Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-05-14
THE WAR REVIEWED
l2ueen Regent Of Spain Deals with
the Situation in Cuba.
AMERICAS GREAT FRIENDSHIP
The Rebellion Begun on the Eve of Con-
templated Reforms-The Insur-
gents Principally Foreign
ers and Negroes.


with the situation in Cuba. The
speech was read in person by the
queen regent, representing the youth
full king. Her majesty said Heavy
preoccupations lie on my mind on
addressing you on this day of the
opening of the session of the cortes.
All of you have with me those preoc-
cupations, as l am sure they
are shared by the nation. You
cannot have forgotten those days,
rich in hopes, of February
and March of last year, when
the Legislative bodies approved the law
to reconstruct the administration of
Cuba and Porto Rico. To their en-
forcement the representatives of the
loyal parties of Cuba an Porto Rico
pledged themselves, and those who
share the power in the peninsula, but
those good intentions were counter
acted ON the 2lst of February, when
the discussion had not yet begun in
the senate, by the discovery by the
Governor-general of Cuba of symptoms
of rebellion, and three days later it
was necessary to proclaim martial law.
Gave the Secessionists Impulse.
"It was made plain that the an
nouncement of reforms, applauded
unanimously by the liberal parties
far from restraining the secessionists
gave them impulse to resort to arms
with the clear intention of preventing
the application of liberal reforms.
From the first moment that was under
stood by the illustrious general to
whom the pacification of the territory
was intrusted the same declaration
was made to his government by the
commercial agent of the United States,
who said that the revolutionists, seeing
in the reforms great advantage to their
country, quickened the movement in
order to prevent their aspiration of
creating an independent state from be-
coming impaired.
Would BE a Step Backward.
"The rebel chiefs, principally for
eigners and negroes, did not wait long
/ to say they did not give Importance TO
political. economical or administra-
| tive reforms. no matter how liberal,
even the most extended form of local
home rule, if they had to submit to the
sovereignty of Spain, and the good and
the prosperity of the Cubans was moth
| ing to them. What the consequence
would be of the substitution of another
sovereignty for that of Spain over
races nearly balanced and with irrecon-
cilable characters, there is no states
man who will not forsee the final
result would be that Cuba would take
step backward in civilization.
Not Time Now for Reforms.
"The worthy general who governs
Cuba, disposed, as his predecessor had
always been, to obey all the orders of
the government, is convinced, as the
| Cnban conservatives are, that the en-
| forcement of the reform laws which
| have been promulgated, far from
serving to bring peace, will make it
more difficult. From all this it is de-
duced that the immediate application
/ of these reforms, even if it were posi-
Bile to enforce them completely, will
not obtain good result with deficient
application of them.
Hope of Aid from a Great Nation.
"Not for that has the government
/ abandoned nor will it abandon the
| general study of future legislation for
the Antilles, for the moment, after a
new intervention by the cortes. the
opportunity arrives reforms will have
to be definitely established. Fortu-
I t,.1, Is ;,,g is
in the opinion of the superior author i
ties of the island. # 1t has not yet de-
creased completely it is due principally
to the great and frequent helps received
from abroad, deceived as those who
favor the revolution are, with false
descriptions of the political and ad-
ministrative situation of Cuba. Even
that help would not have been sufiici-
cent to prolong the contest if it had not
been for the chimerical hopes spread
among the insurgents that a great ma
tion will take a hand in their illegiti-
mate and powerless cause, with mani
fest violation of the public rights.
Reforms Promised After Peace Is Restored.
when peace will be reached to
consolidate it, it will be necessary to
| give to both islands, Cuba and Porto
Rico, an economical and administrative
| personality with a character exclusive.
/ ly local, but that will make possible
the total intervention of the country in
its peculiar affairs, while maintaining
untouched the right of sovereignty
and untouched the necessary condi-
tions for its existence.
Correct Conduct of America.
81 have the greatest satisfaction in
informing you that we maintain ex-
cellent and cordial relations with all
the foreign powers. The correct and
friendly conduct of the American re-
| public in the presence of the Cuban
insurrection is a good proof that every
| day the ties of interest are developed
and the friendship that unties them
closer with Spain. In the United
| States, Notwithstanding the great
I,t IL