Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-12
Tur pnEsIDENr AND CUBA.

The President has not ignoteu ehe ~
ban beliigerency resolutions, but the coz
nizance he has taken Of them falls Tar
shor. of being entirely In consonance Win
their spirit, and the purpose their aa'o-
Gates had In view. In fact, MI. Cieve-
land. IL would seem, has made the pas
cage Of the resolutions the occasion ior
,naugurating an executive policy In re-
spect of the Cuban question that pears
about the same relation to the congress
sionsi policy that the shadow does 10 inc
substance.
The resolutions passed by Congress Ca
press the opinion OF that body 'hae tue
United States should accord beliiseIehcy
10 Cuba. and that the President snouio
offer the friendly offices OF the Oh''eu
States to the Spanish Government TOT 'he
recognition OF Cuban independence AS
was pointed out at the time OF their pas
sage, these resolutions being concurrent
resolutions, II was optional with the Pres
ident whether he would take any action
upon them. and so long as he did not
act TO the end Of carrying out their SPIRIT
they would have stood merely FOR VIVA.
they were worth as an expression oil pop
Mar sympathy with the Cuban patriots
The manner in which the President mas
taken cognizance Of the resolutions IN no
wise alters their status. He does not re-
cognize the Cubans as belligerents' nor
does he offer the friendly offices OF the
United States TO Spain In the interest OF
Cuban independence. Following, as we
learn. many consultations with Secretary
Olney. the latter has sent a dispatch TO
Mr.. Taylor, United States Minister al
Madrid, proposing mediation on the part
OF the United States looking TO settle
ment of the difficulties between Spain and
Cuba. The dispatch also refers TO the
correspondence between the state De-
partment and the Madrid authorities IN
1870, in which Spain promised to institute
certain governmental reforms In CUBA
which promises, It is said, have not been
fulfilled. and after stating that the pres
ent rebellion in Cuba is more serious than
any other that has broken out in late
years, assures Spain Of the kindliest mo-
tives on the part Of the United States IN
seeking to bring about peaceful settle
ment of Cuban affairs. Further details
regarding the communication are TO the
effect that Spain is complimented TO the
extent OF being told that she is too great
a Power TO fear TO DO right and is urged
TO accept the good Offices Of this country
in the premises In the spirit in which they
are proffered. There does not appear, as
far as its contents have been made known,
to be the slightest thing in the dispatch
that would justify the Madrid authorities
in taking offence.
Though the Presidents course had al
ready been discounted, either In the sup
position that he would not notice the reso-
lutions at all, or would take just about
the stand he has taken, the admnistra-
TONS policy-and we give Mr.. Cleveland
credit for the best Of motives-wil prove
a great disappointment to both the Cuban
patriots and their friends in this country.
Both hoped that the action or Congress
would lead in some way 10 practical steps
in the direction Of Cuban freedom. How
ever. there Is no question that the vast
majority OF the people OF this country
sympathize with the patriots OF the
Queen Of the Antilles. and whatever may
be the immediate effect, or the logic, OF
the Administrations proposition-a propo-
sition that we may rest assured was well
Neutrality-suspicious. OF Cuban bellige-
reacy by this government is only mat
ter of a short time. This sympathy is not
a thing Of to-day. 1t manifested Itself
strongly in the long rebellion, and has
been steadily growing ever since.