The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-06

cy.
The first acts of the new government
| lie in these honorable paths. The pol
icy of cruel rapine and determination
that so long shocked the universal sen
tlment OF humanity has been reversed.
Under the new military commander
a broad clemency is prOffered. Meas
ures have already been set on foot to
relieve the horrors of starvation Ihe
power of the Spanish armies, 1t IS as
serted is to be used not to spread ru-
in and desolation, but to protect the re-
sumption of peaceful agricultural pur-
suits and productive industries. That
past methods are futile to force a
peace by subjugation is freely admit
ted, and that ruin without conclllatiOn
must inevitably fail to win for Spain
the fidelity of a contented dependency
DEGREES in application OF the fore
shadowed reforms have already been
promulgated. The full text of these
DEGREES has not been received, but as
furnished in a telegraphic summary
from our minister are: All civil and
electoral rights of penjnsular- Spanlards
are, in virtue of existing constitutional
authority, forthwith extended to colo
NAL Spaniards A scheme of autono-
my has been proclaimed by decree to
become effective upon ratification by
the cOrtes. 1t creates Cuban par
lament which, with the insular execu-
tive, can consider and vote upon all
subjects affecting local order and in
terests, possessing unlimited powers
save on the matters of state, war and
navy as to which the governor general
acts by his own authority as the dele
gate of the central government. This
parliament receives the oath of the gov
ernOr general to preserve faithfully the
liberties and privileges of the colony,
and to it the colonial secretaries are
responsible. 1t has the right to pro-
pose to the central government,
through the governor general, modifi-
cations of the national charter and to
invite new projects of law or execu-
tive measures in the interest Of the
colony.
Besides its local powers it is compe-
tent, first, to regulate electoral regis
tration and procedure ana prescribe
the qualifications of electors and man
ner of exercising suffrage; second, to
organize courts of justice with native
judges for members of the local bar;
third, to frame the insular budget both
as to expenditures and revenues to
meet the Cuban share of the national
budget, which latter viii be voted by
the national cOrteS with the assistance
of Cuban senators and deputies; fourth
to institute or take part in the negOtia-
tiOnS of the national government for
commercial treaties, which may affect
Cuban interests; fifth, to accept or re-
ject commercial treaties which the ma
tiOnal government way have concluded
without the participation of the Cuban
government; SIXTH to frame the colo
NAL tariff, acting in accord with the
peninsular government in scheduling
articles of mutual commerce. between
the mother countries and the colonies
Before introducing or voting upon
BILL the Cuban government of the
chambers will lay the project before the
central government and hear it's opin-
ion thereon; all the correspondence in
such regard being made public FL
nally, all conflicts of jurisdiction aris-
ing between the different municipal
provincial and insular assemblies or
between the latter and the insular ex-
ecutiVe power, and which from their
nature may not be referable to the cen
tra1 government for decision, shall
be submitted to the cortes.
That the government of Sagasta has
entered upon a course from which re-
cession with honor is impossible can
hardly be questioned; that in the few
weeks it has existed it has made earn
est of the sincerity of it's professions
is undeniable. I shall not impugn its
sincerity, nor should impatience be suf-
fered to embarrass it in the task it has
undertaken. 1t is seriously due to
Spain that she should be given a reas-
enable chance to realize her expecta-
tions and to prove the asserted efficacy
of the new order of things to which she
stands irrevocably committed. She
has recalled the commander whose bru-
tai orders inf1amed the American mind
and shocked the civilized world. She
has modified the horrible order of con
centratiOn and has undertaken to care
for the helpless and permit those who
desire to resume the cultivation of
their fields to do so and assures them
of the protection of the Spanish gov
ernment in their lawful occupations
She has just released the Competitor
prisoners heretofore sentenced to death
and who have been the subject Of re
peated diplomatic correspondence dur
ing both this and the preceding admin
istratiOn.
Not a singlt American citizen is now
under arrest or in confinement in Gu
ba, of whom this government has any
knowledge. The near future will dem
onstrate whether the Indispensable con
dition of a righteous peace, just alike
to the Cubans and to Spain as we'll as
equitable to all our interests inti-
mately involved in the welfare of Cuba
is likely to be attained. If not, the
cxigency of further and other action
by the United States will remain to be
taken. When that time comes the
action will be determined in the line of
| indisputable right and duty 1t will
be faced, without misgiving or hesi-
fancy in the light of the obligation this
government owes to itself, to the people
who have confided to it the protection
of their interests and honor and to
humanity.
Sure of the right. keeping free from
all omenSe ourselves, actuated only by
upright and patriotic considerations
moved neither by passion, nor selfish
ness, the government will continue its
Watchful care of the rights and prop
erty of American citizens and will
abate none of it's efforts to bring about
/ by peaceful agencies a peace which
] shall be honorable and enduring If
1 1t shall hereafter be a duty imposed bv
/ our obligations to ourselves to ,ivili-
4 cation and humanity to intervene with
/ force, it shall be without fault on our
I part and only because the necessity
/ for such action will be so clear as to
! command the support and approval of
| the civilized world.
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION.