The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-07


Of strife within tie paramount author
ity of Spain according TO the intcrna-
tional code Of var For these reasons I
regard the recognition of the belligerency
Of the Cubans as now unwisc and there
fore inadmlssiblc. Should that step here
after be deemed wise as measure, OF
right ana duty, the executive will take it.
Prompted by Humanity.
The intervention on htSmGnitariar
grounds has not failed to receive my
most anxious and earnest consideration.
But should such a step he now taken when
1t is apparent that "a hopeful change has
supcrNcnCd in the policy of Spain toward
| Cuba? A new government has taken
office i'm the mother country. IT is pledged
In advance to the declaration that all the
effort in the world cannot suffice to MAIN
tain peace in Cuba by the bayonct; that
vague promises of reform after subiuRu-
tion afford no solution OF the msular
problem; that with a substitution of COM
mandCrs must come a chang" of the past
system of warfare for one I'm harmony
with a new policy which shall no longer
aim to drive the Cubans TO the horrible
alternative of taking TO The tHUket or
succumbing in misery" that reforms
must be instituted i'm accordance With the
needs and circumstances of the time,
that these reforms while designed to give
full autonomy to THE colony ana TO create
virtual entity and self-control in adj
mnistration shall yet conserve ana at
firm the sovereignty of Spain by a just
distribution of powers and burdens upon
a basis of nutIal interest untaintCd by
methods of selfish CNpcdicncy.
The first acts of the new government
are honorable paths. TIE policy OF cruel
rapine and determination which so long
shocked The universal sentiment Of hui
manity hd5 been reversed. Under the
new military cOmmanl,r a broader clem-
rncv IS prulfercd Measures have already
hecn set on foot to relieve the horrors
of starvation. The power of the Span-
isb armies If is asserted is to ne usei nor
to snrpad I,iin and Iesolation but to pro-
tnct Tho rcernntio, of rn,coful agrirll-
turot n,,rs,,ite t,rd nrndurtivc i,d,ist,ios
I'bo+ met otbods orc futi,o to ror,,, =
uearo b,. st,hi,iuat lion 10 frrnlv admitted
,rd tbot ,,iT ,,.itho,,t ,,,,,,ilia tin,, ,,,u.t
inc, vitality fan to win for Snotu tho fdolitv
cr d., contorted donondon,,i
Neiorms fOreshauoWen'
DEGREES in application of the fOreshad-
owed reforms have already been promul-
gated. The fun text Of these DEGREES has
not been received but as furnished in
a tclceraphic summary from our minis
ter are. All civil and electoral rights
of ncninsular Spaniards are i'm virtue
az existing constitutional authority,
forthwith extended to colonial Span
iards. A scheme Cf autonomy has
brcp proclaimed by decree to become
effective mon 1atitiCation bv the
Cortcs If cr,atcs a Cuban parlla-
mont which with the insular executive
r1n consider and vote ,tnon all subjects
arfprtin.r local order and interests nos
sessiuo unlimited mowers save as to
matter of state. war and navy. as to
which tbo rovrrnor general acts nv his
central government. This parliament
reauirrs the oath of the governor general
20 nrnenrNn faitbfnllv tho liberties and
nriyilauos Of tho colony and to If tho
colonial sccrotorias are resnonsibIe II has
the ripht to prouose to the central gov
crpmert throurh nc governor general
,oodifrotione of Tho natioDaI charter and
to invite new nroiccts of law or executive
measures in The interest of the colony.
posid,s its local no,,ore II ie coronetnnt
rrst to regulate electoral registration
ana rrncnedure and prescribe the nIIali-
tications of electors and the manner Of
"N'rcls'n" suffrage; second 10 organize
toul us ol JuStlce WIN hdliEP JUICES from
memh"rs OF the local par thlru' to frame
TN" 'hSular puuEet poth as 10 eNpehdi-
turc ana revenues without limitation OF
any h.hu' anu 10 scI apart tile revenues
20 meet the CUBAN snare OF IN"
nauoral budget Whlch lattef WIN
be voted by the nallohai colteS
win the assistance OF tuDah senator's
anu deputies; foufth, 10 initiate or take
part III lile ORGANIZATIONS OF hduoIal gov
cinhl,lt ~ I"[ com commercial treauGS Whlch
NAV aHtct CUBAN interests llilh, TO ac-
cspI or reject commerclai treaties which
TIE national government nave cohcluded
NI'n"ut tn" participation ol the CUBAN
government; sixth, to frame the colonial
tA,ll acting III accoru win the PENN
S."r EoEerhihehI III stheuullnS arllC'es
o. mutual commerce between the mother
country anu the colonies Belore intro
Curing or voting upon a bill the Cuban
government OF the champerS VIII lay the
plo.cct before the central EoVernment
ana near its opinion thereon, FINALLY, all
CohnlCtS OF jurisdiction arising between
lhc ul1"rehl muhiolpaL proNlhclal ana
iHSuiaF assemblies or between the latter
ana the lhsuiar power ana from Whlch
IN" nature may not be referrable TO the
c'nral government lor decision ShaH be
SupiHit'c" 10 III" 'orleS'
Sagasta'S Sincerity.
That the government of Sapasta has
entered upon a course from which reces-
sion with honor is impossible can hardly
be questioned, that in the few weeks it
has existed il has made an earnest of
the sincerity of its promises is undeni-
able. | shall not impugn it's sincerity. nor
should impatience he suffered to emhar-
rass it in the task it has undertaken. It
is honestly due to Spain and to our
friendly relations with Spain that she
hC gwen reasonable chance to realize
her expectations to prove the asserted
efficacy of the new order of things to
whi.h she stands irrevocabIy commit
red She has recalled the commander
whose brutal orders inflamed the Amer
ian mind and shocked the civilized
world. She has modified the horrible or
en- 70 care for the helpless and hermit
those "a no desire 10 resume The puItiya