The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-12-09

fering because OF tho conflict tho aid of
wa 5 sought In special message
and under the appropriation of April 4,
1897, effective aid has been given to Amer
lean citizens in Cuba, many of them at
their own request having been returned
to the United states.
The instruction given TO our new min
ister to spain before his departure for his
post directed him to impress upIn that
government the sincere wish of they
United States to lend its aid toward the
ending of the war i'm Cuba by reaching
peaceful and lasting result, just and hon
orable alike to Spain and to tho Cuban
people. These instructions recited the
character and duration of the contest, the
losses IL entails, the burdens
and restraints 1t imposes upon us, with
disturbance Of national interests
and the injury resulting from an indefin.
ite continuance of this state of things.
1t was stated that at This juncture our
government was constrained to seriously
enquire ii the time was not ripe when
spain or 1ler own voiitlon moved by her
own interests and every sentiment Of
should put stop to this de-
structive war and make proposals of set
Element honorable to herself and just to
her Cuban colony.
1t was urged that as neighboring ma
ton, with large interests In Cuba, we
could be required to wait only q reason
able time for the mother country to cstab-
lish its authority and restore peace and
order within the borders of the island;
that we could not contemplate an inde.
finite period for the accomplishment of
this result. No solution was proposed to
which the slightest idea Of humiliation to
Spain could attach, and, indeed, precise
proposals were withhold TO avoid embar.
rasSmont to. that government. All that
was asked or expected was that some safe
way might be speedily provided and per.
manent peace restored.
ConciIatory Reply From Spain.
It so CHANGED that the consideration OF
this offer, addressed to the same Spanish
administration which had declined the
tenders Of my predecessor, and which fol
more than two years had poured men and
treasure into Cuba in the fruitless effort
to suppress the revolt, fell to others. Be
tween 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 as.
sassin, and although the cabinet of the
late premier still held office and received
from our envoy the proposals he bore
that cabinet gave place within n few days
thereafter to new administration under
the leadership of Sagasta. The reply tc
our note was received on the 23d day oi
October. 1t Is in the direction of a better
understanding. 1t appreciates the friendly
purposes of this government. 1t admits
that our country is deeply effected by the
war in Cuba, and that its desires for peace
are Just. 1t declares that tho present
Spanish government Is bound by every
consideration to u change of policy thai
should satisfy the United States ant
paCify Cuba within reasonable time.
10 this end Spain has decided to put
into effect the political reforms heretofore
advocated by the present premier, with
out halting for any consideration In the
path which in its Judgment leads to peace
The military operations, it Is said, will
continue, but Will be humane and con
Quoted with all regard for private rights
being accompanied by political actor
leading to the autonomy of Cuba, whilt
guarding Spanish sovereignty. This, il |!
claimed, will result in Investing Cubf
with distinct personality; the island L
be governed by an executive and by
local council or chamber, reserving t.
Spain the control of the foreign relations
the army and navy and the judicial ad
ministration. To accomplish this tn,
present government proposes to modify
existing legislation by decree, leaving thI
Spanish cortes, with the aid of CubaT
senators and deputies, to solve the econ
omic problem and properly distribute the
existing debt.
Should Let Spain Alone.
In the absence of declaration of the
measures that this government propose,
to take in carrying out its profrer of goot
offices it suggests that Spain be left free
to conduct military operations and grant
political reforms, while the United State.
for its part shall enforce it's neutral obi
nd MT ntf thn N or Xrybi ifI
it is asserted the insurgents receive from
this country. The supposition of an in
definite prolongation Of the war Is denied
| 1t is asserted that the western provinces
| are already well nigh reclaimed; that the
planting of cane and tobacco therein has
been resumed, and that by force Of arms
the new and ample reforms very early
and complete paclflcation 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 o
| the United States. Discussion of the
| question of the international duties anC
responsibilities of the United States a!
| 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 no
| have been made II Spain had been cognl
| Zant of the constant efforts this govern
ment has made at the cost of million
and by the employment of the admins
| trative machinery of the nation at com
mand to perform its full duty accordin,
| to the law OF the nations. That 1t ha
successfully prevented the departure of I
| single military expedition or armed YES
| sci from our shores in violation of ou
| laws would seem to be sufficient answer
But of this aspect of the Spanish note /
is not necessary to speak further now
| Firm in the conviction OF wholly per
formed obligation, due response to thi
charge has been made in diplomati
| course.
| Throughout all these horrors and dan
ters to our own peace this governInen
mas never In any way abrogated its SOY
ereign prerogative of reserying to itsel
the determination Of its policy and cours
according to its own high sense Of righ
and in consonance with the dearest inter
ests ana convictions of our own peOpl
should the prolongation of the strife S
demand.
What This Country Should DO.
OF the untried measures there remain
only: Recognition Of the insurgents a
belligerents, recognition of the indepenC
ence of Cuba; neutral intervention to en-
of the war by proposing nationol con
promise between the contestants and IL
tervention in favor of one or the othC
party. l speak not of forcible annexi
tion, for that cannot be thought of. Tha
by our code of morality would be crimin'
aggression. Recognition of the bellige
ency of the Cuban insurgents has ofte
been canyassed as n possible If not inevi
able step both in regard to the previous
years struggle and during the preseI
war. l am not unmindful that the tw
houses of congress in the spring of lSs
expressed the opinion by concurrent res