The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1897-12-09

The existin~ conditions caunot but an III
government and the American people Wttl
the gr4vest apprehension There - no de
sire on the part Of our people to pro4t b
the misfortuneS Of Spain We have onl
the desire to zee the Cubans prosperous an
eontented. enjoying that measure of self
| control which g the inalienable right O
| man, protected In their right to reap tn
| benefit of the exh1uStless treasures of thel
country.
the ofer made by my predecessor II
April 1886. rendering the friendly ofices o.
the government failed Any mediation OF
our part was not accepted In brief. tn,
answer read: There Is no ehectual way t.
pacify Cuba unless It begins with the actual
submission of the rebels to the mother
Then only could Spain act In the promised
directions of her own motion and after hel
| own plans
| The cruel policy of concentration was in
| itiated February 16 1896. This policy the
late cabinet of Spain JUSTIFIED as a neces
Sary measure of war and as means of cut.
ting off supplies from the insurgents 1t ha,
utterly failed As a war measure. It Wa
not civilized warfare. It was extermina.
ton Against this abuse of the rights Of
war have felt constrained on repeate oc.
castons to enter the 0rm and earnest pro-
test of this government
spaln's Recent Promise
The instructions given to our new minister
to Spain before his departure for his
post directed him to impress upon
that government the sincere wish OF
the United States to lend its aid toward the
ending OF the war in Cuba by reaching 4
peaceful and lasting result. Just and hon
orable alike to Spain and the Cuban people.
No solution, was proposed to which the
slightest idea of humiliation to Spain could
attach. and indeed precise proposals were
withheld to avoid embarrassment to that
government. All that was asked or expect
ca was that some safe way might be speed
restored Between the departure
of General Woodford. the new
envoy, and his arrival In Spain the
statesman who had shaped the policy of his
country fell by the hand of an assassin. and
although the cabinet of the late premier
still held ONCE and received from our envoy
the proposals he bore. that cabinet gave
place within few days thereafter to new
administration under the leadership of Sa-
gasta
The reply to our note was received on the
Esd day of October. It is in the direction of
a better understanding. It appreciates the
friendly purposes of this government. It
admits that our country is deeply affected
by the war in Cuba and that its desires for
peace are just. 1t declares that the pres
ent Spanish government is bound by every
consideration to a change of policy that
should satisfy the United States and pacify
Cuba within q reasonable time To this
end Spain has decided to put into effect
the political reforms heretofore advocated
by the present pre- mier. without hating for
any consideration in the path which in its
judgment leads to peace. The military OPP
erations, it is said. will continue. but will be
humane and conducted with all regard for
private rights, being acc ompanied by polit-
ica action leading to the autonomy of Cuba
while guarding Spanish sovereignty. This,
1t IS claimed, will result in investing Cuba
with distinct personality; the island to be
governed by an executive and by local
council or chamber. reserviag to Spain the
control of the foreign relations, the army
and navy and the judicial administration.
It suggests that Spain be left free to con-
duct military operations and grant political
reforms. while the United States for its part
shall enforce its neutral obligations and cut
off the assistance which, it is asserted, the
insurgents receive from this country. The
superstition of an indefinite prOlongation of
the war Is denied. The i'm mediate anchor
alton of existing conditions under the new
administration of Cuban affairs is pre-
dicted. and therewithal the disturbance
and all occasion for any change of attitude
on the part of the United States
Discussion of the question of international
duties and responsibilities of the United
States, as Spain understands them. is pre-
sented. with an apparent disposi ton to
charge Us with failure in this regard
spain's Charges Repudiated.
This charge is without any basis in fact
It could not have been made If Spain had
been c0gnizant of the constant efforts this
gOvernme mt has made at the cost of mil
lions by the employment of the admins
trative machinery of the nation at COM
mand to perform its full duty according to
the law of nations That it has success
fully prevented the departure of a single
military expedition or armed vessel from
our shores in violation of our laws would
seem to be sufficient answer. But of this
aspect of he Spanish note it is not neces-
sary to speak further now Firm in the
cOnvictiin of wholly performed obliga-
ton. due response to this charge has been
made in diplomatic issues. Throughout all
these horrors and dangers to our own peace
this government has never in any way
abrogated Its sovereign prerogative of re-
serving to itself the determination of its
policy and course according to its own high
sense of right and in cOnsonance with the
people should the prolongation of the strife
so demand.
Tho Question Of Reeoe, Ition
OF the untried measures there remain
only: Recognition OF the insurgents as bel
igerents; recognition of the independence
OF Cuba; neutral Intervention to end the
war by imposing rati onal compromise be-
tween the contestants, and Intervention in
favor of one or the other party. I speak not
of forcihle annexation, for that cannot be
thought of. That by our code of NOR atty
would be criminal aggression
Recognition of the belligerency of the Gu
ban insurgents has been often Canvassed al
a possible. if not inevitabl. step both in re-
gard to the previous ten years struggle and
during the present war 1 am not unmind-
full that the two houses of Congress in the
spring of 1896 expressed the opinion by
concurrent resolution that a condition Of
public war existed requiring or justifying
the recognition of state of belligerency in
Cuba and during the extra session the sem
ate voted joint resolution of like import
which however, was not brought to 4 vote
in the House In the presence of these
significant expressions of the sentiment of
the legislative branch it behOoves the ex-
ecutive, to soberly consider the conditions