Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1897-12-10

OF the unsried measures there remain
only recognition of the insurgents as
beliigerents; recognition Of the indie
pendenco of Cuba; neutral intervention
10 end the war by imposing q 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 60 Rsoognitiou.
Ireaard the recos milton Of the bel
liQerency OF the Cuban insurgents as
Should that step hereafter DO deemed
wise as measure OF right and duty the
executive will take 10.
Intervention upon humanitarian
grounds has been frequently suggested
and has not failed to receive my most
anxious and earnest consideration. But
should such step be now taken when
it is apparent that hopeful change has
supervened ia the policy OF Spain to.
ward Cuba? A new government has
taken office in the mother country. IL
IL pledged in advance TO the declar 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
che insular problem, that with q substi.
tuition of commanders must come a
change OF the past system Of warfare
for one in harmony with u new policy
which shall not longer aim TO drive the
Cubans 90 the horrible alternative of
taking to the thicket or succumbing In
misery" that the reforms must be in.
stituted IN accordance with the needs
aud circumstances OF the tune aud that
these reforms. while desigued 20 give
full autonomy to the colony and to Gre.
ate q virtual entity aud self controlled
administration, shall yet conserve and
affirm the sovereignty Of Spain by just
distribution Of powers and burdens upon
q basis of mutual interest untainted by
methods of selfish expedienoy.
It 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
com mitted. She has recalled the com.
mander whose brutal orders infiamed
the American mind and shocked the
civilized world. She has modified the
horrible order Of concentration aud 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 &C.
equations. She has just released the
Competitor" prisoners. heretofore sen.
fenced to death, and who have been the
subject OF repeated diplomatic CORES.
pondence during both this aud the pre-.
ceding administration.
Not a single American citizen is now
under arrest or In coufuemeut In Cuba
OF whom this government has any
knowledge. The near future will dem.
onstrate whether the indispensable con.
dition Of righteous peace, just alike
to the Cubans aud to Spain as well as
equi table to -ell~our sfnterssts- 80 siusi'
mately involved In the welfare OF Cuba,
Is likely to be attained II not. the OK.
igency of further aud 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
indisputabls right aud duty. It will be
In the light Of the obligation this gov.
ernment owes to itself. to the people
who have confded to IL the prot cotton
Of their interests aud honor aud to hu.
mainly.
Sure Of the right. keeping free from
all offense ourselves. actuated only by
upright aud patriotic considerations.
moved neither by passion or selfshness,
the government will continue its watch.
full care over the rights aud property of
American citizens aud will abate none
Of It's efforts to bring about by peaceful
agencies . peace which shall be honor.
able aud enduring. II IL shall here.
after appear to be q duty imposed by
our obi gasious to ourselves. TO civilizs.
ton aud humanity TO intervene with
force IL shall be without fault on our
part. and only because the necessity for
such action will DO so clear as to COM
mand the support aud approval OF the
civilized world.