Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-12-11
Island and making it worthless foi(I

st pugned by the adequate redress of ad
ie mlted grievances. 1t would put the
e prosperity of the island and the fortunes
+ of its inhabitants within their o ~n con
e troll without severing natural and ancient
q ties which bind thdm to the mother
8 country, and would yet enable them to
{. test their capacity for self-government
e under the most favorable conditions.
S 1t has been objected on the one side
that Spain would not promise autonomy
until hsr insurgent subjects lay down
their arms; on the other side, that prom
ised autonomy, however liberal, is In
sufficient, because without assurance of
the promise being fulfilled. But the
reasonableness of the requirement by
Spain, of unconditional surrender on
the part of the insurgent Cubans before
their autonomy is conceded, is uot alto
gether apparent. 1t ignores important
features of the situation-the stability
of its indefinite prolongation in the ma
ture of things and as shown by past
experiences 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 profess a desire to remove.
Facing such circumstances, 10 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 neglecting
the gravest of perils and inviting suspi-
cion as to the sincerity of any pro-
fessed Willingness to grant reforms.
The objection on behalf of the insur-
gents-that promised reforms cannot be
relied upon-must, of course, be consid-
cred, though we have no right to assume
and no reason for suming. that any
thing that Spain undertakes to do for
the relief of Cuba will not be done &C
cording to both the spirit and the letter
Of the undertaking.
Nevertheless, realizing that suspicious
Ind precautions on the part of the
weaker of the two combatants are al
Ways natural and not always unjustif-
sincerely DESTROYS in the
interests of both as well as on IT'S own
ccount that the Cuban problem should
e solved with the least possible delay
1t was intimated by this Government
, the Government of Spain some
lonths ago that if satisfactory meas
res of home rule were rendered the
uban insurgents, and would be ac-
epted by them upon guarantee of its
xecution, the United States would en-
eavor to find way not Objectionable
Spain of furnishing such guaranty.
While no definite response to this in
m alton has yet been received from
e Spanish Government, it is believed
be not altogether unwelcome, while,
already suggested, no reason is per-
lived why it should not be approved
the insurgents; neither party can fail
see the importance of early action,
ID both must realize that to prolong
e present state of things for, even
ort period will add enormously to the
ne and labor and expenditure neces-
ry to bring about the industrial recu-
ration of the island. 1t is, therefore,
'vently hoped on all grounds that
rnest efforts for healing the breach
tween Spain and the insurgent Gu
MS upon the lines above indicated may
at once inaugurated and pushed to
immediate and successful issue. The
endly offices of the United States.
her in the manner above outlined or
any other way consistent with our
institution and laws, will always be at
disposal of'either party.
Whatever circumstances may arise,
policy and our interest would con-
lin us to object to the acquisition of
island or an interference with its
troll by any other power.
should be added that it cannot be
'onably assumed that the hither-
eXpectant attitude of the United
les will be indefinitely maintained.
lie we are anxious to accord all due
'ect to the sovereignty of Spain, we
not view the pending conflict in all
features, and properly apprehend
inevitably close relations to it and
'ossible results without considering
by the course of events we may
rawn into such an unusal and I'M
edented condition as will fix a limit
ar patient waiting for Snain m end