Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-28
WILL SPAIN SELL?
If Not She May Lose the
Island of Cuba Willy NiIly.
Scheme for United States to Guaran-
tee Payment Of Cuba's Debt.
But There Is Not Much Prospect Of the
Plans Success.


which leads mo most positively to the con,
clusion that President Cleveland is GETTING
ready to do something concerning the state
of affairs in that unhappy island. 1t is
now pretty generally understood hero in
high official and diplomatic circles that
Spain has scored a failure in Cuba Her
military operations have not been success
full, and there is no prospect of restora
ton of peace within two or perhaps five
years. 1t has been tactly understood all
along, as l have told you in previous dis
patches, that if the rebellion was not sup.
pressed during this winter and spring it
was highly probable there would be a
change of policy on the part of the admin
istration. The dry season, in which mill
tary operations are practicable in Cuba, is
nearly at an end, and the rebellion appears
to be stronger than it ever was before.
Moreover, the rainy season, which usually
sets in some time in May. is now making
its appearance earlier than usual with the
result that the roads are getting into an
impossible condition, and active and ag.
gressive movement of the Spanish armies
is rendered well nigh impossible.
The Presidents Idea.
President Cleveland intends to take
some action with reference to Cuba, but
he has not as yet decided just what it shall
be. He has been opposed to any unneces
sary irritation of Spain, and for that reason
has not sanctioned the resolutions which
have been so much discussed in the two
houses of congress. 1t was the presidents
desire to maintain such relations with
Spain that, when the time came and the
people of Spain realized how hopeless con
tinuation of their struggle was against free
Cuba they would be willing TO accept the
services of the United States as mediator
In order to keep Spain in a frame of mind
likely to induce her to accept our inter
vention it was deemed necessary to treat
her with fairness and consideration. and
this the president has underworld to do
even at the risk of being accused OF hostil-
ity to the Independence of tho island
President Cleveland's fayorite notion
has been that when Spain realized the
hopelessness of keeping Cuba and keeping
her in peace proposition TO concedo tho
independence of the island fer q war in
demnity would be regarded fayorahly ly
the people of the peninsula In that event
such scheme to the Cuban leaders and to
ask congress to guarantee the payment to
Spain of the sum involved, which has been
variously estimated at from $50, 600, 600
to $3.50, 600, 900. 1t has been though.
Spain would much rather sell out than tn
be beaten out, and if she could not retain
Cuba would infinitely prefer getting some
thing for tie island instead of having i,
torn from her by force. Should such q
scheme prove practicable and the United
States guarantee payment Of Cuba S debt
to Spain, it is believed tho ultimate result
would be Cuhl's annexation to tho United
States.
Our Protecting Wing.
AS the guarantor of tho bonds this coun
try would exercise over Cuba u sort OF
suzerain right-a guiding and protecting
hand ours would be, If there was civil
strife in Cuba, failure Of tho elements ot
the population to set up a firm and secure
self government, it would DO the duty OF
the United States to interfere for the pro
lection Of our own interests. If there wcr,
revolutions, we should have to suppress.
them. In other words, Cuba would fal
under our wing and become province OF
territory of this country She might b;
admitted rs "a state Or might be kept ON Z
probationary basis in order to prepare hei
for the responsibility of independence latel
on after she had paid off her debt to Spain
and acquired greater fitness for self gov
eminent.
Alluring as this plan was and is thorC
does not seem to DO much prospect of it:
succeeding. l am told by members of tn,
diplomatic corps that the people of Spain
are not going to consent to intervention
mediation or sale. They are determined
to hold Cuba at any cost. If the Unitej
States attempts to interfere, they will re
sent the act as unwarranted and insult
ing. If necessary they will fight before
they will allow this country to mcddlt
with what they regard us their domcsti,
concerns.
This is not what President Clevelant
had hoped for, and he is in good deal O
aquandary as to what to do. He is strong
ly convinced the war ought not be permit
ted to go on for years, virtually running
the island and inflicting tremendous losse
upon citizens of this country. The inter
ests of humanity must be considered too
President Cleveland is thoroughly dispose
to do something to bring about peace, blu
he finds great difficulty in determining
just where his duty lies. He has been i'm
pressed by the nerVy ana aggressive mannc
in which the people of Spain have declure
their willingness to fight even the grea
Yankee nation, if necessary, in order t
hold Cuba. The president does not wan
war, and he is satisfied the business me
of the country are tired of the talk of wa
with foreign powers.
Naughty Spain.
Something should be DONE but what
What can be done without bringing %
serious complications with naughty
proud, courageous spain? If Spain wer
sc 81 na,ions, simply commercial an
wholly ational and sensible, the problel
would not be such Il difficult one Their
wou'd b willingness to accept tho inc,
hap'e But at present there are no sign
OF yielding nmong the dons
10e oeges!ion has been made tina
spa,n ai9iit be willing to grant autonom
u Va 81 - give her local self government
shch - anada enjoys under the BIRTHS
croWp resident Cleveland has been nd
Nlseo - coniine his Intervention to thi
op)'ce and he would perhaps be wilIiD
10 try 1t kept for the moral certaint
.hat the Insurgents themselves would 7,