Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-26
REFORMS MAY PREVENT WAR
Spanish officials Prefer This Treatment Of
the Rebellion.
MEANS A FRIENDLY UNDERSTANDING
CnnoynH Alleged to Have No Excuse
for Having Failed TO Put In Eff
feet Laws Passed Years Ago
for that Island.

Copyright 1896 by Press Publishing Company)
MADRID, via Bayonne, France. Dec. 25.-
(New York World Cablegram-Special
Telegram spanish Statesmen generally
and Spanish soldiers are 10th TO say any
thing just at this juncture for publication,
either here or in the United States. Even
Martinez Campos, ordinarily so outspoken
declines any expression Of his views
Senior Moret, however, who will be minis
ter OF foreign affairs II the liberal party
enters the councils of the regency, today
made the following statement:
81 think that everybody in Spain knows
that our chief, Sagasta. recently, on the oc-
casion of his visit to the palace, placed be-
fore the queen our unanimous opinion on
the expediency of promptly carrying out In
Cuba and Puerto Rico not only the political
and administrative reforms voted by the
Cortes last year, but even a
move so economical as the tariff
that our Parliament authorized two years
ago We are sure that economical reforms
would be the shortest road to the pacihcaton
of Cuba and a friendly understanding with
the United States. We cannot that
Premier Canovas has given a single plaus-
ibe reason for his systematic postponement
Of these reforms. They are, fear. in reality
ropugnant to his lifelong ideas in Cuba
\ colonial policy, and equally repugnant to
ine luGdS OIL spanish anu IuUdH tOIseINd-
tlves. Why should not these reforms be
carried out as far and as quickly as pos
eible at the same time as the military OPP
erations against the rebels In Cuba, who
decline to accept anything short of indie
pendence? The liberal party shares the be-
lief of many military men who frankly
/, admit that Cuba cannot be pacifed eXclu-
= svely by force of arms, and this opinion
is shared by Sagasta Maura, Gamazo, Vega
and Armijo all of our ex-ministers and gen.
haln nufN IN fhn
CANovAS is SELFISH.
"Canovas follows selfish policy, simply
calculated to secure longer tenure OF office
and to prepare a favorable opportunity for
retiring with popularity and prestige II he
fails and has to hand over the reins OF gov
ernment to successors who would have to
undertake to repair his mistakes in the most
disadvantageous conditions, both In Spain
and in Cuba, and In our relations with the
United States. Canovas ought to know that
the very interest and fate Of our mon
archy are staked upon the results of our
policy, and this increases his responsibility.
especially as our queen admirably and nobly
plays her part of constitutional sovereign
and has shown anxiety only for more prac-
tcal and prompt results OF the national
sacrifice In men and money, and she has
Insisted upon more morality in Cuban and
Spanish administration.
WILL. SPEAK OUT LATER.
eve liberals loyalty and patriotically
avoid giving trouble to the government,
but we will speak out when tho time comes
in Parliament against policy that we con-
slider faulty, short-sighted and bad We
will ask for complete data on the negotia-
tions which we are perfectly aware have
been going on between the Spanish and
United States governments, including the
recent notes exchanged between the two
foreign Offices and regards the European
governments II is no secret that they all
advised CanOvas to carry out the colonial
reforms.
"rhe liberal party has great faith in the
efficiency of diplomatic action in the new
and old worlds II only they are appealed
to in a timely and proper way, and we
think 1t easily conducive 10 friendly un-
derstandng with the United States.
1T Is rumored that General Weyler had
q SSlayed fresh operations against the insur-
u gents In order to give them time to discover
The disposition of bands and their chiefs
since the death of Maceo, with view TO
feeling his way to preparing the ground
for finishing the present Cuban war
like the past instructions in Spain
where money and unofficial negotiations
proved more telling arguments than force
of arms directly the insurgents saw no
: more hope OF foreign aid. 1t is also be-
Z ncved in diplomatic circles that Spain will
Y take advantage of dispositions of President
Cleveland and Secretary Olney to negotiate
quickly ard directly with the United States
TO secure American neutrality by granting
discriminating concessions in the contem-
plated Cuban tariff and fair promises of
colonial authority before the accession CT
Mckinley"