The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-10
sAGAsTA, TOO, At SEA.
His Manifesto Denounces the Cabinet. but
Promises Nothing Better.

MADRID, June 27.-The manifesto Just issued
by the Liberal party has caused bitter disap-
pointment among those who expected that Senior
Sagasta would make conclusive declarations In
favor of ample and radical autonomy as a means
Of ending the Cuban war. The manifesto do
clares that the responsibility for tho growth Of
tho war, which Is destroying Cuban life and
property and draining the resources Of Spain.
rests upon tho Spanish Cabinet. Sagasta then
says:
From the beginning of the war the Liberal
party believed that. In dealing with the rebels.
political action should accompany force OF arms.
Our army triumphs always and everywhere.
but no human effort would sufice TO maintain
peace In Cuba under pressure OF bayonets alone.
The Government. however, chose this method
and sent to Cuba zoe. 900 soldiers and all of the
nations treasures. AS the Liberal party did
not wish to place obstacles in the way
OF our army, We remained silent. But time
and events have como TO demonstrate that we
were in tho right. The Government. yielding at
last TO evidence. has attempted to modify It's
policy by adding political and diplomatic action
TO force OF arms, without perceiving that such
changes are practicable only when accompanied
by II serious transformation OF onss own opin-
Ions and creeds. for. otherwise, political action.
far from strengthening military action, contra
diets and weakens 1t, until both are discredited
The Liberal party. which saw with r~eslgna-
tion that the nag OF reform was Bnatched from
IL, cannot allow that 1t. too. be discredited. IL
~ preferable not to establish any reforms, IL tho
present policy is to DO executed by agents who
do not inspire the people with confidence, and
no confidence can bo placed In persons who
always opposed reform, In persons who regarded
the mere request for reform as a crime. 1t IL
necessary TO avoid the possibility OF u failure
tho consequences OF which could not be reme-
died.
"The reforms decreed do not solve tho Cuban
problem. for the tariff question remains un.
touched. and the future OF the island rs regards
its mercantile relations with foreign countries
Is In no way assured
Coming next to the attitude of the Liberal
party. Sagasta mouths only empty phrases and
ambiguous words.
The manifesto is criticised because not a word
IA said In IT concerning the relations of Spain
with tho United States. To this Ell GtobO,
Sagasta's organ. replies:
Fit was not possible that Senior Sagasta should
say that We ought To declare war to the United
States. A party cannot officially make certain dec
l~arations with the same freedom as q newspaper.
All should remember that more than a year ago
| FL GiObO said:
II is necessary that tho United States say
clearly whether shs fayore the insurgents or NOT.
All diplomatic efforts 20 Obtain this declaration
have so far, been futile. Why not insist II
diplomacy should finally fail. why not resort TO
some other eKpodientf We say this because
the obStinBcy OF the Americans might be
such as to force us to break with them,
4 whatever the consequences Of the rupture might