The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1897-12-18
OF the untri.a meas ure. th.r. remain

OF the untried measures there remain
only recognition Of the insurgents as
belligerents; recognition OF the indie
pendence Of Cuba; neutral intervention
to end the war by imposing a rational
compromise between the contestants.
and Intervention in favor Of one or the
other party. speak not Of forcible an.
nexation, for that cannot be thought OF.
That by our code Of morality would be
criminal aggression.
Opposed to Recognition.
regard the reooe milton OF the bel.
ligerency Of the Cuban Insurgents as
now unwise and therefore mad missible.
Should that step hereafter be deemed
wise as measure OF right aud duty the
executive will take It,
Intervention upon Humanitarian
grounds has been frequently suggested
and has not failed to receive my most
unxions and earnest consideration. But
should such step be now taken when
1t is apparent that hopeful change has
supervened in the policy Of Spain to.
ward Cuba? A new government has
taken office in the mother country. It
is pledged in advance to the declare alton
that all the effort in the world cannot
suffice to maintain peace IN Cuba by the
bayonet; that vague promises OF reform
after subjugation afford no solution Of
the iusular problem, that with a substi.
tuition OF commanders must come a
change or the past system of warfare
for one in harmony with new policy
which shall not longer sim to drive the
Oubans to the horrible alternative Of
taking to the thioket or sucoumbinR in
misery" that the reforms must be in.
stituted In accordance with the needs
aud circumstances OF the time aud that
these reforms. while designed to give
full AUTONOMY TO the colony aud to ore.
ate a virtual entity and self controlled
affirm the sovereignty Of Spain by just
distribution OF powers and burdens upon
O basis of mutual interest uutainted by
methods of selfish expediency.
1t is honestly due to Spain and to our
friendly relations with Spain that she
should be given 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 intlamed
the American mind and shocked the
civilized world. She has modified the
horrible order Of concentration and un.
dertaken to care for the helpless and
permit 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.
equations. She has just released the
Competitor" prisoners, heretofore sen.
fenced to death, aud who have been the
subject OF repeated diplomatic CORES.
pondence during both this and the pre-.
ceding administration.
Not q single American citizen is now
under arrest or in confinement in Cuba
OF whom this government has any
knowledge. The near future will dem.
onstrate whether the Indispensable cou.
ditiou OF q righteous peace, just alike
to the Oubans aud to Spain as we'll as
equitable to all our interests so init.
mately involved in the welfare Of Cuba,
is likely to be attained. II not, the ex.
igency Of further and other action by
the United States will remain to be
taken. When that time comes that &C.
ton will be determined In the line OF
indisputable right and duty. 1t will be
faced without misgiving or hesitancy
in the light Of the obligation this gov.
eminent owes to itself. to the people
who have confded to il the pro ection
Of their interests and honor aud to hu.
mainly.
Sure OF the right. keeping free from
all offense ourselves. actuated only by
upright and patriotic considerations,
moved neither by passion or selfshness.
the government will continue its watch.
full care over the rights and property Of
American citizens and will abate none
OF its efforts to bring about by peaceful
agencies peace which shall be honor
able and enduring. II IL shall here
after appear to be . duty imposed by
our obligations to ourselves. to civiliza-
ton aud humanity to intervene with
force it shall be without fault OIL our
part. and only because the necessity for
such action will be SO clear as to com.
mand the support aud approval of the
civilized world.