Evening star., 1896-04-11
independence the Only Reform.

If the printed summary Of the Presidents
action with regard to Cuba Is correct it
shows a IL ioroughly characteristic perform
ance. tbs rect lamentations of Congress
go urheeded. and the case is stated to
Spain on lines Of his own devisement.
Whether this is for the best or not. time
alone can demonstrate. 1t is plain enough.
he h6wever. that the probabilities are all
against tie success of the Presidents
course.
The first part of the two resolutions
adoped by Congress accords to the insur-
gents belligerent rights. This does not
meet with the Presidents approval. He
admits that the inSurgert is are masters of
the situation in all but the principal cities
of the island. They have Weyler cooped up
near his fleet and reduced to the necessity
Of depending on his big guns af1oat for pro-
lection. He is afraid 20 venture very far
in any direction into the interior. Still.
the President holds that the insurgents are
not worthy of belligerent rights. His re-
quirement evidently IS that before they re-
ceive those rights they shall first acquire
maritime power sufficient to cope with
Spain on the sea, as they are doing on
land. and establish permanent headqua--
tiers in s,me seaport city. This will prob
ably strike the insurgents, as it does the
people of the United States. as being an
altogether extraordinary proposition. If
the insurgents we're as strong on the sea
as they have shown themselves to be on
land they could snap their fingers in the
face of Spain without addressing another
word of appeal here.
The second resolution of Congress pro-
poses the good offices of this government
toward securing from Spain the independ-
snce of Cuba. Congress did not consider
1t advisable to ADDRESS Spain en- the sub
ject of reforms for Cuba. Everything in
the record seemed to make such a step
useless. Spain, 1t was seen, had violated
all of her promises to Cuba about reforms.
She had brought the ten years war to
close partly by the force Of profuse prom
ises of that description but only to tighten
her merciless grip on the island and make
the condition of the people harder than
before Why. as Congress reasoned. ac-
cept the promise of a nation thus fore
sworn?
But the President reasons otherwise. He
reminds Spain politely of her perfidy: tells
her that the present war. which he admits
is greater one than the ten years war. is
the result of that perfidy; assures her that
peace in Cuba. and then earnestly adjures
her to promise again. He seems willing to
be content with that. Ii she will simply
agree to Go what she has stubbornly re-
fused to DO. although Under solemn prom
Use 20 do. for thirty years. he will be satis-
fled. He decides that she is guilty. but he
is willing to take her personal bonds.
Spains reply to the President will prob
ably be adroitly drawn. The Madrid gov
ernme Mt will probably hail the opportunity
to state its case. and en6eavor to improve
il to the best advantage. The Spaniard
In his best estate is a fine phrasemaker and
a good diplomat. But suppose the answer
embod:es every promise the President asks?
Suppose that. after excusing past perfdies
as well as may be, Spain comes forward
and engages by her unsupported word to
give good government to Cuba in future.
Will that satisfy anybody but the Presi-
dent? Will it make Cuba inhabitable for
the men now in the field fighting for her
Independence? Would young Nickleby and
Smike rave been justified iii returning to
their allegiance at Doth eboy's Hall upon
the simple promise of Mr.. SQueers to re-
form matt. rs there?
The desire of the people of this country,
as expressed through Congress. is that the
good offices of the government be used to
secure the independence of Cuba. The
proposition to secure renewal Of Spain's
broken promises for reforms in Cuba was
not even considered.