New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-13
THE PRESIDENT AND CUBA.
STATEMENTS IN MR. CLEvELAND's MES
SAGE CRITICISED.

MEN1 APPARENTLY TRAcEABLE ~
SPANISH INsPIRATIoN-THE PRO-
POSED MEDIATION M
PRACTICABLE.
fry TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIPUNEI
washington. Dec IA wefl-known critic OF for
eign relations and Of Cuban policy more espec""''
has this TO say Of the Presidents recent Messdse'
The President gives the country the IMPRESSION
that he s set upon taking action and that ne
only waits developments as to the best course ne
should adopt. But when we come 10 aiaisAe '"e
Message we find that policy has oeen deciueu o''
BEFORE the Message was announced the people were
naturally DESTROYS Of ascertaining now lar 'e
prosidon, had fulfilled the expectations aroused py
practically the unanimous adoption by Congress al
It's last session Of certain resolutions ihese ie'oe
nze. a state of public war and committed congress
TO a poi.,y looking to the independence OF Cupa ny
requesting the President to offer the interpositoh
y, our Government TO treat with Spain for recog-
milton OF the independence of the island the fresi-
dent has entirely ignored these resolutions ana 'ns
unanimous expression OF the opinion OF Cohs'es''
He does not treat the resolutions with sumcieht re-
spect even to refer to them in his Message, whle
that document shows that he has adopted ana en-
deavored to enforce a line of conduct which has
nroyed Intellectual but which Is directly opposed TO
the policy Of Congress as expressed In the resoiu
lions Congress was in favor OF belligerency and
independence; he rejects BOTH
which will strike the country with astonishment
and especially surprise those who have kept track
Of the operations In Cuba 1t Is In that part OF the
Message where the President argues that the revo-
lutonists had not yet made good their title 10 DC
regarded as an Independent State, and he says that
As the contest has gone the pretence that civil
government exists on tho island except SO FAR as
Spain is able to maintain 1t has been practically
abandoned. 1t is reported indeed. on reliable
authority that at the demand Of the commander-in-
chief Of the insurgcnt army tho putative cuban
Government has given up all attempt to exer-
else its functions, leaving that Government con-
fessedy (what there is the best reason for supposing
1t always to have been In facD Government
merely on paper
WAS THE PRESIDENT IMPOSED ONT
This statement reported on reliable authority Is
Of the utmost consequence. II true. And unless tho
President is In possession Of facts not known either
tho Cubans or to the country. the report would
seem to be but q rumor traceabe to Spanish In
spraton. like so many similar stories 1nasmuoh
as we have representative inside the lines OF the
revolution. and as the Cubans Indignantly deny tho
truth OF the averment and point to the daily occur
renee Of events in Cuba showing the continued &C
tvity OF the Cuban Government. II would seem that
the President In making this statement has been
imposed on. IT, before making declaration so re-
plete with consequences. he had called upon tho
Cuban representatives In this country for informa-
ton. the reported rumor might easily have been set
at rest. They offer to prove that the Government
to-day in Cuba is enectually IN operation than
any time since tho beginning Of hostiliies This
has arisen from tho fact that by OF the I'M
portancc Of operations in Western Cuba the Span
iards have practically withdrawn from tho Eastern
end OF the island which is now in Cuban control
and is fast being placed on a civil basis.
TN regard 10 the balance OF the island tho Revo-
lutionary Government as far as It's civil functions
are concerned. like those OF all Governments in Ike
circumstances. 10 in state OF greater or less In
activity. Tho revolution there Is conducted |
through tho operation OF military force which |
owes its organization. the appointments. OF its off,
GERS its provisioning and superintendent. to the
civil administration In q war such as Is now be-
ing waged In Cuba the respective armies occupy |
ing In various towns. while tho country Is the
seat OF continual conflicts. there cannot be much |
occasion for the exercise Of civil functions II tho
Revolutionary Government was in tho actual oper-
alton Of all tho functions OF administration every
where In tho island this would be II state OF peace
and OF Its authority Is put forth |
whenever there Is occasion to aid tho cause OF tho
revolution. An acknowledgment of its authority |
Is in ths most recent de,recs OF General Wey-
ler prohibiting tho planting or preparation FOR |
planting OF crops In order prevent tho rcvolu- |
tionary authorities from collecting taxes such |
crops.
1.-THE President in tho very statement by which |
he announces that he had offered his mediation in
order to obtain for the Cubans autonomy. or tho |
management Of their local affairs. necessarily |
placed tho Cuban. and the SpNniards on equal |
plane This result follows because II Is tho action
Of a neutral nation endeavoring 10 settle tho differ
OF two contest!ng Powers Had such media |
ton been accepted by SPAIN Government |
would have been obliged 10 recognize on tho part |
OF the Cubans the delegated agents empowered by |
tho constituted revolutionary authorities 10 carry |
into effect the terms agreed upon. In 1863, when |
Mr.. Fish proffered the mediation OF tho United |
States for the purpose OF securing Cuban indie |
pendence ne notified tho Spanish Government |
that the necessary effect OF such mediation |
the recognition Of the status OF both contcsting |
parties. But for which concerned tho In
OF the United States alone. he said he would
not make then a public acknowledgment OF such |
recognition. One OF the principal objections
the part Of the Spanish Government which ulti-
nately led to the rejection It's OF tho media
tion was the fact that It's acceptance would lead
to a recognition Of tho established status OF the
revolution.
PRESENT AND FORMER SITUATIONS CON-
TRAsTED.
with It's present condition. II astonishing that
while the former period this country was willing
TO go TO the extent OF endeavoring to obtain the
independence OF the island. II now Ia conten, with |
obtaining simply promises OF reform. Then the
outbreak which the banks OF the Yara
had been In operation less than year. and was
confined 10 the mountainous Province OF Santiago |
tho most eastern portion OF the island. The revou-
tionary forces only amounted TO about 1000 men.
The balance OF the island was In the undsturbed