Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-12-10
rHE pREsiDEN = ON CUBA.

THE PAtkiStDhN ON SoDAs
The ~Lrendent's treatment OF the
Cuban question 10 great relief 70 the
large maj ,rity Of the American people
VINO do not believe 10 a ~ 60"
policy 10 International affairs. 1t re
views the history Of The trouble be-
tween Spain and her West Indian
dependency. ard Of our W connection
with the matter, 10 so clear and i'm.
partial . ranne that The statement
cannot fail TO carry weight In al
quarters. 1t will be d ficult for the
advocates of q s'hurrah' policy to
make head against the show
ing made by the president OF what has
been thus far accomplished by the
policy Of firmness combined with
moderation,
The president does not mince
matters 10 TO the character OF the
Weyler regime IN Cuba; and he
makes very clear the fact that the
present ADMINISTRATORS instruc ions
to our munster to Spain were
in line with the policy distinctly enun-
ciated by President Cleveland In bis
last annual message, that the United
States could not allow the horrible
state OF things then existing 10 coo-
dnue indefinitely. sit was urged"
says the presid snt, "that, as a neigh
boring nation. with large interests In
Cuba, we could DO required to wait
only u reasonable time for the mother
country to establish Its authority and
restore peace and order within the
borders of the island; that we could
DOT cont mplste an indefinite period
for the accomplishment Of this result"
And the president has the satisfaction
Of being able to report that Spain's
reply admits In q very great measure
The justice Of this contention. sit
admits that our country is deeply AZ
tected by the raj in Cuba, and that
its desires for peace are just. 1t de-
clares that the present Spanish gov
eminent is bound by every considera-
ton to u change Of policy thst
should satisfy the United States and
paeify Cuba within a reasonable time
And the great change Of policy adopted
since the replacement of Weyler by
Blanco must be accepted as evidence Of
. sincere attempt on the part of Spain
TO satisfy our demands.
The president proceeds to dlscass
very fully the present reasons for and
against the three possible courses open
TO us, apart from that which We have
pursued, namely friendly diplomatic
Az to the recognition Of
oelligerency, the president quotes at
the discussion OF that point by
President Grant, which he says Is ''sig-
relevant to the present situation
IN Cuba,,, and which does indeed thor
ougbly dispose OF the question in the
negative, whether viewed from the stand
of q claim to such recognition by |
he insurgents or Of its expediency.
Much the same considerations apply to
Of independence. II we are
o do anything at all, tho right and log
ca! thing to do would be to intervene
y force. The time may come when
UGH intervention will be dictated by
visdom, as well rs by humanity but,
q view of the promise held out by the
.reat improvement which has recently
AIKEN place in the situation, the pres.
ut is evidently not the time for such
President Mckinley closes his
Of the Cuban question with
hese words:
II It shall hereafter appear to be . duty
imposed BY our obligation to ourselves, to
and humanity, to intervene
force, it shall DO without fault on our
art, and only because ths necessity for
uch action will be so clear IS to command
he support and approval Of the civilized
rorid.
And, with this utterance, the over
Vhelming majority Of sober minded
nd patriotic Americans will thor.
ughly agree.