The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-02
SPAIN IS VERY DISCREET.

Washington, October 2S--The reply OF
the Spanish government TO the admonition
which President Mckinley sent by Min
lister Woodford Is go different from tho
abstracts OF that document which have
been photographed over the country from
Washington and Madrid as to cause
nervous shock. We have been told that
IL was "saucy' and belllgcrent, II not In
sultlng, and that the attitude Of the
United States In regard to Cuba was re-
scented in manner that left President Nc
KInley no recourse but war. while the
fact Is that the response OF the Spanish
government is so discreet, conciliatory and
adroit as to leave the president no pos
sible excuse for offense at either its Ian
guage or It's intentions.
The good offices" OF the United States
in securing peace in Cuba are for the first
time accepted, and the new liberal minis
try hopes that we may be able to exercise
much influence In the restoration OF peace.
When Mr.. Olney made similar overture
to the last ministry he was told that the
government and people Of Spain would re-
sent any interference In the management
OF its colonies by outsiders, and in diplo-
matte language was advised to mind his
own business The present ministry also
accepts the advice which was offered its
predecessors by Mr. Oluey In regard to the
introduction OF reforms into the govern
ment OF Cuba. 1t proposes to do just what
he recommended two years ago, and which,
If 1t had been done then, would have saved
several thousand lives. many millions OF
money and Unreasonable distress.
The reforms which were offered last
winner by the Canovas government are
limited compared with the system of home
rule that is row proposed, and Which Will
be satisfactory to all the people in Cuba
except the extreme conservatives, who OPP
pose all CONCESSIONS and the last-ditch
raction Of the insurgents who will not be
satisfied with anything short OF lndepend-
once and n republican form of government
under their own control.
There Is, however, one serious omission
in the plan OF autonomy, which sooner or
later must be met by the Spanish author
/, tiles, and finally settled before there Is
an assurance of peace. That is the debt
v of the island, which now reaches $500, 0O0,-
UUU, ana aDSOTDS all tUp revenues Oh lUe
island for interest Until this debt can
n be scaled down or assumed by Spain or
V divided between the mother country and
n the colony there can be no hope for peace.
y As long as the people OF Cuba are COM
PEELED to use all their revenues in the
n payment of interest it is useless for them
~ to assume the control of their own finances
tI,1t, al.
ment.
No country in the world suffers so much
" from the lack of good reads, schools and
% other public improvements, but there Is
y no way of furnishing them until the tax
u payers of the island are relieved Of the
,u burdens that Spain has put upon them OF
. course 1t would be great benefit TO have
Is an honest collection OF the revenues. 1t is
70 believed that nearly SO per cent OF the
70 collections from various forms of taxation
have been stolen by The officials for loug
l. period OF years. Captain generals who
OF have come from Spain as poor as Jobs
g. turkey have returned home after a veal
or two of official life in Cuba with money
49, enough 10 last them the rest of their lives
Us II this pl,Hndering OF the Cuban treasur,
lu is stopped there will, OF course. be large
10 increase in tho receipts of the govern.
mont, but even then, they will not b,
a. sufficient to pay the interest on the debt
h and until that matter is adjusted 1t is use.
SO less for the Spaniards to expect peace.
O. There has never been any probability O,
On war with the United States. notwithstand
NC ing the lurld dispatches that have beer
sent from here and from Madrid and tn,
talk about ultlmatums. When two partie.
TO controversy are determined to avoit
r. trouble 1t is difficult to get up fight
O. and that has been the disposition Of boil
Spain and the United States. II there Il
as any cine thing in the whole range OF pos
he s.bilities that President Mckinley dos:
C. not wish to happen It is war. In speak
Ing yesterday about the reports OF the re
,r vival of prosperity throughout the couu
~ try. the president said to friend AL
al we want is peace and quiet and there will
Wv be no question about prosperity"
Tha most difficult problem for the presi
or dent now Is to restrain congress. As sool
he as that body meets in December the Cubal
ne sympath2srs are going to raise the usua
IL storm with The intention OF passing reso
lutlons recognizing the belligerency OF tn
'co insurgents, Speaker Reed has held tn
er house down Ter three sessions, but he ca
Ise not do il always. and sooner or later som
sc action must be taken which will be yer
embarrassing 10 the administration
,or Ihe greatest concession that has leel
~, made to the public sentiment in the UYiat.
AZ, States Is the revocation of what Is know
NO us The concentration" order OF Genera
IVY Weyler, which drove non combatants int
the clthes and prevented them from cul
We uvating the ground. This and other ey.
Al dences of sincerity on the part 81 the snan
N lsh government viii justify the presiden
TO In asking congress not to take any net O.
VI on the subject, and he. win probably do S
M his annual message.--W. IL. Curtis.
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In HOusToN's COMING CARNIVAL.
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