The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-11-13
POLICY OUTLINED.
Spain Promises Political
Reforms.
And the Administration Will Take
No Decisive steps Until the Pro-
fessions OF spain IIHve Been
Tested

No Decisive steps Until the Pro-
Tessions OF spain HHve Been
Tested.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. S.-The
administration is encouraged about
Cuba. 1t has reason to feel so. Not
since the inauguration has the pros
pect seemed so hopeful as now. I'm
less diplomacy drags the President
will have something to tell Congress
and the country four weeks from this
day, He will certainly be able to
show substantial action on the part of
the United States. Unless promises
fail he will also present the evidences
Of progress toward better conditions
Oh the island. The country will be
convinced that there has been no eva
sion or neglect of grave duty by the
administration. If the response in
acts is as prompt as it has been in
words by Spain, Congress will have
no occasion to pass belligerency or
other resolutions when it reassembles.
The Cuban question has been di-
vided 1t is being handled in two
parts. Perhaps a better way would
be to say the diplomatic negotiations
are proceeding upon two lines. When
the whole history of these negotiations
can be told, the manner in which the
administration has approached and
proceeded with the Cuban question
will redoEnd to its great credit. Spain
has been duly impressed with the ma
terial interests at stake. President
Cleveland in his message to Congress
a year ago dwelt upon this view. He
said the time would come when the
United States would feel compelled to
act in justice to such interests. Pres
ident Mckinley has gone further on
the Same line. He has reminded Spain
more directly and fO~ibly how much
the continuance of the war means to
the United States and how earnestly
the restoration of peace is desired.
TRIAL OF REFORMS.
This has been one line of action. 1t
has been met by Spain's reply that
political reforms are 10 be introduced.
Diplomatically the expectation that
these concessions will end the iusur-
rection shortly is expressed Spain
will be informed in reply that the
United States will await the trial of
the new political policg. An assur-
ance that this country hopes the eX-
pectaticn may be realized will be con
veyed. Such is the exact situation
Such are the relations between the two
countries regarding the pending eX-
pertinent with autonomy. sO-called
The administration will take no fur
ther step on this line of material ac-
ton until there shall have been fair
test of SPANS professions to end the
hostili6es by the Introduction of bet
ter forms of local government.
But upon the other line of negOtia-
tions there is still activity-vigOrOus,
unremitting effort The President has
appealed to Spain on the broad ground
of humanity. He is pressing that APP
peal. He is taking the ground which
President Grant did in the ten years
war. Spain has been asked to stop
Weyler's methods. Especially has
the administration urged that the pol
lev of concentration be abandoned. or
so modified that the nGn-combatants, |
the pacificos. may be permitted to till
the land and to avert starvation. Dis
tinct and separate the two lines of ne
gotiations have been KEEP. Spain has |
been made to see that while the Amer !
lean nation regrets injury to trade and |
loss OF commercial intercourse with |
Cuba. the chief and burning issue is /
the determination of neighboring |
people who have had no active part !
in the war. In the presentation Of
this view the.e has been no assump- !
,ion of dictatorial authority by this
country. The President has made it |
plain to Spain that the people of the
United States are mere Immediately |
and more anXiously concerned in the !
condition of the reconcentrados than
f. any other branch of the Cuban
question.
SPANS PROMISES.
Spain response to this appeal has
been a diDlOmatic RECOGNITION of its |