Warren sheaf., 1896-12-10

d
or philanthropic character. It lies SO near
to Us as to be hardly separated from our
territory. Our actual pecuniary interest in
government Of spain. It is reasonably <sst- es-
tiMated that at least from So. OVc to
81 ens paroaS mas
and other business enterprises on tho
island. The volume Of trade between the
staes o abo%t %he rose In IN s
to about 's1O30OO.O00, and in 1894, the
year before the present insurrection
broke out. amounted to nearly $96, 100000.
VexatiOus Entanglements.
Besides this large pecuniary stake In
the fortunes OF Cuba, the United States
mas user nntaae II bsr s1ved St IN inc
atious and costly. Many Cubans reside in
this country and indirectly promote the
meetngs by te parchase pnd of
arms. by the raising of funds and by other
means. which the spirit of our institutions
to be made the subject of criminal prosecu-
tions. Some of them. though Cubans at
heart and in all their feelings and interests.
have taken out papers as naturaliZed clt1-
zens of the United States, a proceeding re-
sorted to with view to possible protec-
ton by this government and not Hnnat It,
the country of their origin.
The Question of Intervention:
These inevitable entanglements Of the
the large American property interests af-
fected and considerations OF philanthropy
and humanity in general have led to ve-
some sort Of positive intervention or
the part of the United States. It was at
first proposed that belligerent rights should
sition no longer urged because untimely
and In practical operation clearly perllouS
and Injurious to our own interests. It has
since been and Is now sometimes contended
that the independence of the insurgents
should be recognized. But imperfect and
restricted as the Spanish government Of
the island may be, no other exists there
unless the will Of the military officer in
temporary command of a particular dis
e It is noW also that the
United States should tuy the island-a sug-
gestion possibly worthy of consideration
willingness on the part Of Spain to enter
tain such proposal: It IS urged, finally,
that, all other methods failing, the existing
minated by our intervention, even at the
cost of a war between the United States
and spain-a war which it's advocates con
in its proportions nor doubtful in its issue.
Right, Not Might, Must Rule.
The correctness of this forecast need be
neither affirmed nor denied. The United
maintain as nation, which plainly die
tates that right and not might should be
the rule of it's conduct Further, though
peace is necessity, it is in truth the most
pacific of powers, and desires nothing SO
much as to live in amity with all the world.
It's own ample and 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.
Spain Should Grant Autonomy.
It is in the assumed temper and dispo-
sition of the Spanish government to rem
edy these grievances, fortified by indica-
tions Of influential public opinion in Spain.
that this government has hoped to discover
the most promising and effective means of
composing the present strife, with honor
h aehie1ement :e ef all il the % reasonab@ @ Objects
of the insurrection. It would seem that
If Spain should offer to Cuba genuine
would satisfy all rational requirements Of
her shGTd % be e
island might not be effected on that basis.
Objections Answered.
It has been objected on the one side that
Spain should not promise autonomy unit!
arms; on the other side. that promised an
tonomy, however liberal, is insufficient. be-
cause without assurance OF the promise be-
quirement by Spain, Of unconditional sur.
render on the part of the insurgent Cubans
before their autonomy is conceded, is not
features of the situation-the stability of
two years duration has given to the in
surrection the, feasibility Of its indefinite
and as shown by past experience, the
utter and imminent ruin Of the island, un-
less the present strife is speedily composed:
ties in Spain, all branches Of her govern
ment and all her leading public men con-
Cede to exist and profess desire to re-
hold the proffer Of needed reforms until
the parties demanding them put them
selves at mercy by throwing down their
orv1oS hoc fhn q M ~ nn1 inn q
gravest of perils and inviting suspicion as
tothe sincerity of any professed willingness
to grant reforms.
The objection on behalf of the insurgents
that proposed reforms cannot be relied
upon-must of course be considered, though
we have no right to assume me and nd no reason S1
takes to do for the relief Of Cuba will not
be done according to both the spirit and
the letter of the undertaking.
offered Our services.
Nevertheless, realizing that suspicious
and precautions on the part OF the weak:
er Of two cOmbatants are always natural
and not always unjustitiab able-being sim
cerely desrous in the interest of both, as
well as on it's own account that the Cuban
problem should be solved with the least
possible delay, it was intinated by this
government to the government OF Spain
some months ago that, II satisfactory
measure of home rule were rendered the
Cuban insurgents, and would " IL De accepted
the United States would endeavor to lind
way not Objectionable to Spain OF fur
nishing such guaranty. While no definite
response to this intimation has yet been
received from the Spanish government, ii
is believed to be not altogether unwelcome.
"A Limit to Our Patience.
Whatever circumstances may arise, our
policy and our interests would constrain us
to object to the acquisition of the island or
an interference with its control ny any
other power. 1t should be added that it
cannot be reasonably assumed that the
hitherto expectant attitude of the United
States will be Indefinitely maintained.
While we are anxious to accord all due re-
spect to the sovereignty Of Spain, we can
not view the pending conflict, in all its
evitably close relations to it and its pos