Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1896-12-12

ftSb wes W hrst proposed that he,,,uo,on,
s,nouid be accorded to the insurnan,s
hnd imnrun,n no longer urged, becanss Untimolv
Gus and in nmra,,,.in IN operation ead clearly peril
been ana d",!urious \, te uur own interests, II has
en ana u now sometimes contended I'M, aas ,hs
n1tpD,'uence OF the Insurgents shouIa ~ ~ .iio
Sa,ea BYt imperfect and Restricted % ne iuo ~
oihar ax ikVverhmcnt ~, Of the island NAV be, mn
| tnrv oSsnas .nere-unless the win Of the miiis
,ic,y, ,ia,y olleer IN temporary command of n nas-
s,vuiar district can be dgnlhed as snecas .,
fpnelnneht II Is how also suggested thas ~ ~. =
na,,eu States should buy the island q snl ,ao
sesuon ,S possibly worthy of consierat,onu Sug 1,
ineness werc er ~ ahy evidence of desire or viii.
nvso Srn, on the part OF Spain to entertain sncb
proposal II IL urged finally that MI n,Sa SSen
in iV.mous m ruling, the existing internecine striSa
10. Suoa should be terminated by our intervanoo
ii, IIou, even AZ the cost OF a war between ,ha
yocntos ',.uses ,e ahu Spain-a war which lis nd
large IN iH,vnmuentiy ~. prophesy could be neither
sna NV nv ts proportions nor doubtful I'm its is
oaI,, me correctness Of this forecast need ho
SSeuner einrmad nor denied The iTnitod
.a.es ,m,n nus, nevertheless, character To MAIN
rIrs,a %rh Us y nation, which plainly dictates TIM,
coAduct ' 10 'no RUE OF Its
,a,,er' t,,ur.ner' though the United States is not n
tMa trMM 70 which peace Is q necessity 1t is in
.tutn the most pacific OF powers. and desires
,uho.ning ,ho so much as to live In amity with Mi
maths @ oa i,s own ample and diversified do
tory, preclude oil dreams OF communist, ana nra
yenL any casting Of covetous eve upon neigh.
oorihg regions however attractive. That onr
conouct towards Spain and her dominions has
vonstauted oS,, no exception to this national dis
ponnr - 1aue menllest by the course OF our
su.g.nneht, not only thus far during the pres
en9 lnsurrection, but during the ten years that
ioilowed the rising at Yara In 1868
~ otner great power, 1t may safely be said.
unu9s wnnI. circumstances OF similar perplexity,
tha Noula nave manifested the same restraint and
the same patient endurance II NAV also he
salu that this persistent attitude of the United
states toward Spain IN connection with Cubo
VIII unquestlonably evince no slight rrspect
ana regard for Spain on the part OF the Amer
sCan people; They IN truth, do not forget her
Sohhectioh win the discovery OF the western
hemisphere, nor do they underestimate The
greet qualities Of the Spanish people, nor fail
70 70 iully recognize their splendid patriotism and
lneir chlValrous devotion to the national honor
Ihey view with wonder and admiration the
SMnveliul M resolutloh with which vast bodies Of
nlen are sent across thousands OF miles of
ocean ana On enormous debt accumulated that
the costly possession Of the Gem OF the An
TILES may still hold its place in the Spanish
crown, and yet neither the government nor the
people OF the United States have shut their
eyes to the course Of events In Cuba or have
falled to realize the existence OF conceded
grievances, which have led to the present re.
volt from the authority OF grievances
recognized by the queen regent and by
the cortes' voiced by the most patriotic and
ehllghlehed OF spanish statesmen without
regard TO party, and demonstrated by reforms
proposed by the executive and approved by the
legislative branch OF the Spanish government
~ is IN the assumed temper and disposition of
the Spanish government to remedy these griey.
ances, fortified by indications OF influential
publlc opinion In Spain, that this government
has hoped to discover the most promising and
eIectlVe means OF composing the present strife
with honor and advantage TO Spain, with the
achievement Of oil the reasonable objects of
the insurrectiun.
1t would seem that II Spain should offer to
luoa genuine autonomy. measure Of home
rule which while preserving the sovereignty
OF Spain, would satisfy all rational reoulre-
ments Of her Spanish subjects, there should be
no Just reason why the pacifcation OF the Is
land might not be effected on that basis. Such
q result would appear to be IN the interest of
al concerned, 1t would at once stop the con-
lct. which Is now consuming the resources OF
the island ana making 1t worthless for which
ever party may ultimately prevail 1t
would keep intact the possessions of
Spnin without touching her honor, which
will be consulted rather than mpugned by
the adequate redress Of admitted grievances,
1t would put the prosperity OF the island md
the fortunes OF It's inhabitants within their
own control without severing the natural and
ancient ties which bind them to the mother
their capacity for self-government under the
most favorable conditions.
II has been objected, on the one side. that
Spain should not promise autonomy until her
insurgent subjects lay down their arms. On
the other side, that promised autonomy, how
ever liberal, is insufficient, because without
assurance Of the promise being fulfilled
But tho reasonableness of o requirement by
Spain of unconditional surrender on tho part
OF the insnrgoat Cubans before their autonomy
is conceded Is not altogether apparent
1t ignores important features Of the situation
the stability two years duration has given
to the insurrection; the feasibility OF It's in
definite prolongation in the nature OF things,
and us shown by past experience; the utter
and imminent ruin OF the Island unless the
the rank abuses which all parties in Spain, all
branches OF her government and all her lead.
Ing public men concede to exist and profess o
desire to remove
Facing such circumstances to withhold the
prefer OF needed reforms until the parties
demanding them put themselves at mercy by
throwing down their arms has the appearance
Of neglecting the gravest OF perlls and invit-
ing suspicion as to the sincerity OF any pro-
fessed willingness to grant reforms,
The objection on behalf OF tho insurgents
that promised reforms can not be relied upon
--must, of course, be considered, though we
have no right to assume, and no reason for as
suming that anything that Spain undertakes
to do for the relief OF Cuba VIII not be done ac-
cordng to both the spirit and 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
unjustihable, and being sincerely desfrous In
the interest of both as well as on Its own ac.
count that the Cuban problem should be solved
with the least possible delay, 1t was intimated
by this government TO the government OF
Spain some months ago That, II satisfactory
measure OF home rule were rendered the Gu
ban insurgents and would be accepted by
them upon guaranty Of Its execution, the
United States would endeavor to find way
not Objectionable to Spain OF furnishing such
guaranty.
While no definite response to this intlmation
has vet been received from the Spanish gov
ernment. IT Is believed to be not altogether
welcome, while, as treaty is suggested. no
reason is perceived why 1t should not be ap-
proved by the insurgents. Neither party can
fall to see the Importance OF early action, ana
both must realize that TO prolong the present
state OF things for even short period Will add
enormously to the time and labor and expendi.
ture necessary to bring about the industrial
regeneration of the island. 1t is there
fore, fervently hoped on oil grounds
that earnest efforts for healing the
breach between Spain aud the insurgent Gu
bans, upon the lines above Indicated, may be
at once inaugurated and pushed to On imme-
diate and successful issue. The friendly Of
fees of the United States, either in the man.
ner above outlined, or in any other way con-
sistent with our constitution and laws, Will al-
ways be at the disposal of either party.
Whatever circumstances may arise, our pol
icy and our interests would constrain us to OBJ
ject to the acquisition Of the island or the in
terference with its control by any other
power.
II should be added that 1t con not be reason
ablp assumed that the hitherto expectant at
tItude OF the United States will be indefinitely
maintained While we are anxious TO accord
Mi due respect TO the sovereignty OF Spain, we
can not view the pending conflct IN nll lts
features and properly apprehend our inevitable
relations to it. and possible results, w, witnoue o
may be drawn into such Ja VII Tx I'I lmt 'u To onr o
patient waiting nU ma in her own map @ ap win e S"
:. .iiaenniiy Cooperation. c,n IN deal success-
When the inability OF Spain 70 o ue", o'voonII onI
,,,iv with the insurrectlon mas peeVlo 9 ,un inan
Fast and 1t IS demonstrated ,nmu nrnoses ~ liz
eighty Is sTtDot IN sna GSpS when e hopeless stus
~, sar its re-establishment mas aegenera.su
49, strife which means nothlnk no,o 'nan
useless sacrifice OF human LIE, iiie %%n m,,tor
tor destruction Of the very ryi be- presented in
,rh,cS .ny I' our obligation to the sovereignty OF
Spain will be superseded by highet r. op.S%ons raSo
sr which we can hardly hesitate TO recohnize |
and discharge ,, =, vavs and meth,ds |
until the time for action arrives we Sensits snGs
make them depend upon the ssopS not be-
..'nad VIZ unon without giving carelul neeu
aveyv consideration involving our ,ro mU"0s owe n
sns Until we face The eOnspsenI1ssd nsdsns
sssted or situation is .Sy0S ey olaer continue
mperatlyely changed, Ts saIu pursued thus
sne ~, circumstssces lrS exhibiting our obedience
tne isa reqdd,t dntv snioned UPON us by the posiuo
ioa ,.a occ,nv ono In the family OF nations. 49,.