The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-12
Olney's Cake Is Dough.

~ puDlICdLluil tlDlJctllS III lIc w ASH
ington Post which makes us smile. We
quote from it:
The results of the radical policy of
practical and economic reform inaugurated
in Cuba by the DEGREES of the Spanish
ministry are awaited with much interest
at the state department and in the COM
mittees on foreign affairs of the two
houses OF congress. 1t is not surprise
in these quarters, nor at the Spanish
legation, that some irritation has devel-
oped in Spain over the great concessions
made to the principle of home rule in
Cuba, which are SO much beyond those
usually granted to colonial dependencies
by European states This feeling in Spain
does not, however, cause any special un-
easiness here, because it is felt that the
Spanish people will see the wisdom of
putting an end to the expenditure of
treasure and blood in the island with the
substantial result of maintaining Spanish
sovereignty unimpaired The skill and
delicacy with which Secretary Olney has
managed the share of the United States
in the matter are receiving very general
commendation. He has at no time at
tempted to bully the Spanish government,
nor to dictate the terms of its internal pol
icy. He has simply insisted that it would
be very agreeable to the United States to
be saved from the necessity of action dis
tasteful to Spain by the voluntary action
of the Spanish monarchy in bringing 20
an end all reasonable grounds for com
plant of Spanish rule in Cuba. His firm
ness in enforcing the laws against pirat-
ical expeditions to Cuba, and his dis
avowal of sympathy with the senate reso-
| utions, created friendly feeling for him
| on the part of the Spanish ministry which
| no amount of threatening and clustering
! could have produced The result has
somewhat surprised even the state de-
| ,.t, of pi a hn
| with the negotiations, by the great scope
of the reforms granted by Spain in Cuba.
We have already explained how
radical the Spanish policy of Cuban
| reforms" is. 1t amount to this: that
the small percentage of the native in
habitants of Cuba who are permitted
by Spain to vote at all may if Spanish
| promises are not deceptive, elect a mi
| nority representation in a Council of
Administration which, subject to the
! governor generals veto, will have
power to regulate the expenditure on
internal improvements of 3 per cent
of the islands revenues, the other 81
| per cent. to be expended as the Spanish
Cortes shall direct. Cubans under this
plan would have to pay the interest
and principal of the war and accrued
debt, now well-nigh $6000OO, OO0-or an
| annual interest debt alone of $l2C
apiece for each head of a Cuban fami-
ly; would have, as before, to support a
brood of Spanish pensioners and black
mailers, and would at the end of each
years labor find in reward therefor
only increased tax burdens and no visi-
BILE relief.
No doubt it is culpably unreasonable
on the part of the Cuban people, ant
very discourteous to Mr.. Olney, tha
they do not at once grab at this invit.
ing overture, lay down their arms, ant
smilingly slip their heads again int
the Spanish halter. We can imagine
how distressing it must be to our ami
able secretary of state to have all hi!
skill and delicacy" in Spain's behal
| go for naught before the crude Cubar
rebels who are so ill-mannered as t
resent the theft of their property b,
Spaniards, the slaughter of their de
fenseless children and old men, and tn
outraging of their wives and daugh
, ters. But what more can Olney do
1t is hardly feasible, even with all hi
} friendliness for Spain, to order Ameri
can warships to Cuba to aid Spain il
r forcing Cuba to submit. And even
) it We're Olney would scarcely hav
1 time between this and the 4th day o
, next March,
Alas for the vanity of human en-
a deavor! We feel for Olney, but at tn
same time we fear his cake is dough