The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-03-14
her POSITION STATED
Spain Looks Still Upon This Country as
Friendly to Her and Her
People.
CORDIAL RELATIONS ARE DESIRED
General Weytsr Is Not the Butcher Tina,
The Americans Think
He Is.

today the following statement OF the pol
Icy of Spain as to Cuba and congress from
Prime Minister Canovas. 1t is accompa-
MED by a personal message to Joseph Pull
itzer from the president Of the council of
state at Madrid, authorizing its publica-
ton. The statement is as follows:
Madrid, March 6.-We have as yet no Of
fetal notification Of the intentions Of the
American government. and cannot there
fore take cogniZance Of or protest by
note against any Of the proceedings of the
house Of representatives OF the United
States. We have taken no official notice
whatever of the proceedings and speeches
in Washington during the past week.
powers or courts regarding their support,
in any form. All we have done is to show
to the American government and to Min
lister Taylor that we have endeavored to
enforce respect for the American legation
and consulates, depressing so sternly the
disturbances that we have ordered the
Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia unver-
stiles closed and we will close all univer-
sites, schools and establishments whose
students dare to make demonstrations
hostile to the United States. We will
send to prison and prompt trial all the
authors and promoters Of such disturb
ances. We believe they are prompted by
the advanced Republicans
Nothing will be omitted on our side to
show our desire to preserve cordial rela-
lions with America. I am convinced we
possess sufficient means to quell any hos
tile demonstrations. The government OF
Spain regrets and has made all. the
amends possible FOR the manifestation al
ready made of the Indignation which the
speeches at Washington naturally excited
among the ever loyal people OF spain
The situa ton now is one OF extreme del
icacy Indeed, I cannot define how far 1t
is possible for the government OF Spain TO
permit amicahle and careful mediation OF
a foreign power however honora BILE and
disinterested it may be. without mourning
the grave risk of being accused Of sub
hitting to outside interference, pressure
and diction in the midst of a, great civil
war. The United States are a great pow
err, and until they recognize the object and
encourage the aims Of the insurrectionists
in Cuba they are friendly to Spain. After
the recognition of the belligerents IN Gu
ba by the United States it would be impos-.
sible for the government or Spain TO ac-
cept the good soffices OF President Cleve-
land or permit any interference whatevr
Nevertheless, I still hope some means
will be found by the president to avoid
alternating the friendly relations with the
United Safes which Spain has shown this
week that she prizes highly.
l am fully alive to the significance ana
the possible consequences Of the vote OF
the United States congress to the rebels,
as well as to Spain in her relations with
the United States and especially IN connec-
ton with the right Of search ON the high
seas and in the matter of prlvateers and
flibustering expeditions.
The only new and seemingly war!ike
preparations yet made by Spain are made
simply with view to equipping fleet of
warships and transatlantic steamers to
chase fiilibusterers and guard the coasts
Of Cuba That is the sole object in view,
Gen. Weyler having said that he has had
enough troops, only the usual reliefs Will
be sent to Cuba until autunn. and no ma
val demonstration is contemplated.
The elections will not interfere with the
action Of the government. as IL intends TO
conduct them in a tolerant spirit for all
parties, fair representation being ararng-
ed for even the West indian constl5ue IN
cies. Besides, in every imperial and in
ternational question, the Spaniards have
ALWAYS shown a patriotic spirit
The misapprehension regarding Gen.
Weylers character and methods as a SOL
der originated in a mis-statement OF Tacts
in his career and of his assignments and
instructions. Both in Cuba 20 years ago
and in the philippine islands since then.
Weyler has only carried out the orders of
his chiefs.
Before he left for Cuba the last time I
saw and spoke to him and approved his
views. Consequently he has simply acted
in harmony with the requirements Of this
war in which the insurgents have not
only set at defiance the rules of civilized
warfare, but have violated the provisions
of the treaty of 1875 between Spain and
the United States and OF the protocol Of
1877. respecting the lives and property Of
Cuba.
am determined to carry out the ad-
ministrative political reforms already vio-
lated by the cortes as soon as the pacifica-
tior OF the island permits, and even such
economical tariff reforms as maybe con-
sistent with the interests OF both colony
and the mother country. But 1t is lmpos-
sible to attempt reforms during civil war
or under any foreign pressure in the pres
ent condition of the island. When Mar
shall Campos was sent to Cuba as govern
or-seneral the government would certain
Nv have allowed him to institute the re-
forms if he had deemed them advisable.
Rut he soon discovered that it was inpos-
sible to do so.
We cannot admit that the slightest
Ground exists for the recognition OF the
ba!1ieerency OF the Cuban insurgents,
whose ]so-called president, the marquis Of
Santa. Lucia, and members of his executive
council. are ncnlads like the rebel bands,
ever on, the move. For instance, they
wore nearly surprised and captured this
week by a Spanish column in the province
Of Las Villas.