Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-12-07

I starvation. The power OF the Spanisf
army. q IL asserted. is to be used. no'
7 10 spread ruin and desoiaiion but q
protect the resumption Of peaceful ag.
ricuiturai pursuits and productive IN
dustries. The past methods are fu-
tile TO force a peace by subiugation
is freely admitted. and that ruin with
out Cancellation must inevitably fail to
win for spain the fidelity OF a con
tented dependency.
DEGREES in Application Of the fore
shadoWed reforms have already been
promulgated. The full text OF these
DEGREES has not been received. but as
furnished in a telegraphic summary
from our minister. are:
"AI civil and electoral rights Of
peninsular Spaniards are, in virtue OF
existing constitutional assembly. forth
with extended to colonial Spaniards.
A scheme of autonomy has been pro-
claimed by decree, to become effective
upon ratification by the cortes. II
creates a Cuban parliament, which.
with the insular executive, can consid-
er and vote upon all subjects affecting
local order and interests, possessing
unlimited powers. save as to matters Of
state, war and the navy, as to which
the gOvernor-general acts by his own
authority as the delegate OF the CEN
tral government. This parliament re-
ceives the oath Of the encouragement
to preserve faithfully the liberties and
privileges of the colony, and to II the
colonial secretaries are responsible. 1t
has the right to propose to the central
government. through the governor
general notifications of a charter and
to invite new projects of law or exec
utive measures in the interest Of the
colony.
Besides it's local powers 1t is compe-
tent, first, to regulate electoral regis
ira ton and procedure and prescribe
the qualifications of electors and the
manner Of exercising suffrage; second,
TO organize courts of justice, with ma
tive judges, from members OF the local
bar: third, to frame the insular budget,
both as TO expenditures and revenues,
to meet the Cuban share of the nation
al budget, which latter will be voted
by the national cortes, with the as
sistance OF Cuban senators and depu-
ties; fourth. TO initiate or take part in
the negotiations of the national govern
ment for commercial treaties which
may affect Cuban interests; fifth, to
accept or reject commercial treaties
" NAA4+aAA NAAE AAdAAblldA EONtl may
have concluded without the participa-
tion of the Cuban government; sixth.
to frame the colonial tariff, acting in
accord with the peninsular government
in scheduling articles of mutual conn
merce between the mother country and
the colonies. Before introducing or
voting upon a bill the Cuban govern
ment, or chambers, will lay the pro-
ject before the central government
and hear its opinion thereon; all the
in such regard being
made public. Finally. all conflicts of
jurisdiction arising between the diff
ferent municipal, provisional and insu-
lar assemblies, or between the latter
and the insular executive power, and
which from their nature may not be
referrable to the central government
for decision, shall be submitted to the
That the government of SagaSta
has entered upon a course from which
recession with honor is impossible can
hardly be questioned; that in the few
weeks it has existed it has made
earnest of the sincerity of it's profess
Sions is undeniable. / shall not impugn
its sincerity, nor should impatience be
l
has undertaken. 1t is honestly due to
Spain and in our friendly relations with
Spain that she should be given a rea-
5Onable chance to realize her expecta-
lions and to prove the asserted eff
icacy of the new order of things to
which she stands irrevocably commit
ted. She has recalled the commander
whose brutal orders infiamed the Amer
can mind and shocked the civilized
world. She has modified the horrible
order of concentration and has under
taken the care of the helpless and per-
nit those who desire to resume the
cultivation of their fields to do so and
assures them of the protection of the
Spanish government in their lawful oc-
cupations. She has just released the
Competitor prisoners, heretofore SEN
-enced to death and who have been the
subjects of repeated diplomatic corre-
spondence during both this and the
preceding administration. >,
mot a single American citizen is
now under arrest or in confinement in
Cuba of whom this government has
any knowledge. The near future will
demonstrate whether the indispensable
condition of a righteous peace, just
alike to the Cubans and to Spain, as
we'll as equitable to all our interests
so intimately involved in the welfare of
Cuba, is to be attained. If not, the exi-
gency of further and other action by
the United States will remain to be
taken. When the time comes that ac-
tion will be determined in the line of
the indisputable right and duty 1t
will be faced without misgiving or hes
itancy, in the light of the obligation this
government owes to itself, to the peo-
pie who have confided TO it the protec-
ton of their interests and honor and to
Sure of the right, keeping free from
all offense ourselves, actuated only by
upright and patriotic considerations
moved neither by nassion nor selfish-