Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-08


of the island and the fortunes of its In
habitants within their own control, with
out severing the natural relations which
bind them to the mother country, and
would yet enable them to test their ca
pacity for self government under the
most favorable conditions.
IS SPAIN SINCERE?
It has been objected to ON the one side
that Spain should not promise autonomy
until her insurgent subjects lay down
their arms; on the other side, that the
promised autonomy, however liberal, Is
insufficient without assurance of the
promise being fulfilled.
But the reasonableness of require
ment by Spain of unconditional surren-
der on the part Of the insurgent Cubans
bsfore their autonomy is conceded is not
altogether apparent. II ignores the i'm
portant features of the uation-the
stability two years duration has given
to the insurrection, the Feasibility of its
indefinite prolongation in the nature of
things and, as shown by past experience,
the utter and imminent ruin of the island,
unless the present strife is speedily closed
above all, the rank abuses which all
parties in Spain, all branches of her gov
eminent and all her leading public men
concede to exist and profess desire to
remove.
Facing such circumstances to withhold
the proffer of needed reforms until the
at their mercy by throwing down their
arms, has the appearance of neglecting
the gravest of perils and inviting sus-
picion as to the sincerity of any professed
willingness to grant reforms.
The objection on behalf of the in5ur-
gents-that the promised reforms can
not be relied upon-must, of course, be
considered, though we have no right to
assume and no reason for assuming, that
anything Spain undertakes to do for the
s~f Is H,,lla 1,N.NA linz
to both the spirit and the letter of the
undertaking.
OUR FRIENDLY OFFICES.
Nevertheless, realizing that the sus-
plcions and precautions on the part of
the weaker of the two combatants are
always natural and not always unjusti-
fable, being sincerely desirous In the in
count that the Cuban problem should be
solved with the least possible delay, 1t
was ntimated by this government to the
government of Spain some months ago
that if a satisfactory measure of home
rule was rendered the Cuban insurgents
and would be accepted by them upon
guaranty of its execution, the United
States would endeayor to find way not
Objectionable to Spain of furnishing such
guaranty. While no definite response to
this intimation has yet been received
from the Spanish government, 1t is be-
lieved to be not altogether unwelcome,
while, as already suggested, no reason is
perceived why it should not be approved
by the insurgents.
Neither party can fail to see the i'm
portance of early action, and both must
realize that to prolong the present state
of things for even a short period will add
enormously to the time and labor and
expenditure necessary to bring about the
industrial recuperation of the island. 1t
is therefore, fervently hoped on ell
cr1-n dc hnt 90 CGf off fnrtc hn1 limo
the breach between Spain and the insur-
gent Cubans upon the line above indicat-
ed may be at once inaugurated and
pushed to an immediate and successful
issu-. The friendly offices of the United
States either in the manner above out
lined or in any other way consistent
with our constitution and laws, will al
ways be at the disposal of either party.
Whatever circumstances may arise, our
policy and our interests would conStrain
us to object to the acquisition of the
island or an interference with It's control
by any other power.
HERE is A THREAT.
1t should be added that it cannot be
reasonably assumed that the hitherto ex-
pectant attitude of the United States
will be indefinitely maintained. While
we are anxious to accord all due respect
to the sovereignty of Spain, we cannot
view the pending conflict in all it's fea-
lures and properly apprehend our inev-
itably close relations to 1t and its pos
siblc result without considering that by
the course of events we may be drawn
into such an unusual and unprecedented
condition as will fix q limit to our pa
tient waiting for Spain to end the con-
test either alone and in her own way,
or with our friendly cooperation. When
the inability of Spain to deal successfully
with the insurrection has become mani
fest, and 1t is demonstrated that her
~ ic IN, Ctaho fA, oil
purposes of it's rightful existence, and
when hopeless struggle for its re-estab-
lishment has degenerated into a strife
which means nothing more than the use
less sacrifice of human life and the utter
destruction of the very subject matter
of the conflict, a situation will be pre-
sented in which our obligations to the
sovereignty of Spain will be superseded
by higher obligations, which we can hard
ly hesitate to recognize and discharge.
MUST WAIT A WHILE.
Deferring the choice of ways and
methods until the time for action arrives,
we should make them depend upon the
should not be determined upon without
giving careful heed to every consideration
involving our honor and interest or the
international duty we owe to Spain. Un-
til we face the contingencies suggested
or the situation is by other incidents i'm
perative1y changed we should continue
in the line of conduct heretofore persued,
thus in all circumstances exhibiting our
obedience to the requirements of public
law and our regard for the duty enjoined
upon us by the position we occupy in the
family of nations.
A contemplation of emergencies that
may arise should plainly lead us to avoid
their creation either through careless
disregard of present duty or even an un-
due stimulation and an ill-timed express
sion Of feeling.
MAY TAKE A HAND LATER.
But / have deemed 1t not amiss to re-
mind the congress that time may ar
rive when correct policy and care for
our interests as well as a regard for the
interests of other nations and their citi-
zens Joined by considerations of human
ity and desire to see rich and fertile
country intimately related to US saved
from complete devastation, will constrain
our government to such action as will
subserve the interests thus involved and
at the same time promise to Cuba and its
inhabitants an opportunity to enjoy the
blessings of peace.
VENEZUELAN QUESTION.
The Venezuelan boundary question has
ceased to be a matter Of difference be-
tween Great Britain and the United
4,