Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-07

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 to reform
after subjugation afford no solution of
the insular problem: that with a SUBJ
stbtutiOn OF commanders must come a
change of the past system of warfare for
one in harmony with a new policy,
which shall no longer aim to drive the
Cubans to the horrible alternative of tax.
ing to one thicket or succumbng in mis-
ery;" that reforms must be Instituted in
accordance with the needs and circumstan-
ces of the time. and that these reforms
while designed 70 give full autonomy to
the colony and to create a virtual entity
and self-conrolled administration, shall
yet conserve and affirm the sovereignty
of Spain by "a Just distribution of powers
and burdens upon a basis of mutual in
terest untainted by methods Of selfish ex-
pediency.
The first acts of the new government
lie in the honorable paths. The policy of
cruel rapine and determination that so
long shocked the universal sentiment Of
humanity has been reversed. Under the
new military commander, a broader
clemency is proffered. Measures have al
Seady been set on foot to relieve the hor-
fors of starvation. The power Of the
Spanish armies, 1t 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-
citation must inevitably fail to win for
Spain the fidelity of contented PEN
dency.
I DEGREES i'm application of the foreshad-
h.nry n1yroa DIV hnn I l.
gated. The full text of these DEGREES has
not been received. but. as furnished In
Geographic summary from our min
lister. are: All civic and electoral
rights Of peninsular Spanards are.
IN virtue of existing constitutional
authority forthwith extended to colonial
Spaniards. A scheme of autonomy has
been proclaimed by decree. to become eff
receive upon ratification by the cortes
II creates Cuban parliament, which.
with the insular executive, can consider
and vote upon all subjects affecting local
order and interests, possessing unlimited
powers, save as to matters of state. war
ana 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 the privileges Of the colony
and to it the colonial secretaries
are responsible. 1t has the right
to propose to the government through
the encouragement notifications OF the
national charter. and to institute new
projects of law or executive measures in
the interest of the colony. Besides its To-
cal powers II is competent. first. to reg
ulate electoral registration and procedure.
and prescribe the qualifications of cleo
tors and the manner of exercising SUI
frage; second. to organize courts of JUS
nuf inH0 hnr NJ
the local bar; third. to frame the insular
budget both as to expenditures and reve-
nues without limitation of any kind, and
to set apart the revenues to meet the
Cuban share Of the national budget,
which later will be voted by the national
cortes with the assistance of Cuban sem
ators and deputies: fourth, to initiate
or take part in the negotiations of the ma
tional government for commercial trea-
ties which may affect Cuban interests;
NTH. to accept or reject commercial
treaties which the national government
may have concluded without the partici-
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
chambers will lay the project before the
central government and hear its opinion
thereon, all the correspondence in such
regard being made public. Finally all
conflicts of jurisdiction arising between
the different municipal, provincial and in
sular assemblies. or between the latter
and the insu1ar executive power. and
which. from their nature, may not be
referrable to the central government for
decision. shall be submitted to the
courts.
That the government of Sagasta has
entered upon a course from which recess
sion with honor is impossible can hardly
be questioned; that in the few weeks it
has existed it has made earnest of the
sincerity of its profession is undeniable.
l shall not impugn it's sincerity nor
should Impotence be suffered to embar-
rass 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 to prove the
asserted efficacy of the new order of
things to which she stands irrevocably
committed. She has recalled the COM
mander whose brutal orders inflamed the
American mind and shocked the civilized
world. She has modified the horrible
order of concentration, and has under
taken to care for the helpless and per-
init those who desire to resume the cul-
tivation of their fields to do SO, and as
government in their lawful occupations
She has just released the Competitor
prisoners. heretofore sentenIad to death,
and who have been the subject of re-
peated diplomatic correspondence during
both this and the preceding admin!stra-
tons.
Not single American citizen is now in
arrest or confinement in Cuba Of whom
this government has any KNOWLEDGE The
near future will demonstrate whether the
indispensable std conditions c9.,. Of righteous
and to Spain. as well as eoait,
able to ali our interests. so in
timately involved in the welfare of Gu
ba, is likely to be attained. If not the |
exigency of further and other action by
the United States will be taken. When
that time comes the action will be deter |
mined in the line of undisputable right and |
duty. 1t will be faced without misgiving |
or hesitancy in the light OF the obligation |
this government owes to itself, to the |
people who have confided to 1t the protec- |
tion of their interests and honor, and to |
humanity.
Sure of the right, keeping free from all |
offence ourselves, actuated only by up |
right and patriotic considerations moved |
neither by passion or selfishness, the gov
eminent will continue its watchful care |
over the rights and property of American
to bring about by peaceful agencies a
during. If it shall hereafter appear to be |
a duty imposed by our obligations to our
selves, to civilization and humanity, to
Intervene with force It shall be wifhout