Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-12-10


sympathy the people OF this country always
ana instipcsively feel for every struggle fqr
better and freer governments. and which In
Element snss 70 Of 'o our Hi popalasion. ieads. in only too
many instances, to active and personal partie-
ipetfon in the contest. The result Is that this
tect American citizens. TO claim damages for
injuries to persons and property, now esti-
mated at many 9iiiions 81 aoi o !, ,h anu az ! aS ~
Spanish eflcisls, whose zeal for the repression
OF rebellion sometimes blinds them 10 the i'm
m 2 belonging to = fhs so' naSse rom .S Ss' sams
causes that the United States is compelled 70
actively police 9 long line OF seacoast against
unlawful expeditions, the escape OF which the
utmost vigilance viii not always suffice to pre-
vent. These Inevitable acknowledgements OF the
large American property interests anected,
and considerations OF philanthropy ana hu-
manity In general. have LED to Venenens &c,
| mand In various quarters Tor some sort OF
| positive intervention on the parton the uhlted
States.
IL was at first proposed that beiligerent
rights should be accorded to the insurgents
Dronositton no longer urged, because untlu1eiy
and impractical in operation ana clearly perm
Gus md injurious to our own interests IL mas
been and Is now sometimes contended that the
independence of the insurgents sheuld De rec
ognized. But imperfect ana restricted as tne
| Spanish government OF the island may be. no
other exists ~there-unless the will OF the MILL
tary oficer In temporary c2mmand OF q par
| ticular district can be d~ignihed as o species OF
royernmept. II Is now also suggested that the
United States should buy the island-a sug-
| gestion possibly worthy OF oonslderatlon u
there were any evidence OF o desire or Will
fncness on the part of Spain to entertain such
/, q proposal. It is urged. hnally, that al other
methods falling, the existing internecine STRIFE
! in cuba should be terminated by our interview
ton. even at the cost of q war between the
United States and Spain-a war when ~ az
| yocates confidently prophesy could be neither
large In its proportions nor doubtful IN ls Is
sue. The correctness Of this forecast need De
neither affirmed nor denied. The United
4 GsafaS ha. nRNhTthataSS n rhRIlCtEf 10 UHlu-
tain as q nation. which plainly dictates that
right and not might should be the rule OF It's
conduct
Further, though the United States is not a
nation to which peace Is q necessity, IL is IN
truth the most pacihc' of powers, ana aesir Il
the world. Its own ample and diversified DO
mains satisfy all possible longings for terri
| tory, preclude all dreams OF conquest, and pre-
vent any casting of CovetouS eye upon neigh
boring regions however attractive. That our
conduct towards Spain and her dominlons has
constituted no exception to this national dis
| position Il made manifest by the course or our
government, not only thus far during the pres
emit insurrection. but during the ten years that
| followed the rising ut Yara in 1868.
Nc other great power. 1t may safely be said,
under circumstances OF similar perpieXlty,
would have manifested the same restraint ana
the same patient endurance. 1t may also be
| said that this persistent attitude OF the Unlteo
States toward Spain IN connection with Cuoa
| will Enthusiastically evince no slight respect
and regard for Spain on the part of the Amer
loan people. They, in truth, do not forget her
| connection WIN Inc discovery VI iA0 NCottlA
hemisphere. nor do they underestimate the
great qualities Of the Spanish people, nor faiI
| TO fully recognize their splendid patriotism ana
| their chivalrous devotion to the national honor.
| They view with wonder and admiration the
| cheerful resolution with which vast bodieS OF
| men are sent across thousands OF miles OF
/ ocean and an enormous debt accumulated, that
| the costly possession Of the Gem OF the An
| titles may still hold It's place In the spanish
crown, and az ye t7 neither s ,ae goy haye sbut hV th ude
| eyes to the course Of events in Cuba or nave
| failed to realize the existence OF conceded
volt from the authority of Spain-grievances
recognized by the queen regent ana by
the cSrses, VOICED ny s1e s nSss pssfl9 Witb ana
regard to party, and demonstrated by reforms
proposed by the executive and approved by the
| legislative branch Of the Spanish government.
II Is In the assumed temper and disposition of
4 the Spanish government to remedy these grleV-
| ances. fortified by indications OF influential
| public opinion in Spain, that this government
i has hoped to discover the most promising and
| effective means OF composing the present strife,
with honor and advantage to Spain, with the
achievement OF all the reasonable objects OF
the insurrection.
1t would seem that If Spain should offer to
Cuba genuine autonomy, Q measure OF home
rule which, while preserving the sovereignty
Of Spain, would satisfy all rational require
ments Of her Spanish subjects, there should be
no Z Just m,. reason so1 " Why ss,, sSs gH "a ,Sat pas St 'e su q,
o result would appear TO be In the interest OF
all concerned. It would at once stop the con-
/ fiCt, which is now consuming Inc resources Oh
the island and making 1t worthless for which,
ever party may ultimately prevail. II
would keep intact the possessions Of
| will be consulted rather than impugned by
| the adequate redress OF admitted grievances.
1t would put the prosperity OF the Island and
/ the fortunes OF its Inhabitants within their
| own control without severing the natural and
ancient ties which bind them to the mother
tSsnsr Ssn ana wG por se ys. eHapls snem under ie t he
| most favorable conditions.
| It 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 the RESPONSIVENESS of O requirement by
Spain of unconditional surrender on the part
OF the insurpent Cuhans before their autonomy
Is conceded is not altogether apparent.
Il ignores important features of the situation
the stability two years duration has given
to the insuyrection; the feasibility of its In
definite prolongation in thu nature Of things,
and as shown by past experience the utter
and iTm atn,,a IL ruin snasS 81 the nem isiaad; unless ahess s III
the rank abuses which all parties in Spain, al
branches OF her government and all her lead
ing public men eoncede to exist and profess
desire to remove.
Facing such circumstances to withhold the
prefer q needed reforms Until the parties
throwing down their arms. has the appearance
| Of negleetfng the gravest of perils and invit.
Ing suspicion as to the sincerity Of any pro-
/ ACbSON W EAoab AATs
| The objection on behalf OF the 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 will not be done ao-
cording to both the spirit and the letter Of the
undertaking..
Nevertheless, realizing that suspicious and
precautions on the port of the weaker of two
combatantS are always natural and not always
un1ustihable, and being sincerely DESTROYS In
the interest OF both as well as on its own ac-
with the least possible delay, 1t was intirpated
by this government to the government OF
Spain some months ago that, IL o satisfactory
measure OF home rule were rendered the Gu
ban insurgents and would be accepted by
them upon a guaranty Of its execution, the
United States would endeavor to find q way
not objectionable to Spain OF furnishing such
guaranty.
While no definite response to this intimatlou
has yet been received from the Spanish gov
ernment, 1t is believed to be not altogether
welcome, while, as a treaty is suggested, nc
reason is perceived why it should not be APP
proved by the insurgents. Neither party car
| fall to see the importance Of early action, and
both must realize that to prolong the present
state Of things for even a short period win ado
ture necessary to bring about the industrial
recuperation Of the island. 1t is. there
ssS Sss e lernessiy e hoPsd f on healiagT Foa9 9ss
breach between Spain aud the insurgent Gu
bans, upon the lines above indicated, may be
Of once inaugurated and pushed to an 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.
ststent with our constitution and laws, will al
ways be OF the disposal of either party.
Whatever circumstances may arise, our pol
icy and our interests would constrain us to oh.
tect TO the acquisition of the island or the in.
reference with its control by any othel
power.
It should be added that it can not be reason.
ablp assumed that the hitherto expectant at.
titude Of the United States will be Indefinitely
maintained. While we are anxious to accort
oil due respect 10 the sovereignty of Spain, we
can not view the pending conflict in oil its
features and properly apprehend our inevitable
relations to 1t, and possible results, without
considering that, BY the course Of events, We
precedented condition as will fix q limit to oul
patient waiting for Spain to end the contest
| either alone and in her own way, or with on
friendly cooperation.
When the inability Of Spain to deal success.
fully with the insurreetion has become mani.
fest, and it Is demonstrated that her sover.
eighty is extinct In Cuba for all purposes of Its
riGhtful existence, aud when o hopeless strug-
gle for its re-establishment has degeneratsc
Into O strife which means nothing more thar
the useless sacrifice Of human life and the ut.
ter destruction OF the very subject matter Of
the Conflict, Q situation Will be presented IL
which our obligation to the Sovereignty tot
by which we can hardly hesitate TO recognize
and discharge.
Deferring the choice of ways and methods
until the time for action arrives, we should
make them depend upon the precise conditions
then existing; and they should not be deter.
mined upon without giving careful heed te
every consideration involving our honor and
interest, or the International duty we owe Il
Spain. Until We face the contingencies sux.
gested or the situation Is by other incidents