Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-12-08
neither large in its rroportions nor

Abe neither afftrmed nor denied. The
United States has nevertheless a charac-
nv to maintain as a nation. which plainly
|ly dictates that right and not might
should be the rule of its conduct. Though
the United STAGES is not nation to
which peace is a necessity, ii is in truth
The most pacific of powers. and desires
nothing SO much as to live in amity
With all the world. Its own ample and
diversified domains satisfy all possible
longings for territory, preclude all
dreams Of conquest, and prevent any
casting of covetous eyes upon neighbor-
ing regions. however attractive. That our
conduct towards Spain and her domin-
ions have constituted no exception to
this national disposition is made mani
fest by the course of our government.
not only thus far during the present
insurrection, but during the ten years
that followed the rising at Yara in 1868.
No other great pow er, it may be safely
said, under circumstances of similar per-
plexity would have manifested the same
restraint and the same patient endur-
ance. 1t may also be said that this per-
sstent attitude of the United States to-
ward Spain in connection with Cuba.
unqucstionably evinces no slight respect
and regard for Spain on the part of the
American people. They. sin truth. do not
forget her connection with the discovery
of the western hemisphere. nor do they
underestimate the great qualities of the
Spanish people nor fail to fully recognize
their splendid patriotism and their chiv-
alrous 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 onorous debt
accumulated that the costly possession
of the Gem of the Antilles may still hold
its place in the Spanish crown.
And vet neither the government nor the
people of the United States have shut
their eyes to The course of events in
Cuba, or have failed 10 realize the exist
ence OF conceded grievances which nave
LED to the present revolt from the author
ity of Spain-grievaRces recognized by
the queen regent and by the cortes. voiced
by the most patriotic and enlightened OF
Spanish statesmen. without regard 10
party. and demonstrated by reforms pro-
posed by the executive and approved ny
the Legislative branch OF tho spanish gov
ernment. It is IN the assumed temper
and disposition Of the Spanish govern
ment to remedy these grievances. tortl-
fled by Indications of inuuehttA puhic
opinion in Spain, that this government
has hopes to discover the most promising
and effective means of composing the
present strife with honor and ad''tN,"ge
to Spain and with the achievement OF all
the reasonable objects OF the ihsu zee
ton.
IL would seem that if Spain should offer
to Cuba genuine autonomy--d measure
Of home rule which. while preserving the
sovereignty of Spain. would satisfy All
rational requirements of her Spanish sub
jects-thero should be no just reason why
the pacification OF the island might rot
De effected on that basis. Such a result
would appear To be III the true interest
Of all concerned II would at one. stop
the conflict which is now consuming the
resources of the island and making II
worthless for whichever party may uiti-
mately prevail. 1t would keep intact the
possessions of Spain without touching her
honor. which viii be consulted rather
than inlpusned by the adequate redress
of admitted grievances.
It would put the prosperity OF the
island and the fortunes of its inhabi-
tants within their own control. without
seyering the natural and ancient 8
which bind them TO the mother country,
and would yet enable them TO test their
capacity 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 auton-
omy, however liberal. is insufficient, be
cause without assurance of the promise
being fulfilled
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 alto
gether apparent. 1t ignores important
features of the situatiorAthe stability
two years duration has given to the in
surrection. the feasibility of its indefinite
pro.ongation 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 par
ties in Spain. all branches of her gov
ernment and all her leading public men
concede to exist and profess q desire TO
remove.
Facing such circumstances, to with
hold the profTer of needed reforms until
the parties demanding them put them
selves at mercy by throwing down their
arms, has the appearance OF neSiecting
the gravest of perls and inviting suspi-
cion as TO the sincerity of any profesSed
willingness to grant reforms. The objec-
ton on behalf of the insurgents-that
promised reforms cannot be relied upon
must OF course. he considered. though VIC
have no light to assume. and no reason
for assuming. chat anything Spain under
takes TO do for the relief OF cuba Will
not be- done according to both the spirit
and the letter OF the undertaking.
Neverthe less, realizing that suspicious
md precautions on the pa; of the weaker
of two ccmbatants are always natural
and not always niustitiable-being sim
crrelv dceirous in the interests of both
as we'll as on it's own account that the
.'uban problem should be solved with the
least possible deiay-it was ntnated