Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-06

could be asserted not only for the military
inv estment of the Island but up to the mar
gin Of our own territorial waters, and a
condition of things would exist for which
the Cubans within their own domain could
not hope to create a parallel; while its
creation through aid or sympathy from
within our domain would be even more i'm
possible than now. with the additional
obligations of international neutrality we
would perforce assume.
The enforcement of this enlarged and on
erous code of neutrality would only be in
fiuential within our own jurisdiction by land
and sea and applicable by our own instru-
mentallties. 1t could impart to the United
States no jurisdiction between Spain and
the insurgents. 1t would give the United
States no right of Intervention to enforce
the conduct of the strife within the para
mount authority of Spain according to the
International code of war.
For these reasons I regard the recogni
ton of the bellgerency of the Cuban in
surgents as now unwise and therefore in
admissible. Should that step hereafter be
deemed wise as measure of right and duty
the Executive will take it.
Intervention on Humanitarian
Grounds.
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 in the
policy of Spain toward Cuba? A new gov
eminent has taken office in the mother
country. 1t is pledged in advance to the
declaration that all the effort in the world
by the bayonet; that vague promises of re-
form after subjugation afford solution
of the insular problem; that with a substi-
tuition of commanders must come q 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 "hor-
rible alternative 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 designed to give full
autonomy 10 the colony and to create a vir-
s1Ial entity and self-cOntrolled admnistra-
ton, shall yet conserve and affirm the SOW
ereignty of Spain by a just distribution of
powers and burdens upon a basis of mutual
interest untainted by methods of selfish ex-
pediency.
The first acts of the new government lie
in these honorable paths. The policy of
cruel rapine and determination that long
shocked the universal sentiment of human
1ty has been reversed Under the new mill
tary commander a broad clemency is prof
fered. Measures have already been set on
foot to relieve the horrors of starvation
The power of the Spanish armies it is as
serted is to be used not to spread ruin and
desolation but to protect the resumption OF
peaceful agricultural pursuits and produce
tive industries. That past methods are tu-
tile to force peace by subjugation is free
ly admitted, and that ruin without con-
Citation must inevitably fail to win for
Spain the fidelity of a contented depend
enCy.
DEGREES in application of the foreshadow-
ed reforms have already been promulgated.
The full text of these DEGREES has not been
received, but as furnished in Geographic
summary from our Minister are: All civil
and electoral rights of Pennsular Span-
iards are, in virtue of existing consatu-
tional authority, forthwith extended to CO.
lonial Spaniards. a scheme of autonomy
has been proclaimed by decree to become
effective upon ratification by the Cortes
1t creates Cuban parliament which, with
the insular executive can consider and vote
upon all subjects affecting local order and
interests, possessing unlimited powers save
as to matters of state, war and the navy
as to which the Governor-GenCral acts by
his own authority as the delegate of the
central government. This parliament re-
ceives the oath of the Governor-General TO
preserve faithfully the liberties and privi-
leSes of the colony, and to it the colonial
secretaries are responsible. 1t has the
right TO propose to the central government,
through the GOvernor-GeneraI, modifca-
tons of the national charter and to invite
new projects of law or executive measures
in the interest of the colony
Besides its local powers it is competent
first. to regulate electoral registration and
procedure and prescribe the qualifications
of electors and the manner of exercising
suffrage; second. to organize courts of
justice with native judges from members
of the local bar: third, to frame the in
suiar budget both to expenditures and
revenues, without Limitation of any kind,
and to set apart the revenues to meet the
Cuban share Of the national budget which
latter will be voted by the national Cortes
with the assistance of Cuban senators and
deputies; fourth. to initiate or take part
in the negotiations of the national govern
ment for commercial treaties which may
reject commercial treaties which the ma
tonal government may have concluded
without the participation of the Cuban
government: sixth, TO frame the colonial
tariff, acting in accord with the peninsuIar
government in scheduling articles of mu-
tual commerce between the mother coun-
try and the colonies. Before introducing
or voting upon a bill, the Cuban govern
ment or the chambers will lay the project
before the central government and hear
its opinion thereon, all the correspondence
in such regard being made public Finally
all conflicts of Jurisdiction arising between
the different municipal, provincial and in
sular assemblies. or between the latter
and the insular executive power, and
which from their nature may not be re-
ferable to the central government for de-
cision, shall be submitted to the courts.
What Is Due to Spain.
That the Government of sagasta has
entered upon course from which recess
sion with honor is impossible can hardly
be questioned; that in the few weeks it