Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-12-10

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i cuba, We could be required to wait only
i a reasonable time for the mother coun-
! try to establish it's authority and restore
! peace and order within the borders of the
4 island; :; that we could not contemplate an
! INDEFINITE period for the accomplishment
of these results
NO solution was proposed to which the
| slightest idea of humiliation to Spain
! could attach. All that was asked or ex-
l pected was that some safe way might be
/ speedily provided and permanent peace
| restored. 1t so CHANGED that the consid-
| Grafton OF this offer, addressed to the
] Spanish administration which had de-
/ .clined the tenders of my predecessor and
Whlcn Tor more than two years had poured
/ more treasure into Cuba in the fruitless
i effort to suppress the revolt fell to 9TH
ers. 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 office and re-
2ceived from our envoy the proposals he
! bore, that cabinet gave place. within a
lew days thereafter, to a new adninistra-
I ton under the leadership of Sagasta.
Spain's Friendly Reply.
The reply to our note was received on
the 23d day of October. 1t is in the direc-
tion of better understanding. 1t appre-
ciates the friendly proposals of this gov
ernment. 1t admits that our country is
| deeply affected by the war in Cuba and
that our desires for peace are Just 1t de-
clares that the present Spanish govern
ment is bound by every consideration to
change of policy that should satisfy the
United States. and paeify Cuba within
reasonable time. To this end, Spain has
! decided to put into effect the political re-
forms heretofore advocated blythe pres
ent premier, without halting for any con-
| sideratfon in the path which, in it's judg
ment, leads to peace.
The military operations, it is said,<wiII
| continue, but will be humane and con-
! Quoted with all regard for private rights,
being accompanied by political action
| leading to the autonomy of Cuba, while
guarding Spanish sovereignty. This, it is
! claimed, will result in investing Cuba with
distinct personality, the island to be
! governed by an executive and by local
council chamber, reserving to Spain
the control of the foreign relations, the
army and navy and the judicial admins
| trationS.
To accomplish this. the present govern
ment proposes to modify existing legis-
lation by decree, leaving the Spanish
cortes, with the aid of Cuban senators
and deputies, to solve the economic prob
lens and properly distribute the existing
debt.
Give Spain a Chance.
In the absence of declaration of the
measures that this government proposes
offices, it suggests that Spain be left free
to conduct military operations and grant
political reforms, while the United States,
for it's part, shall enforce it's neutral obli-
cations, and cut off the assistance which,
it is asserted, the insurgents receive from
this country. The supposition of an in
definite prolongation of the war is de-
MED. 1t is asserted that the Western
provinces are already well-nigh re-
claimed; that the painting of cane and
f-hc I<1,
that by force of arms and new and ample
reforms very early and complete pacifi-
cation is hoped for.
The immediate amelioration of existing
conditions under the new administration
of Cuban affairs is predicted, and there
withal the disturbance and all occasion
for any change of attitude on the part of
the United States.
Discussion of the question of interna-
tional duties and responsibilities of the
United States as Spain understands them,
is presented with an apparent disposition
to charge US with failure in this regard.
This charge is without any basis in fact.
1t could not have been made if Spain had
been cognizant of the constant effort, this
government has made, at the cost of mil
lions and by the employment of the ad-
ministrative machinery at the national
command, to perform its full duty accord
ing to the law of nations. That it has
successfully prevented the departure of
single military expedition or armed vessel
from our shores in violation of our laws
would seem to be a sufficient answer
But on this aspect of the Spanish note it
is not necessary to speak further now.
Firm in the conviction of a wholly per-
formed obligation, due response to this
charge has been made in diplomatic is
sues. Throughout all these horrors and
dangers to our own peace, this govern
ment has never in any way abrogated it's
sovereign prerogative of reserving to it
self the determination of its policy and
course, according to its own high sense of
right and in consonance with the dearest
interests and convictions of our own peo-
pie, should the prolongation of the strife
so demand.
OF the untried measures there remain
only:
Recognition of the insurgents as bellig-
erents; recognition of the independence of
Cuba; neutral intervention to end the war
by imposing rational compromise be-
tween the contestants and intervention
in favor of one or the other party"
Not q Question of Annexation.
1 speak not of forcible annexation, for
that cannot be thought of. That, by our
code of morality, would be criminal ag-
gression. Recognition of the belligerency
of the Cuban insurgents has often been
canvassed a possible if not inevitable
step, both in regard to the previous III
years struggle and during the present
war. L not unmlnQ1ul InlI the Two
houses of congress, in the spring of 1885,
expressed the opinion, by concurrent reso-
luton, that condition of public war ex-
listed requiring or justifying the recogni-
ton of a state of belligerency in Cuba,
and during the extra session the senate
voted a Joint resolution of like import,
which, however, was not brought to a
vote in the house. In the presence of
these significant expressions of the senti-
ment of the legislative branch, it behooveS
the executive soberly to consider the con-
ditionS under which so important a
measure must needs rest for justification
1t is to be seriously considered whether
the Cuban insurrection possesses, beyond
dispute, the attributes of statehood which
alone can demand the recognition of bel
ligerency in it's favor. Possession short
of the essential qualifications of sover-
of the war by them according to the rec
ognized code of war, are no less important
factors toward the determination of the
problem of bel1igerency than are the in
f1uenceS and consequences of the struggle /
upon the internal policy of the recognize /
ing nation. The utterances of President
Grant in his memorable message of 1875
are signally relevant to the present situa- !
ton in Cuba, and it may be wholesome
now to recall them. At that time
serious conflict had for seven years wasted
the neighboring island. During all those
years an utter disregard of the laws of
civilized warfare and of the just demands |
of humanity, which called forth express |
sions of condemnation from the nations