The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-12-08

Reasons Advanced Why the United states
should Hold Its Hand.

Intervention upon humanitarian
grounds has been frequently suggested
and has not failed TO receive my most
anxious and earnest consideration But
should such a step be now taken when
ii is apparent that a hopeful change has
supervened in the policy of Spain to-
ward Cuba? A new government has
taken office in the mother country. It
is pledged in advance to the declaration
that all the effort in the world cannot
suffice to maintain peace in Cuba by
the bayonet: that vague promises of re-
form after subjugation afford no solu
ton Of the insular problem; that with
substitution OF commanders must
come a change Of the past system Of
warfare for one in harmony with
new policy which shall no longer aim
TO drive the Cubans to the horrible al
tentative of taking to the thicket or
succumbng in misery" that reforms
must be instituted in accordance with
the needs and circumstances of the
time. and that these reforms, while de-
signed to give full autonomy to the col
ony and to create a virtual entity and
self-controlled administration. shall yet
assert and affirm the sovereignty of
Spain by a just distribution of powers
and burdens upon q basis of mutual
interest untainted by methods of self
ish expediency.
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
timent of humanity has been reversed.
Under the new military commander a
broad clemency is proffered Measures
save already been set on foot to relieve
the horrors of starvation. The power Of
the Spanish armies ii is asserted, is to
be used not to spread ruin and desola
ton. but to protect the resumption of
ftsl errirt NIL md
ductive industries. That past methods
are futile to force a peace by subjuga-
ton is freely admitted, and that ruin
without Cancellation must inevitably fail
to win for Spain the fidelity of a con-
tented dependency.
DEGREES in application of the fore
Swallowed reforms have already been
promulgated. The full text of these
DEGREES has not been received. but &c
furnished in Geographic summary
from our minister are: 1.-THE president
here summarizes the scheme OF auton-
omy, which has been already widely
printed in the press.l That the govern
ment OF Sagasta has entered upon a
course from which recession with honor
is impossible can hardly be questioned;
that in the few weeks that Ii has ex-
listed IL has made earnest OF the SINGER
ity of its professions is undeniable.
shall not impugn its sincereity, nor
barrass il in the task IL has undertaken.
1t is honestly due to Spain and to our
friendly relations with Spain that she
should be given reasonable chance to
realize her expectations and to prove
the asserted efficacy of the new order
Of things to which she stands irrevoca-
bly, committed. She has recalled the
commander whose brutal orders in
famed the American mind and shocked
the civilized world. She has modified
the horrible order Of concentration. 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 of them of the protection
OF the Spanish government in their law
full occupations. She has just released
the Competitor prisoners heretofore
sentenced to death, and who have been
the subject OF repeated diplomatic cor
respondence during both this and the
preceding administration.
Not a single American citizen is now
In arrest or confinement in Cuba of
whom this government has any knowl-
edge. The near future will demonstrate
whether the indispensable condition of
a righteous peace, Just alike to the Gu
bans and to Spain. as well as equitable
to our interests SO intimately involved