The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-19
WILL LICK CUBA.
Then Will Grant Local Self.Qov-
eminent.
Will Not, However, Grant to Cuba
Autonomy After the Fashion of
Canada-Is Ready for War at Any
Time.

New York, Dec. ia special to the
Journal from Madrid gives the follow
ing abstract of the answer of Prime
Minister Canonvas Del CASTILLO TO the
threats of American intervention as
given to the correspondent of that
paper:
Il desire to say. in the strongest pos
sible manner, that Spain is ready to
grant local f-government to the
island Of Cuba as soon as the Spanish
arms have triumphed over the in
surgents' forces sufficiently to make it
clear TO the world that the monarchy
is granting the reform of its own free
Will and is not yielding either to do
nestle or to foreign threats.
This government is ready to grant
even more liberal measures of home
rule for Cuba than were contemplated
In the scheme formulated by the cortes,
to which the word of the queen-regent
and the honor of the government are
pledged, but Spain viii not. under any
circumstances. grant to Cuba auton-
omy after the fashion of Canada.
All essential prerogatives of SOW
ereignty and Spanish government in
that colony will be continued to be ex-
ercised in Spain. This government will
not yield an inch to foreign interview
ton or to threats of force. No conces-
sion of any kind will be made until the
instruction in Cuba has been brought
under control, and until Spain can give
what she refuses to allow anyone to
take, either by armed instruction or
by reasonable intrigues with other ma
tions.
II cannot undertake TO discuss the
domestic policies of the United States.
but firmly believe that a majority of
the Americans who are assisting this
deplorable agitation are opposed to the
independence of Cuba, and are, at
heart, in favor of annexation. The
commercial relations between the
island and the American mainland are
of great Importance, but Cuba, as a
Spanish colony, is a much better and
more acceptable neighbor than she
would be as a part of America.
Independence would mean a re-
public dominated by negroes; not such
negroes as are to be found in the
United States, but African negroes
African in every sense. Independent
Cuba would mean civil war between
whites and blacks 1t would mean so
years of anarchy. 1t would mean the
destruction of the island and its COM
merce.
Spain cannot undertake to be guided
in her domestic affairs by any other
government, nor can she allow any
foreign agitation TO influence her in
dealing with her rebellious colony.
This government seeks peace. but will
not shrink from war in any matter
touching her honor. If the United
States forces war in Spain. we are
ready to defend ourselves but we are
determined that Spain shall be the ma
ton attacked and not herself the ag-
greSsor.
Il deny that either the government
or the people of Spain desire war with
the United States. If war comes, it
viii not be through our fault The
Cuban question is a question of terri
torial integrity, and the crown of Spain
will defend its domain at all times.
President Cleveland has officially
rendered the good offices of his gov
eminent to procure peace upon the
basis of Cuban autonomy. Spain has
made the only reply that could be
made TO such an offer under existing
circumstances. 1t is that a generous
measure OF local self-government will
be established in Cuba, when the mill
tary situation in that island is such
that Spanish government can freely
act at its own discretion, without Civ
ing any opportunity for the accusation
that II acts upon compulSion. We will
not swerye in the slightest degree from
that policy. no matter What may come.
Spain is strong enough to carry on
the campaign in Cuba and the Philip
pine islands until peace is restored, no
matter how long the struggle may last.
This nation is united, the queen, the
government and the people have but
one mind; they are determined TO con-
tinue the war until the instructions
are crushed. The recent war loan was
doubly subscribed by our own people,
and our soldiers go to the field with
the greatest enthusiasm.
Spain will defend herself at all haz-
ards. She seeks no foreign war, but
she fears not war. The question of
the comparative strength of the ma
tons does not enter into the matter
at ALL Spain is willing to see that the
United States gains everything possible
by legitimate commerce with Cuba.
Should the American government de-
sire to renew the reciprocity treaty.
which proved to be OF such good ad-
vantage to both countries, Spain would
consider the negotiations favorable, but
every American must see that the
honor of Spain compels her to restore
order in her own territory