Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-12-10

/ restricted as me Spanish government or
/ the island may be, no other exists there
unless the VIII of the military officer in
+ temporary command OF a particular dis
| trict can he dignifed a species OF gov
| United states shoBsd buy the island-a sug-
| gestien possibly worthy of consideration
/ II there were any evidence of a desire or
| Willingness on the part of Spain TO enter
tain such a proposal. 1t is urged, finally,
| that. all other methods falling the existing
! internecine strife in Cuba should be ter
| minated by our Intervention, even at the
| cost eff war between the United States
| and Spain-a war which its advocates con-
| in its proportions nor doubtful in its issue
Right. Not Might. Must Rule.
The correctness of this forecast need be
| neither affirmed nor denied The United
/ States has nevertheless a character TO
| maintain as nation, which plainly die
! tateS that right and not might should be
| the United States is not nation to which
| peace is a necessity, II is in truth the most
! pacific of powers, and desires nothing so
! much as to live IN amity with all the world.
| It's own ample and diversified domains sat
| isfy ali possible longings for territory, pre-
| clude all dreams of CONQUEST and prevent
| any casting of covetous eyes upon neigh
| boring regions however attractive That
our conduct towards Spain and her do
! minionS has constituted no exception to
| this national disposition is made manifest
! by the course of our government, not only
thus far during the present insurrection.
! but during the ten years that followed the
| rising at Nara in 1868 No other great power,
It may be said. under circumstances Of sim
| liar perpleXity. would have manifested the
same restraint and the same patient en-
| ourance.
It may also be said that this persistent
| attitude of tho United States towards
Spain in connection with Cuba, unques-
| tionably evinces no slight respect and re-
gard for Spain on the part of the American
people. They in truth do not forget her
connection with the discovery of the west
| ern hemisphere, nor do they under estimate
! the great qualities of the Spanish people.
ffnfr cglIn n
| patriotism and their chivalrous devotion
| TO the national honor They view with
| wonder and admiration the cheerful reso-
| luton 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
J Antilles may still hold it's place in the
! Spanish crown, And yet neither the gov
| eminent nor the people of the United
States have shut their eyes to the course
/ of events in Cuba or have failed to realize
| the existence of conceded grievances which
! have led to the present revolt from the
| authority of Spain-grievances recognized
! by. the queen regent and by the cortes
| voiced by the most patriotic and enlight-
| ened of Spanish statesmen without regard
to party. and demonstrated by reforms pro
the legislative branch of the Spanish gov
eminent
Spain Should Grant Autonomy.
1t Is in the assumed temper and dispo-
| sition of the Spanish government to rem
edy these grievances, fortified by indica-
tons OF influential public opinion in Spain,
! that this government has hoped to discover
| the most promising and effective means OF
/ composing the present strife, with honor
and advantage to Spain and with the
| achievement of all the reasonable objects
of the instruction Vi would seem that
/ il Spain should offer to Cuba genuine
/ autonomy-a measure of home rule which,
| while preserving the sovereignty of Spain.
| would satisfy all rational requirements of
! her Spanish subjects-there should be no
! Just reason why the pacitication of the
| island might not be effected on that basis.
Such a result would appear TO be in the
at once stop the conflict which is now con-
/ Stunning the resources of the island and
| making 1t worthless for whichever party
intact the possessions of Spain without
touching her honor. which will be consulted
4 rather than impugned by the ADEQUATE re-
dress of admitted grievances. 1t would
! put the prosperity of tho island and the
| fortunes of its Inhabitants within their
own control, without Seyerng the natural
and ancient ties which bind them to the
mother country, and would vet enable
them to test their capacity for Self-goVern-
| ment under the most favorable conditions
Objections Answered.
r has been objected on the one side chat
| Sr&in should not promise autonomy untli
/ her iEsurgent subjects lay down their
arms; on the other side, that promised aii-
! tonomy, however liberal, is insufficient be-
- e415 ebllSS u ,i,S pt OAilSt W.
| ing fulfilled, but the reasonableness of a re-
! quirement by Spain, of unconditional sur
! render on the part Of the insurgent CEbans
| before their autonomy is conceded is not
! altogether apparent. 1t ignores important
| features of the situation-the stability Of
| two years duration has given 10 the in
! sLrrection the feasibility of its indefinite
! prolongation in the nature of things.
| and as shown by past experience, the
| utter and imminent ruin of the island, I'M
| less the present strife is speedily composed:
| above all, the rank abuses which all par
Ties IN SPAN an branches Of her govern
| ment and all her leading public men con-
| cede to exist and profess a desire to re-
! move. Facing such circumstances to with |
| hold the proffer of needed reforms until
| the parties demanding them put them |
! selves at mercy by throwing down their
/ arms has the appearance of negIectiney the /
! gravest of perils and inviting suspicion a :
| 10 the sincerity OF any professed willingness i
/ to grant reforms.
The objection on behalf of the Insurgents
/ that proposed reforms cannot lie relied /
/ upon-fnust OF course be considered. though /
! we have 10 right to assume and no reason
4 Tor assuming that anything Spain under
! takes % do for the relief OF GuDa viii not i
he done according to both the spirit and
| the letter Of the undertaking.
oGered our Services
Nevertheless. realizing that suspicions
! and precautions on the part of the weak /
er Of two combatants are always natural I
and not always OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Sin
/ cerelY DESTROYS in the interest Of both g /
well on its own account that the Cuban /
problem SHOULD be solved with the least
/ possible delay. ii was iut.rated By this +
government to the government of Spain I
some months ago THAT, il a satisfactory 7,
measure Of home rule were rendered the +
CuDan insurgents, and would be accepted i,
~ t4efn upon guaranty Of its execution. +
the Cntted States would endeavor to find
q way not objectionable to Spain of fur
mshlng such guaranty. While no definite I
response TO this intlmatiOn has Yet been (
received from the Spanish government It f
IS believed to he not altogether unweIcorne +
while, as already suggested. no reason is /
perceived why II should not be approved by 1
the insurgents. Neither party can fail i
to see the Importance of early action, and +
both must realize that to prolong the pres /
eut state Of things for even a snort period +
win add enormously 10 the time ana labor (
and expenditure necessary 10 bring about f