Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-12-18

without regard to party, and demonstrafed
by reforms proposed by the executive and
approved by the Legislative branch OF the
Spanish Government. Il is in the assumed
temper and disposition 0f the Spanish Gov
ernment to remedy these grievances tort.-
ied by indications of influential pubic
opinion in Spain, that this Government has
hoped to discover the most promising and
effective means of composing the present
strife, with honor and advantage to Spain
and with the achievement Of all .he reason
able objects of the Insurrection.
Cieveland's Plan for Ending the War.
1t would seem that If Spain should offer
to Cuba genuine autonomy-a measure oil
home rule which, while preserving the SOW
eIeignty Of Spain, would satisfy all rational
requirements of her Spanish subjects--there
should be no just reason why the pacification
Of the island might not be effected on that
basis Such a result would appear TO pe in
the true interest OF all concerned. 1t would
at once stop the conflict which is now con-
suminR the resources of the island and max
ing it worthless for whatever party may ul.
| tlmately prevail 1t would keep intact
the possessions OF Spain without touching
| her honor, which will be consulted rather
than impuRned by the adequate redress OF
admitted grievances. 1t would put the
prosperity of the island and the fortunes OF
| its inhabitants within their own controI,
without severing the natural and ancient
ties which bind them to the mother country,
and would vet enable them to test their ca
pacitv for self government under the most
| favorable conditions 1t has been objected
on the one side that Spain should not prom
ise autonomy until her insurgent subjects
| lay down their arms; on the other side, that
| promised autonomy. however liberal, Is in
sufficient, because without assurance OF the
promise being fulfilled.
But the reasonablenesS OF requirement
| by Spain, OF unconditional surrender on the
part of the insurgent Cubans before their
autonomy is conceded, is not altogether ap-
| parent. II ignores important features OF the
situation-the stability two years duration
| has given to the insurrection; the feasibility
Of its indefinite prolongation in the nature
of things, and as shown by past expert snce;
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 desire to remove; ;facing such circum+
stances to withhold the proffer OF needed
reforms until the parties demanding them
put themselves at mercy by throwing down
their arms, has the appearance Of neglecting
this gravest of peris and inviting suspicion
as to the sincerity OF any professed willing
meas 10 = ant I6lCTInS. Lie ODl5CllOu Ou Do~
half OF the insurgents--that promised re-
forms cannot bs relied upon-must OF course
bs considered, though we have no right to
assume, and no reason for assuming, that
anything Spain undertakes to do for the re-
lief OF Cuba will not be done according to
both the spirit and the letter OF the unde--
taking.
United States Offered Guarantee.
Nevertheless, realizing that suspicious and
precautions on the part OF the weaker Of two
somba;ants are always natural and not
always unjustifable being sincerely desir-
GUS IN ths interest OF both, as we'll rs on its
own account, that the Cuban problem should
be solved With the least possible de,qy-it
was intimated by this Government to the
Government OF Spain some months ago that,
II satisfactory measure Of home rule were
rendered the Cuban insurgents, and would
be accepted by them upon guaranty OF its
execution, the United States would endeavor
to find a way not Objectionable to Spain OF
furn 'shing such guaranty. While no def
nits response to this intimation has yet been
received from the Spanish Govern
ment, 1t is believed to be not alto
together unwelcome. while, as already
suggested, no reason is perceived why it
should not be approved by The insurgents.
Neither party can fail 10 see the importance
prolong the present state Of things for even
a short period will add enormously to the
time and labor and expenditure necessary TO
bring about the industrial recuperation Of
the island. 1t is therefore ie1vently hoped
on all grounds that earnest efforts for healing
the breach between Spain and the insurgent
Cubans, upon the lines above indicated, may
be once inaugurated and pushed to an i'm
mediate and successful issue. The friendly
Offices OF the United States, either in the
manner above outlined or In any other way
consistent with our Constitution and laws,
will always be at the disposal OF either party.
Whatever circumstances may arise, our
policy and our interests would constrain US
TO object to the acquisition Of the island or
an interference with it's control by any other
power.
Limit 90 Oar Patience In Re Zard to Spain.
1t shout bs added that 1t cannot be rea-
sonably assumed that the hitherto expectant
attitude OF tho United States will be indeh-
itoly maintained. While we are anxious to
accord all duo respect to the sovereignty OF
Spain, We cannot view the pending conflict
in all its features and properly apprehend
our inevitably elose relations to it, and its
possible results without considering that
by the course OF events We may be drawn
into such IN unusual AID unprecedented
condition as will fix a limit to our patient
waiting for Spain 10 end the contest, either
alone and in her own way. or with our
friendly cooperation.
When the inability OF Spain to deal sue
cessfully with the insurrectioa has become
manifest, and 1t is demonstrated that her
sovereignty is extinct in Cuba for all pur1
poses Of its rightful existence, and when a
hopeless struggle for its sre-establishment has
degenerated into strife which means noth1
ing more than the useless sacrifice of human
life and the utter destruction OF the very
subject matter OF the conflict situation
will be presented IN which our obligations
to the sovereignty OF Spain will bo su psrssd-
ed by higher obligations, which we can hard,
ly hesitate to recognize and discharge De-
terrlng the choice of ways and methods
until the time for action arrives, we should
make them depend upon the precise eondi-
tions thon existing; and they should not be
determined upon without giving careful
heed to every consideration involving our
honor and interest, or the international duty
we owe to Spain. Until we face the contin-
gencies suggested, or the situation is by
other incidents imperatively changed, we
should continue in the line OF conduct here
tofore pursued, thus in all circumstances
exhibiting our obedience to the require
ments OF public law and our regard for the
duty onjoined upon US by the position We
occupy in the family OF nations.
A contemplation OF emergencies that may
arise should plainly lead US to avoid their |
creation, either through q careless disregard
Of present duty or even an undue stinula- I
tion and il-timed expression o. feeling. But |
I have deemed it not amiss 10 remind the |
Congress that n time may arrive when q |