The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-10

States has nevertheless character tt
maintain which plainly dictates right anC
not might should be the rule of its con
duct. Further, though the United States
IS not nation to which peace is neces-
sity, i is in truth the most pacific of pow.
ers and desires nothing so much as to
tlive IN amity with all the world. Its own
ample and diversified domains satisfy all
possible longings for territory, preclude
all dreams of conquest, and prevent any
casting OF coyetous eyes upon neighbor-
ing regions, however attractive. That our
conduct towards Spain and her domin-
ions has constituted no exception 10 this
national disposition is made manifest by
the course of our government, not only
thus Tar during the present insurrection,
but during the ten years that followed
the rising Mt Yarra in 1868.
| No other great power, 1t may be safe
ly sald under circumstances of similar
perplexity, would have manifested the
same restraint and the same patient en-
durance 1t may also be said that this
persistent attitude of the United States
| toward Spain in connection with Cuba
will unquestionably evidence no slight re-
spect and regard for Spain ON the part of
| the American people. They in truth do
| not forget her connection with the dis
covery of the Western Hemisphere, nor
do they underestimate the great quail
ties OF the Spanish people, nor fail to
recognize their splendid patriotism and
their chivalrous devotion to the national
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 debit
accumulated that the costly possession
of the gem of the Antilles may still hold
its place in the Spanish crown. And
yet neither the government nor the people
of 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 present revolution from the authority
of Spain, grievances recognized by the
queen regent and by the cortes, voiced by
the most patriotic and enlightened OF
Spanish statesmen without regard to
party, demonstrated by reforms proposed
by the executive and approved by the
legislative branch of the Spanish govern
ment 1t is in the assumed temper and
disposition of the Spanish government to
remedy these grievances, fortified by in
dications of influential public opinion in
Spain, that this government has hoped
to discover the most promising and ef-
fectiye means of compromising the pres
ent strife with honor and advantage to
Spain and with the achievement Of all
the reasonable objects of the insurrec-
tion.
HOME RULE ADVISED.
1t would seem that if Spain would Of
fer to Cuba genuine autonomy, assure
home rule which, while preserving the SOW
ereignty of Spain, would satisfy all ra-
tional requirements Of her Spanish sub
jects there should be no just reason why
the. pacification of the island might not
be effected on that basis. Such result
would appear TO be in the true interest
the conflict which is now consuming the
resources of the island and making 1t
worthless. for which ever party may
ultimately prevail. 1t would keep intact
the possessions of Spain without touching
her honor, which will be consulted, rath-
er than impunged, by the adequate re-
dress of admitted grievances II would
put the prosperity of the island and the
fortunes of its inhabitants within their
own control without severing the natural
and ancient ties which bind them to the
them to test their capacity for self gov
ernment under the most favorable cir
cumstances. 1t has been objected to
on the one side that Spain should not
promise autonomy until her nsurgent
subjects lay down their arms; and on the
other side, that promised autonomy, how
ever liberal, is insufficient because with
out assurance of the promise being full
filled. The reasonablcness Of require
ment by Spain Of unconditional surren-
der on the part of insurgent bands be-
fppn n t.fn te rr.n InI 10, ,nt nls
gether apparent. 1t ignores important
features of the situation, the stability of
two years duration as given to the insnr
rection, the feasibility Of its indefinite
prolongation in the nature Of things, and
as shown by past experience the utter
ruin of the island unless the present
strife is speedily ended; above all, the
rank abuses which all parties in Spain,
all branches of the government and all
her leading public men concedc to exist
and profess a desire to remove. Facing
such circumstances, TO withhold the prof
fer of needed reforms until the parties
demanding them put themselves at mer-
cy by throwing down their arms has the
appearance of rejecting the gravest of
perils and invites suspicion as to the
of any professed Willingness to
grant reforms. The objection on behalf |
of the insurgents that promised reforms |
can not be relied upon must of course be |
considered. Though we have no right |
to assume and no reason for assuming |
that anything Spain undertakes for the |
relief of Cuba will not be done according |
to both the spirit and the letter of the |
nevertheless, realizing that |
and precaution on the part of /
the weaker of the two combatants are al |
ways natural and not always unjustifi- |
able. being sincerely DESTROYS in the in /
terests of both, and on its own account |
that the Cuban problem should be solv- |
ed with the least possibly delay, it was
by this government to the gov
of Spain some months ago that |
Il satisfactory measure of home rule |
were rendered the Cuban insurgents and |
would be accepted by them upon guar
,ntee of its execution, the United States
would endeavor to find way not objec
ionablc to Spain of furnishing such guar
lntee. While no definite response to
his intimation has yet been received
rom the Spanish government, it is believ-
ID to be not altogether unwelcome, while
Is already suggested, no reason is perceiv-
d why it should not be approved by the
Neither party can fail to see
he Importance of early action and both
must realize that to prolong the present
tate of things for even a short period
will add enormously to the time and Ia
nor and expenditure of money necessary
0 bring about the industrial recaperation
f the island 1t is therefore fervently