The Somerset reporter., 1896-12-08

10
United States has nevertheless a characz
| try to maintain as a nation which plainly
| ~ dictates that right and not might
| should be the rule of its conduct Though
/ the United States Is not nation 10
| which peace is a necessity, IL is in truth
the most pacific of powers md desires
! noting so much as to live in amftv
with all the world. Its own ample AID
diversified domains satisfy all possible
| longings for territory. preclude all
! dreams OF conquest, and prevent any
/ casting of covetous eyes upon neighbour
ing regions, however attractive. That our
conduct towards Spain and her domin-
/ ions have constituted no exception to
/ this national disposition is made mani
! TEST by the course of our government
not only thus far during the present
insurreetton, hut during the ten years
/ that followed the rising at Yara in 1865
No other great power it may be safely
said, under circumstances of similar per
/ pleXity, would have manifested the same
restraint and the same patient endur-
ance. 1t may also be said that this per
sisteut attitude of the United States to-
ward Spain in connection with Cuba.
unquestionahly eyinees no slight respect
and regard FOR Spain on the part of the
American people. They, in truth. do not
forget her connection with the discovery
of the western hemisphere, nor do they
+
Spanish people nor fail to fully recognize
their splendid patriotism and their chiv-
alrous devotion to the national honor
Nevertheless. realizing that suspicious
and precautions on the part of the weaker
of two combatants are always natural
and not always niustitiable-being sin
eerely DESTROYS in the interests of both
as well as on its own account that the
Cuban problem should be solved with the
least possible delaY-it was minated
by this government to the government
of Spain some months ago that, If a
satisfactory measure of home rule We're
rendered the Cuban insurgents. and would
be accepted by them upon a guaranty of
its execution, the United States would en-
deaVor to md a way not Objectionable
to Spain of furnishing such guaranty
While no definite response to this init
matte has yet been received from the
l. SPANISH government. it is believed to be
not altogether unwecomr while as al
ready suggested. 10 reason is perceived
why it should not be approved by the in
surgents
1t should be added that it cannot 6a
reasonably assumed that the hitherto
eXpectant attitude of the United States
will be indefinitely maintained. While
We are anxious to accord all due resneet
to the sovereignty of Spain We cannot
view the pending conflict in all i'll fca-
lures and properly apprehend our fneV
liable close relations to it. and its pos
sble results. without CONSIDERING thai nv
the course of events we may lie Drawn
into such an unusual and unpreccdento ed
condition as Will fix limit to our pa
tent waiting for Spain 20 end the con
test either alone and IL Ter own way. or
with our friendly cooperation
When the inability of SPAN 10 deal sur
cessfullN with the insurrection has be-
come manifest and it is ,monstra ed
that her sovereignty is extinct in Cuba
for all purposes of its rightful existence
and when Il hopeless struggle for il :
re-establishmont has degeneratcd into :,
strife which means nothing more than the
useless sacrifice Of human If and fha
utter destruction of the very subject mat
tel of the conflict. a situation will be
presented in which our OBLIGATIONS to the
scS creisnty OF Spain will be suspcnde d
By higher obligations, which We can
hardly hesitate to recognize and dis
charge.
The boundary Dispute.
The Venezuelan boundary question has
ceased to be a matter of difference be
tween Great Britain and the United
States. their respective governments hay
ing agreed upon he substantial provisions
of a treaty between Great Britain and
Nenezuea submitting the Whole contro-
yersy 10 arbitration. The provisions of
the treaty are SO emnently just and fair
that the assent of Venezuela thereto may
confidently he anticipated. Negotiations
for treaty of general arbitration for all
differences between Great Britain and
the United states arr far advanced ana
promise 10 reach a successful eonsumma-
ton az an early date.
The Consular service
The scheme of examining applicants for
certain consular positions, TO test their
comUrtrurN and fitness. adopted under