Rock Island Argus., 1897-12-07
AS TO HUMANITARIAN GROUND.
Reasons Advanced Why the United States
should Hold Its Hand,

Intervention upon humanitarian
grounds has been frequently suggested,
and has not failed to receive my most
anxious and earnest consideration. But
should such a step be now taken when
it is apparent that a hopeful change has
supervened in the policy of Spain to-
ward Cuba? A new government has
taken office in the mother country. 1t
is pledged in edvance to the declaration
that all the effort in the world cannot
suffice to maintain peace in Cuba by
the bayonet: that vague promises of re-
form after subjugation afford no solu-
tion of the insular problem; that with
substitution of commanders must
come change Of the past system of
warfare for one in harmony with
new policy which shall no longer aim
| to drive the Cubans to the horrible al
tentative of taking to the thicket or
succumbing in misery" that reforms
| must be instituted in accordance with
| the needs and circumstances of the
| time, and that these reforms, while de-
signed to give full autonomy to the COL
ony and to create virtual entity and
| self-controlled administration, shall yet
assert and affirm the sovereignty of
Spain by just distribution of powers
and burdens upon a basis of mutual
interest untainted by methods of self
| ish expediency.
The first acts Of the new government
lie in these honorable paths. The pol-
Icy of cruel rapine and determination
that SO long shocked the universal SEN
timent'of humanity has been reversed
| Under the new military commander a
broad clemency is proffered. Measures
| save already been set on foot to relieve
the horrors of starvation. The power Of
the Spanish armies, it is asserted, is to
be used not to spread ruin and .desola-
ton. but to protect the resumption of
| peaceful agricultural pursuits and pro-
ductive industries. That past methods
are futile to force a peace by subjuga-
ton is freely admitted, and that ruin
without conciliation must inevitably fail
to win for Spain the fidelity of a con-
tented dependency.
| DEGREES in application of the fore
shadowed reforms have already been
promulgated. The full text of these
aecfees mas not been received. but as
furnished in telegraphic summary
from our minister are: 1.-THE president
here summarizes the scheme Of auton-
| omy, which has been already widely
printed in the press.1 That the govern
ment of Sagasta has entered upon a
course from which recession with honor
Is impossible can hardly be questioned: !:
that in the few weeks that it has ex-
listed it has made earnest of the SINGER
shall not impugn its sincerely. nor
should impatience be suffered to em-
barrass ii in the task 1t has undertaken.
| 1t IS honestly due to Spain and to our
friendly relations with Spain that she
should be given a reasonable chance to
realize her expectations and to prove
the asserted efficacy Of the new order
OF things to which she stands irrevoca-
bly, committed. She has recalled the
| commando whose hrpfo1 prdare To-
famed the American mind and shocked
the civilized world. She has modified
the horrible order Of concentration. and
has undertaken to care for the helpless
and permit those who desire to resume
the cultivation Of their fields to do SO.
and assures Of them OF the protection
OF the Spanish government in their law
ful occupations. She has Just released
the Competitor prisoners heretofore
sentenced to death, and who have been
the subject OF repeated diplomatic cor
respondence during both this and the
preceding administration.
Not single American citizen is now
IN arrest or confinement in Cuba of
whom this government has any knowl-
edge. The near future will demonstrate
whether the indispensable condition of
. righteous peace, Just alike to the Gu
bans and TO Spain. as well as equitable
to our interests SO intimately involved
in the welfare OF Cuba, is likely to be
attained. II not, the exigency of fur.
ther and other action by the United
states will remain to be taken. When
that time comes that action will be
determined in the line Of indisputable
right and duty. 1t will be faced with
out misyiving hesitancy in the light of
the OBLIGATION this government owes to