The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-24
Mr. CIeveland's Administration Seek
ernment for Struggling Patriots.
NEW TREATY ALSO URGED
OUR PRESENT AGREEMENT WITH
SPAIN FAR FROM SATISFACTORY.
senator HnIe's Reasons for believing
the Cameron Independence ResOIu-
tiOns VIII Not he Passed.

course Congress may finally take with
spect to the Cameron resolution the in
sstent efforts of the present administra-
ton. at least, will continue 10 be exerted
in behalf of autonomous government
for the Cubans. During the correspondence
between this government and Spain the
Canadian system has repeatedly been re-
ferred TO as q model which Spain might do
well to follow in granting home rule to her
Cuban colonists The objection however,
has been made. and with some reason, ii is
admitted, that system which would work
admirably with her Majesty's subjects in
Canada might utterly fail if applied to the
Cubans.
That Spain has intimated that under GER
tain conditions she would not be averse TO
granting a, reasonable measure of home
rule to the Cubans is beyond question. She,
however, insists that nothing less than "a
disastrous defeat in battle will cause the
insurgents to heed such propositions and 1t
is regarded in Madrid as useless to attempt
any Of the reforms suggested until Weyler
strikes a decisive blow. This government.
however, does not fully agree with that
view Of the case and undoubtedly it is
making some progress i'm its contention for
peace on basis alike reasonable and hon
One of the principal motives which has
actuated this government in the course 1T
has taken in this matter is the protection
of the persons and property of citizens of
the United States now engaged tobacco
and sugar planters in Cuba. Although the
planters generally are said to sympathize
with the Cuban cause information has
reached this government that as a rule
they entertain serious doubts of the ability
of the native Cubans, If wholly successful,
to maintain a stable and satisfactory gov
ernment. What the planters most desire is
annexation tot the United States but
the administration, as plainly made evil
dent. regards this out of the question,
the planters next favor an autonomous gov
ernment under the executive supervision of
Spain. Should Spain consent to allow
Cuba to legisate as to her own internal
affairs, the United States, stated by
Mr.. Olney in his report to Congress, would
| consent to become responsible to Spain for
| the faithful observance of the conditions of
| the treaty between the two countries.
| The idea of this government is that this
agreement could be made part of a new
treaty between the United States and
| Spain the necessity for which is admitted
| by both governments.
| The Spanish authorities, it can be stated,
| share the feeling strongly entertained by
| the United States that the present treaty
| has long outived it's usefulness. 1t was
ratified and proclaimed in 1925 and bears
| every evidence of its antiquity. AT that
| time Florida and Louisiana belonged to
| Spain. and a good part of the treaty re-
| lateS to the bOundarierS between the United
| States and the Spanish colonies which have
| now become American States. The old
| time i'm the form of protocols. conventions,
| etc, but the original remains as the basis
| and main treaty Not only is ii antiQuated,
but in the lapse of time disagreements
| have arisen as to the text and at present
| the version in Spanish used by the authori-
| ties at Madrid is said to be materially dif-
| ferent from that in English at Washington.
So far as Spain is concerned there is rea-
| son to believe she will welcome new
| which the present war has shown to be
| vital but will insist on delaying such
| treaty revision until Cuba is pacified in a
| lures which Spain feels the need of rear
| ranging by treaty are. first, the naturaliza-
| ton of Spaniards dncluding Cubans) after
brief residence In the United States; and,
second commercial relations respecting the
| rate Of duty and methods of exchange on
the sugar and tobacco of Cuba and Porto
Rico and on the manufactured products
| of the United States going to the Spanish
colonies: The change as to NATURALIZATION
| is regarded as of chief Importance by Sp lin,
| which asserts that the protection of Ameri-
can citizenship is infrequently invoked by
| genuine American citizens, but is used very
| frequently by persons who become nominal
American citizens for the sake of the pro-
| lection if affords and then return to Cuba,
| where they thenceforth continue to reside.
| Spain will seek to overcome this by seeking
| to secure a provision that Spanish citizens
Gncluding Cubans) VINO come to the United
States must remain here for three years as
actual bona-fide citizens before they can
| apply for American citizenship.
| The commercial features of a new treaty
| will be of Importance, owing to the enor-
nous trade between Cuba and the United
| 81, 900 600 tons annually in time of peace, and
| most of this comes to- the United States
| The tobacco shipments are equally exten-
sive. On the other hand. the nearness OF
Cuba to our shore makes the island de-
| pendent on this country for manufactured
| goods, machinery and breadstuffs. Under
| the reciprocity clause of the Mckinley law
| mutual exchange of goods at reduced
| rates of duty. Under the present law
! which repealed the reciprocity clause of the
| previous law, the reciprocity convention
| was denounced. Since then the high rates
| on sugar and tobacco have been serious
| disadvantage to the producers of the island
| while Spain has retaliated by putting in
| force the high rates previously existing
| against American manufactures and prod
| ucts to Cuba. A treaty adjustment on the
| lines of the convention of 1891. ii is believed
| would be acceptable to Spain.
| 1t Is said that under the new treaty moth.
| ing could be done to restrict filibusterng
! although this has been one of the mos
| serious causes of trouble developed by the
| national law rather than by treaty.