The herald., 1897-12-07

JR24mlu0abIe. Should tnat Stcp mere
after be deemed wise as measure OF
: right and duty, the executive will take It,
Intervention upon Humanitarian
grounds has been frequently suggested
and has not failed to receive my mos'
anxious and earnest consideration. Bu'
should such step be now taken, when
It is apparent that a hopeful change mas
supervened in the policy of Spain toward
Cuba? A new government has taken
cflice in the mother country. 1t 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 REFORM
after subjugation afford no solution OF
the insular problem; that with supst--
tuition OF commanders must come
change of the past system OF warfare
for one in harmony with new polcy
which shall no longer aim to drive the
Cubans 'to the horrible alternative Oh
taking to the thicllet or succumbing IN
misery; that reforms must be instl-
tuted in accordance with the needs ana
circumstances of the time, and that these
reforms. while designed to give full au-
tonon1v. to create virtual entity ana
self-controlled administration, shall yet
conserve and affirm the sovereignty OF
Spain by just distribution OF powers
and burdens upon a basis of mutual IN
terest untainted by methods of selhsh
expedieney.
The first acts of the new government
lie in these honorable paths. The policy
of cruel rapne and determination that
SO long shocked the universal sentiment
of humanity has been reversed. Under
the new military commander bread
clemency is proffered. Measures have
already been set on foot to relieve the
horrors of starvation. The power of the
Spanish armies. it is asserted, is TO be
used. not to spread ruin and desolation
but to protect the resumption of peace
full agricultural pursuits and productive
industries That past methods are futile
to force peace by subjugation is freely
admitted, and that ruin without con-
ciliation must inevitably fail to win Tor
Spain the fidelity of a contented depend
ency.
PROMISED REFORM
DEGREES in application of the foreshad-
owed reforms have already been pro-
mulgated. The full text of these DEGREES
has not been received, but as furnished
in a telegraphic summary from our min
lister are: All civil and electoral rights
of peninsular Spaniards are, in virtue
of existing constitutional assembly.
forthwith extended to colonial Spaniards.
A scheme of autonomy has been pro-
claimed by decree, to become effective
upon ratification by the Cortes. 1t Gre
ates a Cuban parliament, which. with
the insular executive, can consider and
vote upon all subjects affecting local or
der and interests, possessing unlimited
powers, save as to matters or state, war
and the navy, as to which the Governor
General acts by his own authority as the
delegate of the central government. This
parliament receives the oath of the Gov
ernor-General to preserve faithfully the
liberties and privileges OF the colony ana
to it the Colonial Secretaries are respon-
sible. 1t has the right to propose 10 the
central government, through the Gov
ernor- General, notifications OF the ma
tional charter and to invite new projects
of law or executive measures IN the III
terests of the colony.
Besides it's local powers 1t is competent
first, to regulate electoral registration
and procedure and prescribe the quail
fications of electors and the manner Oh
exercising suffrage; second, to organize
courts of justice with native judges
from members of the local bar; third, to
frame the insular budget both as TO eX-
penditures and revenues to meet the Gu
ban share of the national budget which
later will be voted by the national Cor
,tes with the assistance of Cuban Sena-
tors and Deputies; fourth, to initiate or
take part in the negotiations of the ma
tional government for commercial treat
les which may affect Cuban interests;
fifth, to accept or reject commercial
treaties which the national government
may have concluded without the partlci-
patton of the Cuban government; sixth,
to frame the colonial tariff, acting in ac-
cord with the peninsular government in
scheduling articles of mutual commerce
between the mother country and the col
onieS.
Before introducing or voting upon
bill, the Cuban government or the Cham
bers will lay the project before the CEN
trail government and hear it's opinion
thereon; all the correspondence in such
regard being made public. Finally all
conflicts of jurisdiction arising between
the different municipal, provincial and
insular ssemblies, or between the latter
and the insular executive assemblies,
and which from their nature may not
be referah BILE to the central government
for decision, shall be submitted to the
courts.
SPAIN'S SINCERITY
That the government of Sagasta has
entered upon a course from which re-
cession with honor is impossible can
hardly be questioned; that in the few
weeks it has existed it has made earn
est of the sincerity of its professions is
undeniable. l shall not impugn its sin
cerity nor should impatience he suf-
fered to embarrass it in the task it has
undertaken. 1t is honestly due to Spain
and to our friendly relations with Spain
that she should be given a reasonable
chance to realize her expectations and
order Of things to which she stands ire
vocably 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
ard assures them of the protection of
the Spanish government in their lawful
occupations. She has just released the
Competitors prisoners heretofore SEN