The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1896-12-10

IUEtN uEEISs Ou the 0LNNL NlME AAAWA
promised autonomy, however liberal, Is |
insufficient. because without assurance
Of the promise being fulfilled. But the
reasonableness OF a requirement by
Spain OF conditional surrender on the
part Of the insurgent Cubans before
their autonomy Is conceded Is not alto
gether apparent. Il ignores important
features Of the situation-the stability,
two years duration. has given to the In
surrection, the possibility OF its indetl-
mite pFoiongation IN the nature OF things,
and as shown by past experience, the
utter and imminent ruin Of the island,
unless the present strife .5 speedily
] composed. and above all. the rank
abuses which all parties in Spain, all
branches of the government and all her
/ leading public men. concede to exist and
profess desire to remove. Facing
such circumstances. 20 withhold the
proffer OF needed reforms until the par
ties demanding them put themselves at
I mercy by throwing down their arms
/ has the appearance Of neglecting the
/ gravest Of perlls and inviting suspicion
I rs to the sincerity OF any professed
/ Willingness to grant reforms. The OBJ
lection on behalf the insargents-that
promised reforms cannot be relied up-
4 on-must az course be considered,
! though we have no right 70 assume ana
no reason for assuming. that anything
I Spain has undertaken Tor the RELIEF ot
4 Cuba will not be done according 10 both
the spirit ard letter Of the under akins.
4 Nevertheless. realizing that suspicious
4 and precautions on the part Of the
weaker of two combatonts are always
natural. and not always justitable.
being sincerity desirous IN the interest
/ OF both as weii as its own account. that
the Cuban problem should De solNed
with the least possible delay, II was In
tlmated by this government 70 the gov
| ernment Of Spain, some months ago
that IL a satisfactory measure OF home
rule were rendered the Cuban insur-
gents and would be accepted by them
Il upon a guarantee Of itsexec ution, the
United States would endeavor TO find a
way. not Objectionable to Spain. OF fur
nishing such guaranty. While no def
mite respone to this lntimation has yet
been received from the Spanish gov
ernment. It - believed TO be not alto
gether unwelcome. While. as already
suggested, no reason Is perceived why
II would not be approved BY the insur-
gents. neither party can fail to see the
importance Of early action, and both
must realize that to prolong the present
\ state OF things for even a short period
will add enormously 10 the time and la
Dor and expenditure necessary TO bring
about the Industrial recuperatlon of the
Eisland II Is, therefore. fervently hoped
on all grounds. that earnest efforts for
healing the breach between Spain and
the insurgent Cubans. upon the lines
above indicated. may be at once inau-
rurated and pushed 10 an immediate
Il and successful issue. the friendly 0fh-
ces or the United States, either in the
/ manner above outlined. or IN any other
way consistent with our constitution,
and laws will always be at the disposal
OF either party. Whatever circumstan-
ces may arise. our policy and our in
terests would constrain US to object to
the ACQUISITION OF the island or an inter-
ference with its control by any other
power. II should be added that it can
not be reasonably assumed that the
hitherto expectant attitude Of the Uni
ted Safes viii be indefinitely maintain
n ed. While we are anxious TO accord all
we cannot view the pending conflict in
all its features. and properly apprehend
our inevitably close relations to 1t and
its possible results, without considering
that by the course Of events we may
be drawn into such an unusual and un-
precedented condition, as viii fix a linn
il to our patient waiting for Spain 10
end he contest. either alone and in her
own way, or without friendly co-opera-
ton. When the inability Of Spain to
deal successfully with the insurgents
has become manifest. and II is demon
strated that her sovereignty is extinct
in Cuba for all purposes Of its rightful
existence, and when hopeless struggle
for its re-establishment has degener-
ated into a strife which means moth
ing more than the useless sacrifice OF
human life and the utter destruction
OF the very subject matter Of The con-
hict, a situation VIII be presented in
which our obligation TO the sovereignty
OF Spain win be superseded by higher
obIiga ions. which we can hardly hesi-
tate to recognize and discharge.
A contemplation Of emergency that
may arise should plainly lead US 10
avoid their creation. either through a
careless disregard or present duty or
II oven an undue stimulation and ill-tlmed
expression Of feeling. But have deem
ed Il not amiss TO remind congress that
q timo may arise when a correct policy
and care for our in. .erests, as well as
regard for the interests Of other nations
acd tier citizens, Joined by colsidera-
tlons OF humanity and desire 70 see q
rich and fertile country Intimately re-
lated 10 us saved from devastation, VIII
constraIn our government to such action
az viii subserve the interests thus in
volvel and at the same time promise TO
4 Cuba and its inhabitants an opDortu-
nifty to enjoy tie blessings Of peace
VENEZUELAN BOUNDARY.
The Venezuelan boundary question
has ceased to b. a matter Of difference
re.ween Great Britain AMI tie United
States. their respective governments
having agreed upon tho substantial pro-
visions OF a treaty between Great brl-
tain ana Venezuela, submitting the
whole thing to arbitration. The proyis-
Ians OF the treaty are so evidently
lust ana fair that the assent OF Vene-
zuela thereto may confidently be an
t.clpat d.
BEHRING SEA FISHERIES.
we have during the last year labored
faithfully and against unfavorable con-
ditions to secure the better preserva-
tion Of seal life in the Behring sea. Both
the United States and Great Britain
have lately dispatched commissioners
10 these waters to study the habits ana
conditions OF seals, and the causes of
I ft4.a ar.fT fhA wHnDWKE
or these commissioners, soon to be sub
mitted, with the exercise Of patience
and good sense on the part or all inter-
ested parties, Il is earnestly hoped that
hearty cooperation may be secured Tor