San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-10-28
THE SPANISH NOTE.
A CleVerly WOrded And
Friendly Note.
EVIDENTLY WRITTEN TO GAIN
TIME AND PREVENT UNITED
STATES ACTION.
1t Lays Stress On Its Good Will To
The United States Represents
That FilihuStering, Keeps The
InSurrectiOn In Cuba Alive
And Asks 1t Stopped.

New York, Oct. 2S.-A special to the
World from Madrid says:
Here are the principal features of
Spain's reply to Americas note. 1t is
understood that the Spanish govern
ment does not intend to mage her COM
munication public unless the govern
ment at Washington sets the example.
The Spanish reply begins with a warm
profession of friendly feeling toward
the United States, declarations of a
desire to preserve cordial relations be-
tween the two governments, and
hearty acknowledgment of the friend
ly spirit showed by the United States
in volunteering in the not of Septem-
Der 2S to assist Spain in bringing the
Cuban war to a speedy end.
1t is remarked that in this connec-
ton that il the American government
will explain how it proposes to coop
crate in the pacification of Cuba, the
suggestion will receive due attention
in Spain, provided Spanish rights of
sovereignty are respected and SPANS
right to settle domestic disputes with
her colony when and how she deems At
is also recognized.
The note goes on to show how the
Liberal government. in the short time
that has elapsed since it took Office,
voluntarily began to carry out the
home rule policy announced in declar-
atoms made by Senior Sagasta and
Moret before they took office and in ac-
cordance with the demands of the Gu
ban Autonomists.
The first acts of this policy, the COM
munication calls to mind, were the re-
call of Gen. Weyler from Cuba and
the appointment of Marshal Blanco to
succeed him as governor general, with
instructions so liberal and so concilia-
tory as to amount to a reversal of the
policy of the last two years, thus paw
ing the way to obtaining the support
of all the colonial parties. The new
policy will not only go further than
Premier Canovas' scheme went it is
promised, but virtually will put into
execution all that American govern
ment sentiment and the government
under President Cleveland and Secre-
tary Olney recommended in order to
satisfy the aspirations of the West In
dies.
The policy is to be carried out i'm
mediately, as far as the Spanish execu-
tive can go under the constitution and
under the condition of affairs in the
colony and will be ratified by the cor
ties early in 1898.
Spain expects she says, that the
well known American spirit of Justice
and fair play, together with the friend
ly disposition of the Washington gov
eminent, will give the new policy the
time required to test its sincerity and
efficacy.
Spain, therefore can fix no date for
the close of the war, but the United
States can nobly and powerfully assist
Spain, the note continues, and prove
the sincerity of their offer to cO-Opera-
ton by henceforth checking filibuster-
ing expeditions, whose moral and mat
erial assistance hitherto has contribut-
ed more than anything else to the dew
and the maintenance of the
rebellion in Cuba, that has caused the
damage of which the United States
The most carefully worded, the
note is that in which is set forth the
Spanish case against filibustering ex-
petitions. Precendents are quoted from
decisions of the United States Supreme
court and from utterances of Presi-
dents Taylor, Buchanan and Grant,
and past notifications of laws of the
United States with view to better en-
forcement of the rules of international
law, are pointed to. Spain hopes that
President Mckinley will follow in the
footsteps of his predecessors, for the
pacification of Cuba, she promises, will
become a question of only a few
months.
The Spanish note explains that Spain
only recognized the belligerancy of the
after several other Euro |
pean governments had done so, while |
she constantly showed marked atten- |
ton TO the north, lending and return
ing Immediately prisoners captured at