Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-12-15

Says That We shcuid Respect spai>
Further, though the United States Is
not a nation to which peace is a neces-
| Slty, 1t 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 terri
| tory, preclude all dreams of conquest,
and prevent my casting of covetous
| eyes upon neighboring regions, how
| ever attractive. That our conduct to-
ward Spain and her dominions has
cons" uted no exception to this nation
al disposition, is made manifest by the
course of our government, not only
| thus far during the present ins lrrec.
| ton. but during the ten years that fol-
lowed the rising at Yara in 1868. NO
other great power, it may safely be
said, under circumstances of similar
perplexity, would have manifested the
same restraint and the same patient
endurance.
1t may also be said that this per-
| SlStent attitude of the United States
toward Spain in connection will. Cuba,
unquestionably evinces no slight respect
and regard for Spain on the part OF the
American people. They in truth do not
| forget her connection with the discov-
cry of the western hemisphere, nor do
| they underestimate the great qualities
recognize their splendid patriotism and
their chivalrous devotion to the ma
| tional 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 enormous debt accumulated that the
costly possession Of the gem of the
Antilles may still hold it's place in the
Spanish crown. And If neither the gov
eminent nor the people or the united
states have shut their eyes to the
course Of events in Cuba or have failed
| to realize the existence of conceded
grievances which have led to the pres
ent revolt from the authority of Spain
grievances recognized by the queen
regent and by the cortes, voiced by the
most patriotic and enlightened of S0an-
ism statesmen without regard to party,
and demonstrated by reforms proposed
| by the executive and proved by the
/ legislative branch of the Spanish gov
| eminent. 1t is in the assumed temper
| and disposition of the Spanish govern
| ment TO remedy these grievances, for
titled by indications OF influential pub
lie orfnion in Spain, that this govern
| ment has hoped to discover the most
| promising and effective means of COM
posing the present strife. with honor
/ and advantage to Spain and with the
| achievement of all the reasonable OBJ
jects of the Instruction.
Hint to Spain.
1t would seem that If Spain should
offer to Cuba genuine autonomy--a
measure OF home rule which, while pre-
serving the sovereignty of Spain,
would satisfy all rational requirements
or her Spanish subjects-there should
be no just reason why the pacification
OF the island might not be effected on
that basis. Such result would APP
pear to be in the true interest OF all
concerned. 1t would at once stop the
conflict which is now consuming the
resources Of the island and making
1t worthless for whichever party may
ultimately prevail. 1t would keep In
tact the possessions OF Spain without
touching her honor, which will be
consulted rather than impugned by
! the adequate redress of admitted
grievances. 1t would put the prosper
ity or the island and the fortunes of
its in Iitants within their own con-
troll, -hout severing the natural and
ancif ties which bind them to the
mot Il country, and would yet enable
tn to test their capacity for self
Il eminent under the most favorable
,nditions. 1t has been objected on
me one side that Spain should not
promise autonomy until her insurgent
subjects lay down their arms. But the
/ reasOnableness OF requirement by
Spain, of unconditional surrender on
! the part Oh the lHSurSeHI CuDanS
! before their autonomy is conceded,
! is not altogether apparent. 1t ig-
nores important features of the
situation-the stability two years
duration has given to the insurrec-
ton; the feasibility of its indefinite
! prolongation 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 parties in Spain. all branches
of her government and all her leading
public men concede to exist and pro-
/ fess desire to remove.
| Facing such circumstances to with
hold the proffer of needed reforms until
the parties demanding them put them
! selves at mercy by throwing down
their arms has the appearance of neg
! lecting the gravest of perils and invit-
| ing suspicion as to the sincerity Of any
professed willingness to grant reform.
The objection on behalf of the insurg-
ents-that promised reforms cannot be
relied upon must of course be consid-
cred. though We have no right to as.
sumo and no reason for assuming that
anything Spain undertakes to do for
the relief of Cuba will not be done ac-
cording to both the spirit and the let
ter Of the undertaking.
Our Offer to Spain.
Nevertheless, reahZlnS that SuSpi-
cions and precautions on the part of
! the weaker of two combatants are al
ways natural and not always unjusti-
| fiable-being sincerely desirors, in the
| interest Of both as we'll as on its own
account, that the Cuban problem should
be solved with the least possible delay
1T 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 ac-
cepted by them upon a guaranty of its
| execution, the United States would en-
! deavor to find q way not Objectionable
! to Spain of furnishing, such guaranty.
| While no definite response to this init
| nation has yet been received from the
| Spanish government, 1t is believed to
| be not altogether unwelcome, while. as
| already suggested, no reason Is per-
ceived why 1t should not be approved
by the insurgents. Neither party can
| fail to see the Importance of early ac-
| ton, and both must realize that to pro-
| long the present state of things for
even a short period will add enormous
| ly to the time and labor and eXpendi-
ture necessary to bring about the IN
| dustrial recuperation Of the island. 1t
is, therefore, fervently hoped on all
! grounds that earnest efforts for healing
| the breech between Spain and the in
surgent Cubans upon the lines above
| indicated may be at once inaugurated
and pushed to an immediate and ST.