Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1896-05-16
The SPANISH VIEW.
The Situation in Cuba. as Set Forth by tho
Queen Regent In Ior speech at the Open
Ing OF the Cortes-spaIn's Bcneficcncc
Met by Ingratitudc and Proposed Re-
forms by Rebellion.


Queen Regent In Hor speech at the Open
Ing OF the Cortes-spain's Beneficcncc
Met by Ingratitudc and Proposed Re-
forms by Rebellion.
Madrid, May 12.-The new cortes
met yesterday. Great interest was
manifested in the speech from the
throne, opening the session, which it
was known would deal at length with
the'situation in Cuba
SENATORS AND DEPUTIES Heavy pre-
occupations lie on my mind on ad-
dressing you on this day Of the open
ing of the session OF the cortes.
All Of you have with me those pre-
occupations as l am sure they are
shared by the nation.
You cannot have forgotten those
days, rich in hopes, of February and
March of last year, when the legisla-
tive bodies approved the law TO recon
struct the administration of Cuba and
Porto Rico.
To their enforcement the represent
atlves q the loyal parties cf Cuba and
Porto Rico pledged themselves and
those who share the power in the PEN
insula, but those good intentions were
counteracted on the 21st of February.
when the discussion had not yet be-
gun in the senate, by the discovery by
the governor-general of symptoms of
rebellion, and three days later it was
necessary to proclaim martial law.
1t was made plain that the an
nouncement of reforms, applauded
unanimously by the liberal parties,
far from restraining the secessionists
gave them impulse to resort to arms
with the clear intention of preventing
the application of liberal reforms.
From the first moment that was un-
derstood by the illustrious general to
whom the paci6cation of the territory
was entrusted. The same declaration
was made to his government by the
commercial agent of the United States,
which said that the revolutionists, see
ing in the reforms great advantage to
their county, they quiclkened the move
ment in order to prevent their aspira-
tion of creating an independent state
becoming impaired.
The rebel enemy, the foreigners and
the colored did not wait long to say
that they did not give Importance to
political, economical or administrative
reforms, no matter how liberal, even
the most extended form of local home
rule, If they had to submit to the SOW
ereignty of Spain, and the good and
the prosperity of the Cubans was
to them.
On the contrary, that class of revo-
lutionists showed themselves the en-
couragers of the groups of bandits
that formed the nucleus of their
forces, destroying private property,
burning towns without defense and
public that they would de-
stroy the island if they are unable to
conquer the public power, and that
they will thereafter dispute with arms
in hand eternally.
What the consequence would be of
the substitution of the sovereignty
of Spain over races nearly balanced
and with irreconcilable character, there
is no statesman who will not foresee.
The final result would be that Cuba
would make step backwards in civil
ization.
1t would be an error to imagiL 4
the interest of the country and com.
merce in and out of the island of Cuba
could in such conditions prosper or
continue in existence.
The Spanish nation, in the mean
time, is not going to be Indifferent to
the future of those opposcrs, misguided
by improvident political ambition,
and she will not abandon the
mission of civilization that she has
imposed upon herself, and that
she has to this moment accomplished
and that her history and honor impose
upon her; and much less will she deny
the rights and advantages demanded
with reason to those inhabitants of
the Antilles, who, forming in the diff
ferent political parties, have indig-
nantly condemned the insurrection
from the first moment, being morally
and materially by the side of the
and have shed their blood
for her. There are also many who
only by fear have joined the rebels,
and who are beginning to profit blythe
facilities afforded them by the state of
Generalization of the insurrection to
come under the nations flag, and
there will be before long many who,
convinced of the absolute impotence
Of their efforts to suppress the SOW
ereignty of Spain, who will return
with peaceful spirit to their homes
to become good citizens.
To all of them Spain will stway" ex-
tend her open arms, after ner dignity
and authority is safe, for the main
tenance Of which she had made and
will repeat, when necessary, sacrifices
which have not been equalled by any
other nation in America.
In the meantime. 1t is not just to
suppose that the present government
has not enforced the reforms for
lack OF love for them. He (the king)
has had in their enactment as great
a share as any other