Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-12-09

tary operations continued on humane
lines 1t was suggested that Spain be
left free to conduct military operations
and great political REFORMS while the
United States gor its part should en-
force neutral obligations and cut off
the assistance which the insurgents, 1t
was asserted, received from this coun-
try. Early ard complete pacification
is hoped for. The president declares
that the Spanish disposition to charge
US with failure TO meet International
duties is baseless and points TO the eff
forts this government have made at
the cost of millions and by employment
of the administrative machinery of the
nation to perform its full duty He
also says that the fact that no military
expedition or armed vessel has left
our shores has been automatically rep
resented with Spain, promising that
throughout all the horror and danger
has never abrogated it's right to deter
! mine It's policy as to Cuba. The
pI resident points out that OF untried
measures there remains only: Recog
milton Of the insufg gents as belliger-
erts, recognition of the independence
Of Cuba; neutral intervention to end
/ the war by imposing a rational COM
promise between the contestants. an
Intervention in favor of one or the
other party. He says: Il speak not
| ,f fnrnfbta annexation FOR that nan
not be thought Of That by our code
of morality would be criminal agrees
sion. Taking up the question Of bel
| ligerency, the president quotes at
| length from President Graot's mes
sage Of Dec. Z, 1875 wherein he de-
clared that the conditions in Cuba
warranted neither the recognition of
| independence nor the recognition OF
| belligerency. He adds, moreover, that
"A recognition OF bellgerency would
confer upon neither party to the con
| nict status not heretofore actually
possessed while 1t would weigh heavi-
| ly In Spains behalf, giving her the
! right OF search on the high seas and
| extending her maritime rights To the
margin of our territorial waters.
For these reforms, says the pres
ideni, - regard the recognition OF the
! belligerency of the Cuban insurgents
as now unwise and therefore inadmiss-
able Should that step hereafter be
deemed wise, as matter of right and
duty. the executive will take it. He
points to the hopeful change in the
Spanish policy TO the pledge of re-
form and to the abatement of the hor-
rors of war, az reasons against inter
yention on humanitarian grounds.
The first acts of the new government
lie in the honorable paths it has out
lined the policy of rapine and exter-
mination has been reversed, broad
clemenciC5 proffe. ed; measures have
been taken 10 relieve the horrors of
starvation Il is honestly due to Spain
that she should be given "A reasonable
! Chence to realize her expectations ana
10 prove the asserted efficacy OF the
new order of things TO which she
stands irrevocably committed He
|
made, to the modification of the hor-
ribe order OF the Competitor" pris-
! oners and the fact that not single
American citizen is now under arrest
in Cuba. He says the near future will
| demonstrate whether a righteous peace
is likely to be attained; if not the ex-
igency of further and other action by
the United States will remain to be
taken. Sure of the right, the govern
ment will continue its watchful care
over every citizen and its efforts to
bring about an honorable peace and.
says the president IF it shall here
after appear 10 be duty imposed by
our obligations to ourselves, to civili-
2ation and humanity to intervene
with force, ii shall be without fault
on our part and only because the ne
cessity for such action will be so clear
as TO command the support ana APP
|proyal of the civilized world
The president next takes up the sub
ject Of the annexation OF Hawaii
which, he says, should be accom-
phshed. He says that legislation is
required in the event of the ratitica
ton OF the treaty, and while abrupt
assimilauons of immature elements OF
population should De avoided, just
provision should be made for sef-rule
in local matters with the largest po-
litical liberty to the Hawaiians.
The Nicaragua canal is spoken of as
OF large Importance To our country and
the promise is made of further refer
ence to the subject when the report OF
the commission now at work is sent tC
congress.
Qualification is expressed AZ the ac
ton OF France in its treatment OF the
monetary commission. and ii is said
that negotiations are still pending
Meanwhile the ENJOYS have not mad,