view with wonder and admira-
tinn'the cheerful resolution with which vas;
bodies of men are sent across thousands OF
miles of ocean and an enormous debt accum-
ulated, that the costly position of the gem of
the Antilles may still hold its place In the
| Spanish crown. And yet neither the govern
ment nor the people of the United States
have shut their eyes to the course of events
in Cuba or have failed to realize the exist
ence of conceded grievances which have led
| to the present 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, remOn-
strated by reforms proposed by the execu-
tive and approved by the legislative branch
of the Spanish government
It is in the assumed temper and dispose
ton 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 effective means of composing
the present strife, with honor and advan-
tage to Spain and with the achievement of
all the reasonable objects of the insurrec-
ton
1t would seem that if Spain would offer to
Cuba genuine autonomy, a measure of home
rule which. while preserving the sOver-
eirnity of Spain, would satisfy all rational
should be no just reason why the pacifica-
ton of the island might not be effected on
that basis Such result would appear to
be in the true interest of all concerned 1t
would at once stop the conflict which is now
consuming the resources of the island and
making it worthless for whichever party
may ultimately prevail 1t would keep In
tact the possessions of Spain without touch
ing her honor, which will be consulted
rather than impugned by the adequate re-
dress of admitted grievances. 1t would put
the prosperity of the island and the fortunes
of its Inhabitants within their own control
without severing the natural and ancieD
ties which bind them to the mothe4 ountry,
and would yet enable them to test ,---ir ca
pacity for self government under the most
favorable conditions.
1t has been objected On the one side that
Spain should not promise autonomy until
her insurgent subjects lay down their arms.
On the other side, that promised autonomy.
however liberal, is insufficient, because
without assurance of the promise being full
filed
But the reasonableness of a requirement
by SPAIN of unconditional surrender on the
part of the Insurgent CubanS before their
autonomy is conceded is not altogether ap-
parent. 1t ignores important features of
the SituatiOn-the stability two years dura-
ton has given to the insurrection; the feas-
Utility of its prOlOngation in the nature of
things. and as shown by past experience the !
utter and imminent ruin of the island, unless
the present strife is speedily composed; |
above all, the rank abuses which all parties |
in Spain, all branches of her government |
and all her leading public men cOnCede to |
exist and profess a desire to remove Facing |
such circumstances, to Withhold the prefer |
of needed reforms until the parties demand |
ing them put themselves at mercy by throw |
ing down their arms. has the appearance of |
the gravest of perils and inviting |
suspicion as to the sincerity of any pro- |
fessed willingness to grant reforms. The /
objection on behalf of the insurgents-that |
reform canOt be relied upon-must |
of course be considered. though we have no
right to assume, and no reason for aSSum- |
ing. that anything Spain undertakes to do
for the relief OF Cuba will not be done ac-
cording to both the spirit and the letter of |
the undertaking.
Nevertheless, realizing that suspicious
and precautions on the part of the weaker
of two cOmbatantS are always natural and
not always unjustiiable. being sincerely de-
sirous in the interest of both as well as on
its own account, that the Cuban problem
should be solved with the least possible de-
lay, 1t was minated by this government to
the government of Spain some months ago
that if satisfactory measure Of home rule |
were rendered the Cuban insurgents and |
would be accepted by them upon a guaranty
Of Its execution, the United States would en-
deavor to find way not Objectionable to |
Spain of furnishing such guaranty. While
no definite response to this intimation has |
yet been received from the Spanish govern
ment. it is believed to be not altogether UNI
welcome. while. as already suggested. no
reason is perceived why it should not be ap-
proved by the insurgents, neither party can |
tail to see the importance of early action |
and both must realize that to prolOng the
present state of things for even a short
period will add enormously to the time and
abor and expenditure necessary to bring
about the industrial recuperation of the
sland 1t is. therefore, fervently hoped
IN all grounds that earnest efforts for head
ng the breach between Spain and the in
'urgent Cubans upon the lines above indi- |
lated. may be at once inaugurated and
ms had To Il