The evening times., 1896-12-07

nature of things, and as shown by past
experience; the utter and imminent rum
OF the island unless the present strife is
speedily composed; above all, the rank
abuses which all parties in Spain, all
branches OF her government, and all her
leading public men concede TO exist ana
profess desire to remove.
Facing sucl circumstances, 20 withhold
the proIfcr OF needed reforms until the
parties demanding them put themselves at
mercy by throwing down their arms has
the appearance Of neglecting the greatest
oI penls and inviting suspicion :is TO the
grant reforms. The objection on behalf OF
the einsurgents-that promised reforms can
not be relied upon-fnust, OF course, De con-
Hdercd, though we have no right to as
sumo, and no reason for assuming, that
anything Spain undertakes to do tor the
reiler oI CUBA " ill not be done according
to both the spirit and the letter OF
the undertaking.
Never thcicss, realizing that suspicious
and precautions on the part OF the weaker
OF two cOmbatants are always natural, ana
not always unJustifiabie-being sincerely
desirous I'm the interest OF 10th, as well as
ON its own account, that the Cuban problem
should be solved with the least possible
delay-it was Tntimated by this government
10 the ovcrnmcnt of Spain some months ago
that If satisfactory measure OF home rule
were rendered the Cuban insurgents, ana
would he accepted by them III on Il guaranty
Of MS execution, the Ulitcd states would
endedvOr To find way not objectiOnableto
spain OF furnishing such guaranty. Nhle
no defini' e RESI- onse to this intimItion has
yet been received from the Spanish govern
Inent, 1t is believed to be Lo. altogether
unwclcomc, while, as already ed,
no reason Is perceived why IL should not
he approved by The insurgents. Neither
party can fan To see the imI ortance OF
early ac,ion, and oth must realize that to
prCionS the present state OF things for even
a shor, PEI. od VIII add enormously To the
time and labor and expenditure necessary
10 bring al out the Industrial recuperation
Of the island.
1t is therefore fervently hoped on an
grounds that earnest efforts for healing
the breach betwecn Spain and the insur-
gent CubanS upon the lines above indicated,
may be at once inaugurated and pushed
to an immediate and successful issue. The
frlcudiy offices o the United States, either
In the manner above outlined or i'll any
other way consistent with our Constitution
and laws, viii always be at the disposal
OF either party
Whatever circumstances may arise, our
policy and our interests would constrain
US To object TO the acquisition or the
Island or ;.n Interference with its control
by any other power.
1t should be- added that iu cannot be reas-
onabiS assumed that the hitherto expect
ant attitude or the United States VIII be
indefinitely mai ntained. While we are
anxious to accord all due respect TO the
sovereignty OF Spain, we cannot view the
pending conflict in all its features and
property apprchend our inevitable close
relations 10 1t, and its possible results,
without considering that by the course
or events we may he drawn into such an
unusual and Unprecedented condition as
Will flX 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 successfully with the insur-
rection mas become manifest, and
IL Is demonstrated that her SOW
ereignty is extinct iii Cuba for all
purposes OF its rightfui existence,
ana when a hopeless struggle FOR ITS
re-estabIish hment has degeneratcd
into strife which means not hing
more than the useless sacrifice or
human lie ara tEe utter destrIc N
of the very subject-matter OF the
conflict, a situation will be pre-
sented III which our obligations to
the sovereignty OF spain viii be su-
perseded by higher obligations,
which we can hardly hesitate to
recognize ana discharge.
Dererrng the choice OF ways and methods
until the time for action arrives, we shO I'D
make them depend upon the precise con
dltiOns then existing, and they should rot
be determined upon without giving careful
heed TO every consideration involving our
honor ana Interest. or the lntcTnsi iIOnal
duty we owe to Spain. Until we face the
contingencies sug sested. or the situation ID
by other incidents lInperduvely Changed,
we should continue in the line OF conduct
heretofore pursued, thus In all circum-
stances exhibiting our obedience to the re-
quirernents of public law and our regard
Iortle dut ye n joined upJa us Dy the pUsItIon
we occupy in the family OF nations.
y COntenpiation oI emergencies IiIat may
arise should plainly lead US TO avoid their
creation, either through careless disre-
gard or present dutyor even an undue stliIiE-
Iation and illtimed expression or feeling.
But Lave deemed notamIss to remind the
Congress that "a time may arrive when a
correct policy and care for our Interests,
as wei as regard for the interests of ther
nations and their citizens, Joined by cpilhiu-
erations or humanity and desire to see
a TICh and fertile country Intimately related
10 US, saved from complete devastation,
VIII COfSiTiln our government In suCa aC-
ton as Will subserve the interests thus IN
yOlved. and at the same time promise to
Cuba ana rs lnhahitants an opportunity TO
enjoy the blessings OF peace.
Tie Venezuelan BOUNDARY question has
ceased 10 be a matter 81 difference between
Great britain and the United States, tEeir
respective govern
VEN III Ella. ments having Igrved
upon the substantial
provisions OF a treaty bet wecn Great Britain
and Venezuela, submitting the whole con-
troyersy Ia arbitration. The provisions OF
the treaty are so emincntly Just ana fair
confidently be anticipated.
Negotiations Tor treaty OF general ar
Britain and the United States are far ad-
yducel, anu promise TO reach a successful
cOnsuInn&tlon at an early date.
The scheme OF examining applicants for
competency and fitness, adopted under an
executive order is
CONSULAR sued on the goth OF
September, 1895, has
SERVICE. fuzzy den onstrated
the usefulness Of this
innovation. In connection with this plan
OF examination. promotions, and transfers
OF deserving IncuIHbents have been quite
extensively made, with excellent results.
During the past year thirty-five ap-
pOintnents have been made in tie consular
service, twenty seven OF which were maize
TO fill vacancies caused by death or Tesig-
nation. or TO supply newly created posts,
two to succeed lncumbents removed IDr
cause, JwoIor the purpose OF dlsplacing alien
Consular officials by American citizens, and
four merely changing the official title OF
incumbent from commercial agent to con-
sui.
Twelve of these appointments were
transfers or promotions from other posi-
lions under the Department of State, four
OF those appointed bad rendered previous
service unOer the department.; eight were
made OF persons who passed a satisfactory
examinations. seven were appointed to
places not included in the order OF Septeni-
Der 20, 1895, and four appointments, as
above stated, Involved no change OF in
cumbency.
The inspection of consular offices provid-
ed FOR by an appropriation for that purpose
AT The las. session OF the Congress has Deem
productive of such wholesome effects that
ture be continued. 1 know of nothing that
DANGER IN SODA.
Serious Results Sometimes Follow
Its Excessive Use.
Common soda is all right in its place
and indispensable in the kitchen and for
cooking and washing purposes, but it was