The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-12-18


~ acAieyel q I 3 q IN tho ssstsnlbls o.
iects 81 tie insurrection. ;s IS. iaSi
II would seem that e spain should oksr
to Cuba genuine autonomy - uleasure q
homo rule, which, while preserving the soy:.S
sereignity Of Spain. would satisfy ail re-
tional requirements of her spsn 20 SUD ns
the medication Of the island might not 30.
effected ON that basis. Such - result
would appear to be 10 the true interest," OF
all concerned. Il would at once stop tine.
conflict which 10 now consuming the te-.i
sources Of the island and making Y worth.
less for whichever party may ultimately
prevail. It would keep intact the posses
sions OF Spain without touching her honor.
which will be Consulted rather than line
pugnel by the adequate redress OF 10d.,
mitted grievances. II would put the pSos.t.
perity Of the island and the fortunes OF Its
Inhabitants within their own control, With;
ont severiny the natural and ancient ties:
which bind them to the mother country,
and would yet enable them to test their
capacity for se!f-government under the most
favorable conditions.
O0ers 81 intervention Ign0rcd.
It has been objected on the one side
that Spain should not promise autonomy I'M
Ill her insurgent subjects lay down their
arms; on the other side. that promised
autonomy, however liberal and insumcient,
because without assurance OF the promise
being fulfilled, but the reasonableness OF y
q requirement by Spain Of unconditional
surrender on the part Of the insurgcnt Gu
bans before their autonomy Is conceded, 10
not altogether apparent. It ignores Inn
portant features OF the situatlon-the stable
lty two years duration has given to the In
surrection; the feasibility Of its indefinite
prolongation in the nature Of things. and !,
az shown by past experience; the utter ami
imminent ruin Of the island, unless the pres
ent strife 10 speedily composed; above all.
the rank abuses which all parties In Splin,
all branches Of her governments and all her
leading public :len concede to exist and pro-
TESS desire to remove.
Facing such circumstances, to withhold
the prefer Of needed reforms until the part
les demanding them put themselves at
mercy by throwing down their arms, has the
appearance of neglecting the gravest peri!s
and involving suspicion as to the sincerity
Of any pr0fessed willingness to grant re-
forms. The objection on behalf Of the In
surgents-that promised reforms cannot be
relied upon-must be, of course, considered,
though we have no right to assume and no.
reason for assuming that anything Spain un-
dertakes to do for the relief Of Cuba will
the letter Of the undertaking.
Nevertheless. realizing that suspicious and
precautions on the part OF the weaker OF
two combatants are always NATURAL and not
always unjustifiable-b sincerely deslr-
GUS 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-jt
was intimated 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
DO accepted by them upon guaranty Of it's.
execution, the United States would endeavor
10 ind way not Objectionable to Span OF
furnishing such guaranty
while no definite response to this intima-
tion has yet been received from the Span.
ish government, 1t is believed to be not
altogether unwelcome, while. as already
suggested, no reason Is perceived why It
should not be approved by the insurgents.
Neither party can fail to see the Importance
OF early action and both mast realize that
to prolong the present state of things for
even short period will add enormously to
the time and labor and expenditure neces-
sary to bring about the Industrial recupera-
tion Of the island. It Is therefore earnestly
hoped on oil grounds that earnest efforts
for healing the breach between Spain and
the insurgent Cubans upon the lines above
Indicated may be at once inaugurated and
pushed to an immediate and successful is.
sue. The friendly Offices of 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 circumstances may arise our
policy and our interests would constrain
Us to object to the acquisition Of the island
or any interference with its control by INV
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 1t and Its possible
results. without considering that by the
course Of events we may be dra wn !nto.
such an unusual and unprecedented con-
dition as will fx limit to our patient
waiting for Spain to end the contest, either
alone and in her own way, or with our
friendly cooperation. When the inability
Of Spain to deal successfully with the in
surrectlon has become manifest, and 1t II.
demonstrated that her sovereignty ia ex.
tinct in Cuba for oil purposes Of its right
full existence, and when hopeless struggle
for Its re-establishment has degenerateif
into strife which means nothing more
than the useless sacrifice Of human life and
the utter destruction Of the very suhject
matter Of the conflict, situation will be
presented in which our obligations to the
sovereignty Of Spain will be superseded by
higher obligations, which We can hardly
hesitate to recognize and discharge.
Deferring the choice Of ways and methods
upntil the time for action arrives. We
should make them depend upon the precise
conditions then existing; and they should
not be determined upon without giving
careful heed to every consideration invoiv.
ing our honor and interest or the inter!
national duty we owe to Spain. Until we
face the contingency suggested, or the stu.
alton Is by other incidents imperatiyely
changed, we should continue in the line
Of conduct hitherto pursued, thus In ali
circumstances exhibiting our obedience tol
the requirements Of public law and our
regard for the duty enjoined upon Us IN
the position we occupy In the family Of
nations.
a contemplation Of emergencies that may
arise should plainly lead 10 to avoid thcitl
creation, either through a careless disre]
gard OF presen. duty or even an undseb
stimulation and illtimed expression Of feel1
hav a. 1. u