The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-02

Spain could make no promises to the Amer
lean Government. even though that Gov
eminent had offered to undertake to help
her In such a way as to preserve her SOW
e~reiRnty in Cuba.
At the time Of the delivery OF Mr.. CLKvK-
LANDS message to Congress last month,
two-thirds Of a year had passed since he con-
veyed the intimation-memorandum to
Premier CANovAs. 1t was manifest that the
Premier had never regarded this intimation
as one Of a pressing character. We might
as we'll refrain from charging him with dis
courtesy. He has frequently given express
sion to his admiration for CLEVELAND; but,
as he had not asked for CLEvELAND's help,
he had a Spanish right, under the circum-
stances, to ignore the intrusive and imperti-
nent offer Of 1t.
Very heavy resnforcemonts were sent to
Cuba by Spain, Immediately after the Glove
land intimation reached Madrid. 1t was
made manifest by the Spanish Government
that it had a plan OF it's own, unlike Mr..
~CLEvELAND's, for dealing with the insur-
gents in Cuba, and for confirming Spain's
supremacy there. As for that campaign of
WEYLER's army, which was to be under
taken last spring and carried to success be-
fore the rainy season, 1t was never begun.
Nothing was lone by the Spanish troops
between April and November, except
to offer such resistance as they could
to the attacks that were made by
the insurgents. Spain gained no ad-
vantage at all, and suffered many reverses.
At last, about two months ago, WEYLER
set out with a heavy body Of troops to attack
Gen. MACEo in the western part OF Cuba.
What do we kno Of his operations, or what
does Spain know, beyond the plot against
the person Of MAcEoi Not any considerable
force OF revolutionists has been beaten; not
any success for Spain has been won. The
~revolutionists yet hold and control the
greater part Of Cuba. We shall probably
soon hear that the main army under Gen.
GOMEZ, now in the east. has set out upon its
march toward Havana.
There are again, at the opening Of another
year, dismal prospects for Spain in Cuba.
There is another opportunity for CLEvE-
LAND to help Spain.
We have now reason for believing
that Mr.. CLEvELAND's services are in
better demand at this time by Spain than
they were In the early months of the past
year. In his message CLEVELAND ga We us a
draft OF his plan for perpetuating Spanish
authority in Cuba, and Premier CANovAs,
as we know by dispatches from Madrid, has
recently thought again Of that plan. He has
become convinced that it may not be wholly
worthless, after all. The execution Of 1t, IL
IL could be executed, would be calamitous
for Cuba. but most serviceable for Spain.
1t provides that Spain shall recover her lost
sovereignty in Cuba, and that Cuba shall be
swindled by a new reform law
Now is the time for Senior CANovAs to re-
call Mr.. C~LEvELAND's /" written memoran-
dunn" from its resting place, and mark
closely it's sympathetic "~intimation." Let
him, however. ask Mr.. CLEVELAND whether
he still believes he can induce the Cuban
revolutionists to give up their struggle for
independence and submit to Spain. Are
they likely to do so at the i%nstigation of n
discredited American President who will be
relieved OF all responsibility in less than two
months
Spain now needs C~LEvELAND's help against
the revolution far more than she needed it
when first offered nine months ago. CLEvE-
LAND is not less DESTROYS OF helping Spain
out Of her plight at this time than he was
early in the past year, when Cuba's sue.
cesses against Spain justified her hope that
the day OF liberation and independence was
at hand.
From first to last CLEVELAND has been an
enemy Of Cuban freedom, and the most ser
viceable ally Of Spain in her remorseless war
upon a brave people struggling to liberate
their country from her abominable and de-
structive rule.