The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-05-27
the universally recognized rules of inter-
national law. -

the universally recognized rules of inter-
national law.
His majesty's government has read
with no less qualification the explicit and
spontaneous declarations to the fleet that
the government of the United States
seeks no advantage in connection with the
cuban insurgents. the only wish being
that the incluctable and lawful sovereignty
OF Spain be maintained and even
strengthened through the submission of
the rebels, which, as your excelency
states in your note, is paramount ne
cessity to the Spanish government for the
malntainance of its authority and it's
honor.
While expressing the high gratifica-
tlon with which his majesty's government
took note of the emphatic statements
which your excellency was pleased to
make in your note of the 4th of April
with regard to the sovereignty of Spain
and the determination of the United
States not to do anything derogatory to
it and acknowledging with pleasure all
the rights they carry, the Duke of Tetuan
says that nothing else was to be expected
Of the lofty sense of right cherished by
the government of the United States. 1t
is unnecessary, as your excellency re-
marked, in view of so correct and so
friendly an attitude, to discuss the by
pothesis of intervention, as it would be
utterly inconsistent with the above views.
The government of his majesty, the
king of Spain, fully concurs in the opin-
ion that your eXcellency was pleased TO
express in regard to the future of the
island in the event, which can not and
shall not be, of the insurrection in its
triumph.
There can be no greater accuracy of
judgment than that displayed by your ex-
cellency, and as you said with great sea-
son such termination of the conflict
would be looked upon with the most seri-
Gus misgivings, even by the most enthu-
siastic advocates of popular government:
because, as remarked by your excellency,
with the heterogeneous combination of
races that exist there the disappearance
OF Spain would be the disappearance of
the only bond of union which can keep
them in balance and an unavoidable
struggle among the men of different color.
contrary to the spirit of Christian civili-
cation, would supervene.
The accuracy of your excellency's
statements is all the more striking, owing
to the condition of population in the is
land, no part of the natives can be con-
coded superior over the others, if the as
sistance of the Spanish from Europe is
not taken into account.
The island of Cuba has been exclusive
ly Spanish since its discovery; the gen
eral developments of its resources, what
ever its value and whatever its require
ments in the community of mankind, it
owes IN its entirety to the mother country,
and even at this day, among the various
groups of people that inhabit it it will
ever be the standpoint from which the
question will be examined. The natives
OF the peninsula there are absolutely nee
essary for the peace and advancement of
the island.
All reasons fully and clearly demon
strate that it is not possible to think that
the island of Cuba can be benefited eX-
cept through the agency of Spain acting
under her own impulse and actuated, as
she has long been, by the principles of
liberty and justice.
1.-THE Spanish government is aware of
t he fact that far from having justice done
1t on all sides on these points there are
many persons obviously deceived by in
cessant ISLANDERS, who honestly believe
that a ferociOus despotism prevails in our
instead of one of the most liberal
political systems in the world, being en-
Joyed there now as well as before the
outbreak of the insurrection.
zone need only run over the laws gov
erning the Antilles-laws which ought to
be sufficiently known in the United States
ut this day-to perceive how absolutely
groundless such impressions are.
"A collection of the Cuban newspapers
published in recent years would suffice to
show that few civilized countries then
enjoyed to an equal degree freedom of
thought and of the press-the foundation
Of all liberties.
The government of his majesty and
the people of Spain wish for the speedy
pacification of Cuba. In order to secure
It they are ready to exert their best eff
forts and ut the same time to adopt such
reforms as may be useful or necessary
and compatible, of course, with their in
llienable sovereignty as soon as the sub
mission of the insurgents be an accom-
plished fact.
1.-THE minister of state, while directing
me to bring to the knowledge of your
me to remark how pleased he was to OBJ
serve that his opinion on this point also
ngrees with yours.
None is more fully aware of the
serious results suffered by Spaniards
md aliens in consequence of the insur-
,ecton than the government of his
majesty. 1t realizes the immense in
Jury inflicted on Spain by putting forth,
with the unanimous cooperation ana APP
probation OF hor people, OF SUCH euortS
rs were never before made in America
by European country. !! take notice
at the same time that foreign interests,
rs well as Spanish interests, suffer from
the insurgent system of devastation; but
# the instruction should triumph, the
interests of all would not only merely suf-
fer. but would entirely and forever disap-
Dear amid the madness of perpetual an
archy.
at has already been said that in order
to prevent evils of such magnitude, the
cabinet of Madrid does not and will not
confine itself exclusively to the employ
ment of armed forces. The. speech
from the throne, read before the ma,
tional representatives, formally promised
not only that all that was previously
by the cortes and sanctioned by
her majesty on March 10, 1896, would
be carried into effect so soon as the OPP
offered, but also by fresh au-
thorization of the cortes, all the new ex,
and amendments of the orlglnal
reforms, to the end that both ISLANDS
may, in the administrative department,
possess a personnel of a local character
that the intervention of the mother coun-
try in their domestic concerns may be
dispensed with, with the single reserva-
tion that nothing will be done. to impair
the rights of sovereignty or the powers
of the government to preserve the same.
This solemn promise, guaranteed by the