Evening star., 1896-12-07


sion Of rebellion sometimes blinds them to
the imn,unittes belonging to the unoffend-
ing citizens Of a friendly power. 1t follows
| from the same causes that the United
States is compelled to actively police long
| liEe of sea coast against unlawful expedi-
! tions. the escape Of which the utmost vigi-
lance will not always suffice to prevent.
These inevitable entanglements of the
United States with the rebellion in Cuba,
the large American property interests af-
fected and consider ations of philanthropy
and humanity IN general have led to
| vehement demand in various quarters for
some sort Of positive Intervention on the
part of the United States. 1t was at first
proposed that belligeIent rights should be
accorded to the insurgents-a proposition no
! longer urged because untimely and in prac-
teal operation clearly perilous and injur-
ious to our own interests.
No Independent Governments.
1t has since been and is now sometimes
contended that the independence of the in
surgents should be recognized. But imper-
| feet and restricted as the Spanish govern
| ment of the island may be, no other ex-
| lists there-unless the will of the military
| officer in temporary command of a partic-
| ular district can be dignitied as species
| of government. II is now also suggested
| that the United States should buy the ISL
| and-a suggestion possibly worthy of con-
| sideration If there were any evidence of q
desire or willingness on the part CT Spain
| tc entertain such proposal. 1t is urged
| finally. that, all other methods falling the
| existing internecine strife in Cuba should
| be terminated by our intervention even at
| the cost of a war between the United States
| and SDain-a war which it's advocates con-
ffo
its proportions nor doubtful in its issue.
| The correctness of this forecast need be
neither affirmed nor denied The United
| States has, nevertheless, character to
maintain as a nation. which plainly die
tates that right and not might should be
! the rule of its conduct. Further, though
| the United States is not nation to which
| reace is necessity, it is in truth the mcst
| pacific of powers and desires nothing so
| much as to live in amity with all the world.
| Its own ample ard diversified domains sat
| isfy all possible longings for territory, pre-
| clude all dreams Of conquest. and prevent
| any casting of covetous eyes upon neigh
| boring regions, however attractive. That
| our conduct towards Spain and her domin-
| ions has constituted no exception to this
| rational disposition is made manifest by the
! course of our government, not only thus
| far during the present insurrection, but
| during the ten years that followed the
| rising at Yara in 1865 No other great
power, it may safely be said. under cir
| cumstances of similar perplexity would
| have manifested the same restraint and the
| same patient endurance. 1t may also be
said that this persistent attitude of the
| United States toward Spain in come ction
| with Cuba inquest tionably evinces no slight
| respect and regard for Spain the part
| of the American People. They, in truth, Go
! not forget her connection with the discov-
| cry of the western hemisphere. nor DO they
| underestimate the great qualities of the
! Spanish people. nor fail to fully recognize
| their splendid patriotism and their chival-
rous 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. ard enormous debt
accumulated. that the costly possession of
! the gem CT the Antilles may still hold It's
| place in the Span:sh crown. And yet
neither the government ror 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
| revolt from the authority of Spain
| grievances recogr .Zed by the queen
| gent and by the cortes voiced by the most
| pa triot.c and eri Shtened Of Spanish states
men. without regard 20 party. and demon
| stratei by reforms proposed by the exec
| utive ard approved by the legislative
| RAJ cn Of the Spanish government. 1t Is
| in the assumed temper and disposition OF
TIE Spanish govern ment to remedy these
grievances, fortified by indications of in
| fiuential public opinion in Spain. that this
|
promising and effective means of COM
! posing the present strife. with honor and
advantage to Spain and with the achieve
| Iient OF all the reasonable objects of the
| insIrrect;on.
Home Rule Proposed.
| 1t would seem that if Spain should offer
| to Cuba genuine autonomy-a measure Of
| nome rule which, while preserving the
| sovereignty Of Spain. would satisfy all ra-
| tional requirements of her Spanish sub
| jects-there should be no just reason why
| the pacificatioa Of the island might not be
| effected on that basis. Such result would
| appear to be i'll the true interest of all con-
| cerhed. 1t would at OEce stop the conflic.
| Wflch Is r ow consuming the resources of
| ti.e island ard making it worthless for
| whichever party may ultimately prevail.
| 1t would keep intact the possessions of
| Spain without touching her honor VIII ci
| will be consulted. rather than impugned
| by the adequate redress Of admitted griev-
ances- 1t would put the prosperity of the
| island and the fortunes of its inhabitants
| within their own control without sever NJ
| .he natural and ancient ties which bind
| them to the mother country, and would
yet erable them to test their capacity for
self government under the most favorable
| condititrs. 1t has been objected on the
| one side that Spain should not promise
| autonomy until her insurgent subjects Law
| down their arms; the other side that
| promised autonomy, however liberal, IS
| insufficient because without assurance of
| the promise being fuifiiie,i.
But the reasonableness cf Il requirement
| by Spain of unconditional surrender on the
| part of the insurgent Cubans before their
| autonomy is conceded is not altogether ap-
| parent. 1t ignores important features of
| the -situation-the stability two years dura-
l ton has given to the insUrrection; the feas-
( ibilIty CT its indefinite prolongation in the
| nature of things, and as shown by past
| experience, the utter and imminent ruin OF
| the island, unl.ss the present strife is
| speedily composed; above all, the rank