Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-10-01

or iiud ana STA ami applicable by our
own Recommendations 1T could inipar:
Z" tho tn.ud States no iar. +dIr.ion me-
tw-"n St-r'u nGi tpe Insurgents /; would
give d" t"itt'l States rp ri.ht Of inter
N"n'ion TO r"fu""c the conduct of the
sts-:- within tA.. paramount authority of
SPAIN a",p't.H" to the International code
Of war.
For th"S" reasons, regard the recoE-
milton Of tlr h.llil,ren,y of the Cuban
insurgents - row urwisc and therefore
tHadmjssiblc. Sho;Ild that step hereafter
be- 0"aH.@ wise, ;ts "A measure of right
and dr:N. H." executive VIII take it.
Inttryruiior upon humane grounds has
been Frequently suggested, and it has not
failed 10 r""t -" my most anxious ami
earn = consideration. Bu; should such
= step h. r"y- taken when it is apparent
that hopeful change has supervencd i'll
the policy Of spain toward Cuba?
Pledges of the New Government.
A new government has taken office in
tn" mother country. 1t is pledged in ad-
vance To the declaration that all the eff
fort III the world cannot suffice to main
tain peace in Cuba by the bayonrt; that
vague promises of reform after subjuga-
ton afford no solution of the iusuiar
prOhlt M that with a substitution of COM
marders must come a change of the past
system Ct warfare for one in harmony
with u new policy which shall no longer
aim to drive the Cubans Ito the horrible
alternative of taking to the thicket or
sUccumbing in misery" that reforms must
be instituted in accordance with the needs
and circumstances of the time, and that
these reforms. while designed to give full
autonomy to the colony and to create a
virtual entity and seif-controlled admin
istration. shah yet conserve and affirm
the sovereignty OF Spain by a just distri-
lint ion, Of md h,,t
basis of mutual interest untainted by
methods of selfish eypediency.
The first acts of the new government
lie in these honorable paths. The policy
of cruel rapine and determination. that
SO long shocked the universal sentiment
of humanity. has been reversed. Under
the new military commander a broad
clemency is profered. Measures have al
ready been set on foot to relieve the hor-
IorS of starvation. The power of the
Spanish armies, IL is asserted. is to be
used. not to spread ruin and dssolation,
but to protect the resumption of peaceful
agricultural pursuits and productive in
dUstrieS. That past methods were futile
to force a peace by subjueat;on, is free
" admitted. and ruin without concilia-
ton must inevitably fail TO win for Spain
the fidelity of a discontinued de pendency.
The Reforms for Cnba.
DftlttS III dFDl4tdlhpH VI TIE lotcSHdu-
owed reforms have already been pro-
mulCated. The full text of these DEGREES
has not been received. but, as furnished in
Il Geographic summary from our minister,
the reforms are:
All civil and electoral rights of penn-
suar Spaniards are. by virtue of the exist
ing constitutional assembly. forthwith
extended to colonial Spaniards. A scheme
of autonomy has been proclaimed by de-
cree to become effective upon ratification
by the corteS. 1t creates a Cuban parlia-
ment. which. with the fnsular executive.
can consider and vote upon all subjects
affecting local order and interests, pos
sessing unlimited powers save as to mat
tiers of state. war and the navy. as TO
which the encouragement acts by his
own authority as the delegate of the GEN.
tral government. This parliament re-
ceives the oath of the governor-general
to preserve faithfully the liberties and
privileges of the colony, and to II the
colonial secretaries are responsible. 1t has
the right to propose to the central gov
eminent, through the encouragement,
notifications of a charter and to invite
new projects of law or executive meas
ures in the interest of the colony. Be-
SIDES its local powers, 1t Is competent
first, to regulate electoral registration and
procedure and prescribe the qualifications
of electors and the manner of exercising
suffrage; second. to organize courts of
justice with native judges from members
of the local bar; third to frame the in
sular budget, both as to expenditures and
revenues to meet the Cuban share of the
national budget, which latter will be voted
by the national cortes with the assist
ance of Cuban senators and deputies;
fourth, to initiate or take part in the me-
eotiations of the national government
for commercial treaties which may affect
t'nbap irtprpS'S. fifth fn %.
ject commercial treaties which the nation
al government may have concluded with
out the participation of the Cuban govern
ment. sixth, TO frame the colonial tariff
acting in accord with the peninsular gov
ernment III scheduling articles of mutual
commerce between the mother country
and the colonies. Before introducing or
voting upon bill the Cuban government
or the chambers will lay the project be-
fore the central government and hear its
opinion thereon; all the correspondence
in such regard being made public. FL
nally. all conflicts of jurisdiction arising
between the different municipal, provin-
cial and insular assemblies, or between
the latter and the insular executive pow
er. and which. from their nature. may
not be referable to the central govern
ment for decision. shall be submitted to
the courts.
Result VIII Soon Re Known.
That the government of Sagasta has en-
tered upon course from which recession
with honor is impossible, can hardly be
questioned: that in the few weeks 1t has
existed 1t has made earnest of the sin
certify of Ats professions is undeniable l
shall not impugn its sincerity, nor should
Impotence be suffered to embarrass it
in the task 1t has undertaken. 1t is hon.
eStly due to Spain and to our friendly
relations with Spain that she should be
given a reasonable chance to realize her
expectations and to prove the asserted eff
ficiency of the new order of things to
which she stands irrevocably committed
She has recalled the commander whose
brutal orders infiamed the Anne rican m nd
and shocked the civilized world. She has
modified the horrible order Of concentra-
ton and has undertaken the care of the
helpless. and permits those who desire to
resume the cultivation of their fields to
do so and assures them of the protection
of the Spanish government in their lawful
occupations. She has just released the
Competitor prisoners. heretofore SEN
fenced to death, and who have been the
subject of repeated diplomatic corre-
spondence during both this and the pre-
ceding administration. Not a single
American citizen is now under arrest or in
confinement in Cuba of whom this gov
eminent has any knowledge.
The near future will demonstrate wheth-
er the indispensable condition of a right
eous peace. just alike to the Cubans and
to Spain, as well as equitable to all our
interests. so intimately involved in the
welfare OF Cuba. is to be attained. If not
the exigency OF further and other action
by the United States will remain to be
taken. When that time comes. that ac-
ton will be determined in the line Of in
disputable right and duty. 1t will be
faced without misgiving or hesitancy. in
the light of the obligation this government
owes to itself. to the people who have con-
fided to it the protection of their interests
and honor. and to humanity.
VIII Intervene When Necessary.
Sure OF the right. keeping free from all
offense ourselves. actuated only by up
right and patriotic cons ierations. moved
neither by passion nor seltishness. the
government will continue its watchful
care over the rights and property OF
American citizens and will abate none OF
its efforts to bring about by peaceful
agencies a peace which shall be honorable
and enduring. II 1t shall hereafter be
duty imposed by our obligations to our
selves, to civilization ard humanity to
intervene with force, 1t shall be without
fault on our part, and only because the