Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-01
EUROPE AND CUBA.
Feeling In Regard to Their BuInOr-
ed UphOlding of spain.
washington Stai)

washington stare
The reiteratiou of the statement that
European governments viii sustain Spain
as against the United States, because Of
the general European opposition to the
Monroe doctrine. is likely 10 have very
different influence upon Congress than
that anticipated boy the Spanish Govern
mont The denials mat European govern
ments have intimatei 20 the United
States State Department that they mish
interfere in behalf Of Spain have been
made very positive. but it is maintained
by the authors OF the original statement
that these demands are merely technical.
and that. az matter OF fact. the spirit
of hostility toward the United states
does exist In connection with "a friendly
feeling toward Spail. The general De
lief in Washington is mat the report or
actual or intmated support Of Spain by
Germany, Austria. and France comes
from high Spanish authority, and its re-
iteration is accepted as an indication thaJ
the Spanish Government expects 10 IN
timidate Congress. quite the contrary
effect is likely 10 be produced. Inc SUE
eostion that European Powers VIII make
their objection 10 the Monroe doctrine
,the excuse for assisting TO maintain
interference on the part OF the Unllei
states. IS extremely rcpusnant to the
prevailing sentiment In Congress.
The most earnest efforts are being maze
NV the friends of spain and by the admin
istrati,n TO restrain Congress. The IN
0nonce of the leaders In the House Of Rep
rcsentatives and a feeling among many
Republicans who are in favor of the mae
peudcucc Of cuba, that il would be bet'er
TO allow the matter TO go over until alle'
the 4th of March to be dealt with by the
new administration. contribute TO the plan
of inaction. But the impression that Euro
pean Powers are assuming a threatening
attitude I'm the matter VIII again strength
en- the hands of the Cuban sympathizers'
If IL Is to be made q test Of the Monroe
doctriIt. involving the right OF foreign
mowers to acquire possession OF territory
in this continent now held by other for
eign mowers. Congress will be found prac-
fical'v unanimous I'm support Of q firm
and. perhaps. aggressive policy. The sus-
restion made I'm foreign dispatches that
Spain anticipates. in connection with an
agreement with the Cleveland Admins
tration for the autonomy of CUBA, the
establishment Of Il commercial treaty, Is
regarded here with some surprise.
The idea conveyed seems 20 be that
dignity she may suffer I'm the pacihcation
of Cuba by the advantage OF reduced du-
ties. or perhaps free entry to this country
of the chief products of Spanish provinces
and that patriotic or humanitarian i'm
pulses Of Americans may be overcome by
the reciprocal extension Of privileges 10
certain American products. This susses-
ton proves irritating to certain elements
I'm Congress. They find something eX-
tremelv offensive I'm the apparent assump-
ton ON the part of Spain that. between n
feeling Of fear Of the foreign Powers ana
ID natural commercial instinct, the Amerl-
can people may DE diverted from any ac-
tive interest in the fate of the insurgents
and lose all sentimental sympathy with
the cause Of liberty.
III is certain that no adjustment between
the Cleveland Administration and Spain
which involves a commercial treaty can
be made effective. The Senate. il may b.
assumed, would not ratify such treaty
and the necessary legislation TO give
Spain the advantages she may desire at
our ports could not be got through Con-
gress.
Representative McAlinn said to-day,
when his attention was called to the IN
formation coming from Spain that there
was under considera ion the question of
a commercial treaty between the United
States and Spain in connection with the
abortion of reforms I'm Cuba. that any re
ciprocal arrangement between the United
States and Spain abolishing the duty on
tobacco and sugar as indicated, would
result I'm a great fiscal gain TO Spain and
a corresponding fiscal loss TO the United
States without any compensatory consid-
Grafton to the latter. one Of the obJec-
tons. he said, to the annexation Of either
Cuba or Hawaii to the United States is
the great loss Of revenue IT would involve.
The remission of duties on Cuban tobacco
and sugar. as suggested, would mean the
loss of an important revenue. without any
acquisition OF territory.