The evening times., 1896-12-07
CLEVELAND TO leONGREss
Continued from First Page.


the current year, and practfcany extend,
as is now threatened, TO the entire sugar
producing territory OF the island, 50 nuch
time and SO much money VIII be requlreu
To restore the land to its NORMAL prOduct-
ivcness that il is extremely doubtful II
capital can be induced to even make the
attempt.
The spectacle Of the utter ruin Of an ad-
Joining country, by nature one OF the most
fertile and charming on the gone, woud
engage the serious attention OF tne gov
eriIment and people of the United States
IN any circumstances. IN point OF lact,
they have, concern with ~ which is by
antnropic character. 1t Hes so near to us
as to be hardly separated from our terri
tory. Our actual pecuniary interest IN y IS
ernmcnt OF Spain. 1t is reasonably esti-
mated that at least 3O,0O0,0OO to 800
900 900 OF American capital are invested
in plantations and in railroad, mining and
other business enterprises on the island;
The volume OF trade between the United
States and Cuba, which in $50 amounted
about SOB 'OO0, 900. and in S94, the year
before the present insurfection broke out,
amounted to nearly 500 ,0OO,O 900. BESIDES
TINS large pecuniary sta ke 10 tne nortpnes @ OF
fricabIy involved in the present contest In
other ways, both veXatious and costly.
Many Cubalis reside IN this country ana
Indirectly promote the insuirecIion through
the press, By public meetings, by the pur-
chase and shipment OF arms. by the raising
OF FUNDS and by other means: wnlch the
spirit OF our Institutions and the tenor OF
our law do not permit to be made the sub
Jec, OF criminal prosecutions: some OF them,
though CuDans at heart ana IN all their
feelings and Interests. have taken out pa
pers as naturaliZed citizens OF the United
States, a proceeding resorted 10 with
View to possible protection by this govern
ment, and not unnaturally regarded with
mlAh indignation by the country of their
origin.
The Insurgents are undoubtedly enc our
aEed ana supp9rie1 ~ ,ile ~ ~,
nstinctively feel for every struggle Tor
better and frcer government, and which,
in Tie case Of the ro'c adventurous ana
restless elements Of our population, leads
In only 100 many instances TO active ana
personal participation in the Contest. The
result is that this government is Constantly
called upan o Erotect American citizens, 10
claim damages for injuries 20 persons and
property, row estimated at many millions
Of collars, and 10 ask eSplanations ana
apologies for Ihe acts or Spanish officials
whose zeal for the suppression OF re-
bellion fomc,irncs binds them to the M
muniiies hclonRing o the unoffcnding citl-
The same causes that the United States
Is compelled o actively police long line
OF seat oIs: against unlawful expeditions,
the escape Of which the utn ost vigilance
VIII not always suffice TO prevent.
These inevitable entauglcmentS or the
I uited States with the rebellion IN Cuba,
The large American property interests ar
TcCtcd. aud considerations OF philanthropy
and humanity III general have led to
vehement demand III Vailous quarters Tor
some sort of positive Intervention ON the
part or the United States. 1t was at first
proposed that bclligcTcnt nights should
tie accorded To the insurgents-a proposition
no Ionger urged. because nntimely and in
practical operation clearly pcrilous and
Injurious to our own interests.
1T has since been, and is now sometimes,
con'rI,dsi Jnat the Independence Of the
insurgents should be recognized. But i'm
perfect and restricted as the Spanish gov
rrnmant Of The island NAV be no othcr eN-
isis there. unless the VIII of the military
officer IN temporary command OF a par
ticular district, can be diguificd as a spe-
cIeS or government. II Is now also sug-
g,'Stt,d tuHl the tniL"i states should buy
the island-a suggestion possibly worthy
OF consideration If there We're any evidence
OF a desire or Willingness on the part OF
Spain to entertain such u proposal. 1t is
urged finally thaY all oeher nirthtris faii-
ing. the existing intSrneciue strife IN cuba
should be terminated by our Intervention,
even at the cost or war between the
United states aud Spain a war which its
advocates confidently prophesy could be
neither large in its proportions nor doubt
rui IN its issue. The correctness OF this
forecast need be neither affirmed nor de-
MED. The United states has nevertheless
u character to MAINTAIN as a nation which
plainly dictates that right and not might
should he the rIie or It's c0ndrct.
Further. though the United States is
not nation to w hich peacefs necessity.
1t is, IN truth. the most pacific Of powers
q nd desires nothing SO much as to live In
aInity with all the world. Its own ample
and diversified domains satisfy all possible
ionEtngS for territory. preclude all dreams
of conquest. nd prevent any casting ofcov-
etouS eyes upon nclshborinE regions, how
ever attractive.
That our conduct toward Spain and her
dOminiOnS has constituted no exception to
tins national diSpOsitionis made manifestby
the course Of our government. notonly thus
far during the present inSurrcction. but
during the ten years that followed the
rising at Nara in 1868. No ether great
power. II may safely be said. under CirCum-
stances OF similar perplexity. would have
manifested the same restraint and the
>ame patient endurance. IL may also be
said that this persistent attitude OF the
United States toward Spain in connection
with Cuba uDquestiOnably evinccS-nO slight
respect and regard for Spain on the part
OF the American people. They in truta
do moi forget her connection with the dis
Covery Of the Western Hemisphere. nor do
they underc>timateth the Greatqualitics orthe
Spanish people, nor fail to fully recognize
their splendid patriotism and their chival-
rogS devotion to the national honor.
They view with wonder and admiration
the cheerful resolution with which vast
bodies of men are sent across thousands OF
miles OF ocean and an enormous debt aCcu-
mulated that the costly possession. NJ the
Gem OF the i ntllles may SIN hold its place
In the Spanish crown. And yet neither the
government nor the people OF The United
States have shut their eyes To the course
of events i'll Cuba, or have failed to realize
have led TO the present revolt from the au-
thority of Spain-gTievanceS 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 approved by the legis-
lative branch OF the Spanish government.
1t Is In the assumed temper Jnd dispoSi-
ton of the Spanish government to remedy
these grievances, fortified by indications
OF influential public opinion in Spain. that
pGy- mi fI, IiSrnVnr 40
most promising and effective means OF
composing the present StIltc with honor
and advantage to Spain, and with the
achievement of all the reasonable objects
or the lnsurrection.
1t would seem that if Spain should offer
TO Cuba genuine autonony-a measure OF
erelgnty or Spain, would satisfy all ra-
tiunal requirements of her Spanish sub
Jects there should be no just reason why
the pacirication OF the island might not
be effected OH that basis Such Il result
would appear to be In the true interest of
all concerned. II would at once stop the
sources of the island, and making it
worthless, for whichever party may ulu-
mately prevail.
1t would keep intact the possessions Of
SPAN without touching her honor, which
will be consulted rather than impugned by
the adequate redress OF admitted grievances.
II would put the prosperity of the island
and the fortunes OF Its Inhabitants within
their own control, without severing the
natural and ancient ties which bind them
to the mother country. and would yet ell
able them to test their capacity for self
government under the most favorable con-
ditions.
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,
how ever liberal, is insufficient, because
without assurance of the promise being full
filled.
But the reasonableness Of n requirement
by Spain OF unconditional su rr snder on the
part OF the insurgent Cubans before their
autonomy is conceded is not altogether ap-