The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-08

sovereignty Of Spain, would satisfy all
rational requirements of her Spanish sub
jects, there should be no just reason why
the pacifica:ion of the island might not
be effected on that basis. Such a result
would appear to be in the true interest OF
all concerned Il would al once stop the
conflict. which is now consuming the re-
sources of the island and making it
worthless for whichever party may ulu-
mately prevail II would keep intact the
possessions of SPAN without touching
her honor, which viii be consulted rather
than inlpugej by the adequate redress
of admitted grievances. 1t would put
the prosperity of the island and the for
tunes of its inhabitants within their own
control. without severing the natural and
ancient ties which bind them to the coun-
try, and would yet enable them to state
tneir capacity for self-government I'M
der the most favorable conditions.
HARD CONDITIONS.
It has been objected on the one side
that Spain Should MOI promise autonomy
until her insurgent subjects lay Gown
their arms. On the other side, that pro-
posed autonomy, however liberal, is In
sufficient because without assurance OF
the promise beng fulfilled
But the reasonableness of require
ment By Spain Of unconditional surren-
der on the part of the insurgent Cubans
before their autonomy is conceded is not
altogether apparent. 1t ignores import
ant fsa lures of the situation; the stabili-
ty which two years duration has given
TO the insurrection; the feasibility of its
indefinite prolongation in the nature or
things. and, as shown by past experience
the utter and imminent ruin of the island
unless the present strife is speedily COM
posed; above all the rank abuses which
all parties in Spain, all branches of her
government and all her leading public
men concede to exist and profess de-
sire tn remove.
Facing such circumstances. to with
hold the pr offer of needed reforms until
the PARTIES demanding them put them
selves at mercy by throwing down their
arms, has the appearance Of the gravest
of perils and invites suspicion as to the
sincerity of any professed willingness to
grant reforms.
The objection on behalf Of the insur-
gents-that promised reform can not be
relied upon-must, Of course. be consid-
cred, though we have no right to assume
and no reason for assuming, that any,
thing Spain undertakes to do for the re-
lief of Cuba, will not be done according
TO both the spirit and the letter of the
Undertaking.
GUARANTY OFFERED.
Nevertheless, realizing that suspicion
and precaution on the part of the weaker
of two combatants are always natural
and not always unjustifiable, being sin
cerely DESTROYS in the interest of both as
well as on its own account, that the Gu
ban problem should be solved with the
or = Mi
this government to the government OF
Spain some months ago, that If a salts
factory measure Of home rule were ten
0ered the Cuban insurgents and would
he accepted by them upon guaranty OF
its execution, the United States would
erdeavor to find way not objectionable
20 Spain if furnishing such guaranty.
NO RESPONSE, AS YET.
While no definite response to this int.
nation has yet been received from the
Spanish government, it is believed to be
not altogether unwelcome, while, as al
ready suggested, no reason rs perceived
why it should not be approved the in
surgents. 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 to the time andlabor
and expenditure necessary to bring about
the industrial recuperation Of the island.
It is, therefore, ferventiy hoped on all
grounds that earnest efforts for healing
the breach between Spain and the insur-
gent Cubans upon the lines above in
Dictated, may be at once inaugurated and
pushed at once to. successful issue.
The friedly offices Of the United States,
either In the manner above outlined or
in any other way consistent with our
stitution and laws will always be at the
disposal of either party.
Whatever circumstances may arise,
our policy and our interests would con-
strain us to object to the acquisition OF
the island or an interference with its
control by any other people
CAN'T WAIT FOREVER.
It should be added that 1t cannot be
reasonably assumed that the hitherto ex-
pectant attitude of the United States will
be indefinitely maintained. While we are
anxious to accord all due respect to the
sovereignty of Spain, we cannot view the
pending conflicts in all its features, and
properly apprehend our invitable rela-
tons TO it and its possible results, with
out considering that by the course of
events we may be drawn into such un-
usual and unprecedented conditions as
will fix limit to our patient waiting for
Spain TO end the contest. either alone and
in her own way, or with our friendly CO.
operation.
When the inability Of Spain to deal sue
cessfully with the instruction has be-
come manifest, and il is demonstrated
that her sovereignty is extinct in Cuba
for all purposes of rigntful existence and
when hopeless struggle for its re-es-
Establishment has degenerated into strife
which means nothing more than the use
less sacrifice OF human life and the utter
destruction Of the very subject matter
Of the conflict, a situation viii be pre-
sented in which our obligations to the
sovereignty Of Spain viii be superseded
by higher obligations which we can hard
~ hesitate to recognize and discharge.
ACTION SHOULD BE DEFERRED.
Deferring the choice of ways and meth
DDS until the time for action arrives. We
should make them depend upon the pre-