The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-08

| Two Vcara' duration has given 10 the
| instruction: The ieasiolliiy OF ~ III,
| definite prOlonratlon In the nature OF
| things. and az shown by past experience
| The utter and imminent rum OF inc
! island. unless che present strife IS speed
! ily composod. above all. the rank abuses
which an parties In Spain. all branches
| Of her government, ana all her IcAulh.
| public men conccde to exist. and profess
| 10 desire TO remove. 80,
| Facing such circumstances, 10 WIN
| hold the nrofcr OF needed reforms unul
| tho parties demanding them put them-
| selves az mercy by throwing Gown tlcli
arms, has the appearance 4I is,ens, ans
| ficion as TO the sincerity OF any Ilo-
fcsscd willingness TO grant rcloi-.s' ! nc
| objection on behalf or the liavl btis ~ /,
! that promised reforms cannot DC felcn
| luOf-muet of course. be considcrcn,
! though we have no right 70 assume.
and no reason Tor assuming mat any
thing Spain undertakes TO 90 10. We
! relief Of cuba viii not be done accord
/ ing TO both the spirit and the lcttci Oh
| the undertaking.
\ PROPOSITION MADE TO SPAIN.
Nevertheless. realizing that susuic.ons
ana precautions on the part OF the M'"h
OF the two combatants are alWaSa h"t',u,
raj and not always unlusuhinit ne
sincerely DESTROYS In the interest," o. D.ti,
as wOa as ON its own account lidl '''o
Cuban problem should De solved WIZ
the least possible dclay-it was lhtlildl,n
IN lIsh government 10 Ati' ~
OF Spain some months ago thdt' u
satisfactory measure OF nome Iuie were
rendered the Cuban insurgents "'l"
would be accepted by them upon 81 al-
anty of It's execution. the Jnt'd StdleS
would cndcaVOr TO ind way not opic,-
ticnable to Spain of FURNISHING sucn
guaranty. While no dcnmt" rcs3ohs
TO this intimation has yet been receiver
from the Spanish Government, III I0 pc
lieved 10 be not altogether unwclc9me.
while as already suggested, no reason U.s.
perceived why II should not be approved
10y the insurgents. Nellhcl parry en-
fail TO see the importance OF carry ac-
ton and both must realize that TO pro-
long the present state OF things Tor even
a short period viii add enormously 10
the time and labor and expenditure ne
ccssary 10 bring about the indu tii-I re-
cupcratiOn Of the island. IL ls therefore
fcrventiy hoped ON all grounds that car
nest efforts for healing the breach ne
tween Spain and the insurCent 'unhnS,
uuon the lines above indicated, may be
at once inauguratcd and pushed 20 an
immediate and successful issue. zee
friendly offices Of the Jnlicd states.
either in the manner above outlined, or
i'm any other way consistent with our
Constitution and laws. Will always De
at the disposal Of either party.
WuatcNor circumstances may arise. our
policy and our interests would constrain
ms 20 object 10 the acquisition OF the
island or an interference with its con-
fTOl by any other power
II SUOuIt Dee tNNtQ lIdl Ut tI.tIoA W
reasonably assumed that the hitherto
cNpectant attitude Of the United states
VIII be indefinitely maintained. While
We are anxious 10 accord All que re-
speCt TO the sovereignty OF Spain, we
cannot view the pending conflict IN all
its features and properly apDrohend our
inevitably close relations 10 il and ITS
possible results without considering that
hv the course Of events We may he drawn
into such an unusual and ungrcccdcn-
ted condition. as will fix a limit 10 our
patient waiting for Spain TO end The
contest. either alone and i'm her own
way. or with our friendly cooperation.
WHEN UNITED STATES MAY IN
TERFERE.
When the inability of Spain 70 deal
successfully with the insurrccton mas
become manifest and IL IS demonstra tea
that her sovereignty Is extinct IN tuhh
for all purposes of its rightiul existence.
and when "a hopeless struggle for us re-
establishment has dcgeneratcd INTO
strife which means, .otning more tha ,
the utter destruction Of the very sub
ject matter of the conflict, a situation
will be presented in which our Obllga-
tons 10 the sovereignty Of Spain Will
be superseded by higher obligations.
which we can hardly hesitate TO rccog-
niZe and discharge. dcfcrring the choice
OF ways and methods until the time for
action arrives we should make them
existing and they should not be deter
mined upon without giving careful need
TO every consideration involving our
honor and interest OF the international
duty we owe TO Spain. Until We face
the contingencies suggested. or the sit
uatiOn is by other incidents impcTdtlNclY
changed. we should continue in the line
of conduct heretofore pursued. thus IN
all circumstances exhibiting our Ohe-
dience to the requirements of public
law and our regard for the duty eniOincd
upon us by the position we occupy IN
the FAMILY or nations
A contemplation Of emergencies that
may arise should plainly lead MS 10
avoid their creation. either through
careless disregard of present duty or
even an undue stimulation and ill-timed
expression of feeling. But / have
deemed IL not amiss TO remind the Con-
gress that a time may arrive when
correct policy and care for our interests
as well as a regard for the interests of
other nations and their citizens. joined
by considerations Of humanity and de-
sire 10 see a rich and fertile country
intimately related TO us saved from
complete devastation will cOnstrain our
government TO such action as will sub
serve the interests thus involved ana at
the same time promise TO Cuba ana its
Inhabitants an opportunity TO enjoy the
blessings Of peace.
THE VENEZUELAN QUESTION
The Venezuelan boundary question has
ceased TO be matter of difference be-
tween Great Britain and the United
States. their respective governments
having agreed upon the substantial pro-
visions of treaty between Great Britain
and Venezuela submitting the whole con-
trOversy TO arbitration. The provisions
OF the treaty are so eminently just ana
fair. that the assent of Venezuela there
10 may confidently be anticipated.
ARBITRATION.
Negotiations Tor treaty OF general
arbitration for all differences between
Great Britain and the United states are
far advanced. and promise TO reach
successful contamination al an early
date.
The scheme Of examining applicants
for certain consular positions 20 test
their competency and fitness adopted
under an executive order ISSUED on l.-e
Goth OF September 1888. has fully demon
Stratcd the usefulness Of this innovation.
I'm connection with this plan of cNaml-
nation promotions and transfers of de-
serving incumbcnts have been quite eX-
tcnsiNcly made with excellent result.
During the past year thirty-iive appoint
ments have been made I'm the Consular
Service tWentN-scVen of which We're
ma 1c to fill vacancies caused by death or
resignation or TO supply newly -crcated
posts. two to succeed incumbcnts re
moved for cause two for the purpose Of
displacing alien consular officials 10y
American citizens, and four merely
changing the official title of incumbents
from commercial agents TO consuls.
OF these appointments. transfers,
or promotions from other positions
under the Department of State. four OF
those appointed had rendered previous
service under the department. eight were
made OF persons who passed SatiSiac-
tory examination, seven were appointed
10 places not included in the order OF
September 80 1895. and four appoint
mi ID tnNAINg1