Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-12-11

| tionably evinces no slight respect and re-
people. They I'm 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.
nor fail 70 fully recognize their splendid
! patriotism and their chiValrous devotion
TO the national honor They view, with
! 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
Antilles may still hold It's place in the
Spanish crown: And YET neither the gov;
! ernmcnt nor the people Of the United
States have shut their eyes 10 the course
Of events in Cuba or have failed 10 realize
! the exist nee Of conceded grievances which
have led 10 the present revolt from the
authority Of Spain-grievances recognized
by the queen regent and by the cortes
voiced by the most patriotic and enlght-
| cncd Of Spanish statesmen without regard
TO party, and demonstrated by reforms pro-
posed 10y the executive and approved 10y
| the legislative branch OF the Spanish gov
ernmcnt
Spain Should Grant Autonomy.
II is in the assumed temper and dispo-
sition OF the Spanish government TO rem
edY these grievances, fortified by indiCa-
tions OF influential public opinion IN Spain,
that this government has hoped 10 discover
the most promising and effective means Of
composing the present strife. with honor
and advantage 10 Spain and with the
achievement OF all the reasonable objects
! of the instruction. II would seem that
II 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 he no
! just reason why the pacihcation Of the
island might not be effected on that basis.
Such a result would appear 20 be in the
/ true interest Of all concerned. II would
AT once stop the conflict which Is now con-
Stunning the resources of the island and
! making IL worthless for whichever party
may ultimately prevail i would keep
| intact the possessions or Spain without
touching her honor. which will be consulted
rather than impugned by the adequate re-
dress Of admitted grievances II would
! fortunes of it's inhabitants within their
own control, without seVering.the natural
and ancient ties which bind them TO the
them 70 test their capacity for sclf-goVern-
ment under the most favorable conditions.
Objections Answered.
| II has been objected on the one side that
! Spain should not promise autonomy until
/ her inSurgcnt subjects lay down their
| arms; on the other side, that promised an
! tonomy, however liberal, is insufficient be-
! cause without assurance OF the promise be-
! ing fulfilled, but the reasona bleness of a re-
! quirement by Spain. Of unconditional sur
! before their autonomy is conceded, ie not
! altogether apparent ii ignores important
! features OF the situation-the stability of
! two years duration has given TO the IN
! surrection the feasibility of its indefinite
/ prolongaton 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 Spain, all 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 ncgleCting the
! gravest of pcIIls and inviting suspicion as
to the sincerity OF any professed willingness
! 70 grant reforms.
al 10 IN he a1 e ft,gst
that proposed reforms cannot be relied
! upon-must of course be considered, though
W. We naNe 10 IlshI 10 assure ana no reason
TOT assuming that anything Spain under
takes 10 do for the relief of cuba will not
be done according to both the spirit and
the letter of the undertaking.
offered Our Services.
Nevertheless. realizing that suspicious
and precautions on the part of the weak
or of two combatants are always natural
and not always notwithstanding sin
cereIy deslrous in the interest of both, as
Wen as on Its own account that the Cuban
problem should be solved with the least
possible delay, IT was minated by this
government TO the government of Spain
some months ago that, If a satisfactory
measure Of home rule were rendered the
Cuban insurgents, and would be accepted
by them upon guaranty Of its execution,
the United States would endeavor TO lind
way not Objectionable 10 Spain Of fur
nishing such guaranty. While no definite
response TO this intimation has yet been
received from the Spanish government. IL
Is believed TO be not altogether unwelcome,
while. as already suggeste no reason is
perceived why II should not be approved by
the insurgents. Neither party can fail
to see the importance OF early action, and
both must realize that to prolong the pres
ent state Of things for even short period
will add enormously to the time and labor
and expenditure necessary TO bring about
the industrial recupeiaUon OF the island
1t is therefore fervently hoped on all
grounds that earnest Efforts for healing
the breach between Spain and the insurgent
Cubans upon the lines above ted may
be at once inaugurated and pushed TO an
immediate and successful issue The friend |
ly 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.
A Limit to Our Patience.
Whatever circumstances may arise, our |
policy and our interests would constrain us |
10 object to the acquisition OF the island or |
an Interference with its control by any |
other power IL should be added that II |
cannot be reasonably assumed that the |
hitherto eXpectant attitude OF the nited |
States will be indefinitely maintained |
While We arc anxious TO accord all due re- |
spcct 10 the sovereignty Of spain, we can |
not view the pending conflict In all It's |
features and properly apprchend our IN |
evltably close relations 10 II ana It's pos |
sble results without considering that by |
the course Of events we may be drawn into |
such an unusual and unprecedented con- |
dition as will fix a limit 90 our patient |
waiting for Spain TO end the contest, either |
friendly cooperation.
When the inability OF Spain 20 deal sue
ceSsfully with the Instruction has be- |
come manifest and il is demonstrated mat |
her sovereignty is extinct in cuba for all
purposes OF its rightful existence, ana |
when hopeless struggle for its reestab-
lishment has degenerated into a strlfe
which means nothing more than the use
less sacrifice OF human life and the utter
destruC ton Of the very subject matter ot
the conflict. a situation Will be presented
in which our obligations TO tho sovereignty |
OF Spain viii be superseded by higher OBJ
legations which We can hardly hesitate TO
recognize and discharge.
Deferring tho choice OF ways ana meth
DDS until the time for action arrives. we
should make them depend upon the pre-
else conditions then existing. and they
should not be determined ulon without
giving careful heed to every CCns'd"rat on
involving our honor and interest, or th
international duty we owe 20 spain. nth
we face the CONTINGENCIES suggested or
the situation is by other incidents inpora-
lively changed, we should continue in the
line OF conduct heretofore pursued. thus
In all circumstances exhibiting our ohedi-
encc 10 the requirements OF public law and
rrfv ri fOF the duty on Joined rft0r |