The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-31


ton will come true that the re-enactment
of a protective tariff will defeat the re-
publican party in the next congressional
elections. Notwithstanding all this, the
moment congress convened all the machin-
cry to re-enact a protective tariff was put
! in operation.
SPAIN RESORTS TO DIPLOMACY.
II turns out that instead of Spain H.
| dulging a bellicose attitude towards the
United States that the proud Spanish
Austrian. regent is dependent upon the
good offices of the United States 10 ef-
feet A reconciliation between the crown
and it's insurgent subjects in Cuba.
! That is the significance of the frequent
interviews between Minister De LONE
and Secretary Olney. The Spanish MIN
! lister ,has been engaging Olney's services
10 reconcile the Cuban patriots 10 re-
forms in Cuba short of autonomy. Inns
is shrewd move on the part OF Spain
| The evident object is to engage the In
Prevention of the United States in nego-
tiations for peace with the Cubans on
terms that Spain knows that the Cuban
patriots will not accept, and thus arouse
the ire of this government against the
patriots for rejecting terms proposed by
! Mr.. Olney. and in that way negative
| all the aid this country would otherwise
be prompted by sympathy TO extend to
neighbors fighting in a just cause for
national autonomy.
We suspect that Mr.. Cleveland and
| Mr.. Olney are both too shrewd TO be
! caught in the trap set by Spain. Spain
bad faith heretofore with Cuba has
aroused such distrust on the part of the
Cubans that the Spanish authorities are
well aware that even settlement on the
basis of autonomy, to be accepted by the
Cubans. would have 10 receive the en-
dorsatiOn of this government, and these
authorities. having finally concluded that
they can never subdue the Cubans by
force of arms, are resorting to diplomacy,
| by which they hope 10 engage the SYM
| pathy and aid of the government of the
/ United States. We do not believe that
Messrs. Cleveland and Olney would sub
| nit terms of settlement to the Cubans
on the part of Spain less than upon the
| basis of an autonomy which Canada
enjoys under the mild government of the
throne of Great Britain. 1t would be
| an insult to the Cuban patriots TO offer
less than this, and Mr.. Cleveland and
Mr.. Olney know that it would take the
good offices and friendly influence of the
to accept even autonomy. Spain has
| waged such a ruthless and vindictive
war against these Cuban revolutionists
and has so violated all the amenities
| of civilized warfare that the most bitter
| hate has been engendered thereby in the
| hearts of the Cubans, and they want no
connections of any nature with the
| Spanish crown; but, perhaps, they would
yield TO the influences of the United
States if they thought as their friends
the United States authorities considered
| it best for them to do so.
The Spanish minister, De LONE, offers
a bride to the United States as a reward
for its interference in inducing the
Cubans TO accept Spanish terms of set
Element. He proposes to reimburse the
| United States for losses in the Interrupt
ton of its commerce with Cuba by
| giving assurances to this government OF
treaty commercial advantages with thai
island which, he says, will more thai
compensate for the interruption of tina
trade. He goes further and, on the pre-
sumption that Spain will not be able Il
pay for the damages done to the prop
that such a treaty would provide for TIL
payment of damages to be derived from
Cuba. In other words, Minister De Lom
| says. in point of fact: I'VE are unable
to pay the United States or citizens o
that country the damages suffered b.
the war in Cuba, nor are we able to sup
press the rebellion. You suppress tn
rebellion for us. Uncle Sam, and W
will reward you by grinding large dam
ages for you out of Cuba This is tn
kind of game De LONE is playing, an
this is the kind of treachery TO Cub
that he invites us to participate in i
order that we may fatten off of tn
island and Spain preserve the honor an
dignity of its rule over Cuba, even
| ~ ha in, n modified form,