The evening times., 1897-12-06

the resumption OF peaceful agriculturalp pur-
suits and productive industries. That past
methods are futile to force peace By SD
1ugation is>freely admitted. and that r'rin
without conciliation must Inevitably fail
to win for Spain the fidelity Of a conteuted
dependency
The Scheme OF Autonomy.
DEGREES In application Of the foreshad
owed reforms have already been pro nil
gated. Tie full text of these decrees Las
not been received but as furnished In \ tel
egraphic summary from our Minister are.
All civil and electoral rights OF Penin;ul ir
Spaniards are, In virtue Of existing con-
stitutional authority, forewith extended %
Colonial Spaniards. A scheme or aut0n-
omy has becn proclaimed by decree. ~ De-
Come effective upon ratiDtation by tie
Cortcs. 1t creates a Cuban pari'a nsnt
which, with the insular executive Can tan-
slider and vote upon all subjects affecting
local o.der and interests, possessing un
limited powers save as to matters IF state,
war and thenavy rs to which the Governor
General acts by his ewn authority as the
delegate Of the central government. ,. bis
parliament receives the oath OF She tiOy-
error General to preserve faithfully the lib
critics AMI privileges OF tie colony, and to
it the colonial secretaries are responsible.
1t has the right to propose to the central
government, through the GoyerEor-Ge ra.,
qualifications of the national Charter e;.d
to invite new projects of law or exccli i've
measures in the interest Of the colony.
Besides its local powers It Is competent,
first, to regulate electoral registration end
procedure snd prescribe the qualifications
OF electors aud the manner Of exercising
, suffrage: second, to organize courts OF jas
tice with native judges from members Of
the local bar: third, tu frame the in5I.ar
budget both az to expenditures ard rrve-
nues, without limitation of any kind. and
To ret apart the revenues TO meet The
Cuban share of the national budget, which
latter VIII be voted by the national Cortes
deputies: fourth, to initiate or take Part n
the negotiations of the national go ,:rn
inent for commercial treaties which may
arfec: Cuban interests; fifth, to accapt or
reject commercial treaties which the ra-
tional government may have concluded
without the participation of the Cuban gov
etrnicnt; sixth, to frame the colonial
tariff, acting in accord with the penl,aIIar
commerce between the mot her country and
th. colonies. Btfore introducing or v,:ing
upon bill, the Cuban government or the
chambers Will lay the project before the
certru! government and hear ITS opinion
tie. con, all the correspondence in such Ie
gard being made public. Finally. all on
fIicts of Jurisdiction arising between the
different municipal provincial ard insular
insular executive power, and which from
their nature may not be referable to the
central government for decision, shall lie
submitted tc the courts.
Spain to BE Given a Chance.
That the Government of saSasta has
entered upon course from wbiciireces ion
with iionori s impossible can lla rdiy he Iurs-
toned; that in the few weeks IL has ex
listed it has made earnest of the sincerity
of it's professions is uHdeniabie. | shall
not imruSn its sincerity, nor shou uld impa-
tie32c be suffered to enibarrass 1t in the
task it has undertaken. 1: is honestly
due to Spain and to our friendly relations
with s pain that she should be given a rea-
sonablc chance to realize her expectations
and to Prove the asserted efficacy Of the
Ht" csuti W ~ Nsiitu fIt 81 talls
irrevocatiy Committed. She has recalled
the Commander whose brutal orders IN
famed the American mind and shock Ell the
civilized world. She has modified the
horrible order Of concentration a1fts has IN
dertaken TO care for the helpless and permit
those who desire 20 resume the cult ivatiun
OF their fields tt do SO and- assures them
of the protection of the Spanish Govern
l.
Just released the Competitor" prisoners
heretofore sentenced to death ami vho
have been the subject of repeated diaID-
matte correspondence during bath ttis and
the preceding Administration.
Not single American citizen is now in
arrest UT confinement in Cuba Of ,ehom This
Government las any knowledge. Tine near
future will demonstrate whether the IN
dispensaile condition Of right oous peace,
Just alike to the Cuhans and to spa:n aswelI
as equitable to all our interests So inti-
mateiy involved in the welfare of Cuba
is liEely to he attained If not, the exi-
gency OF further and other action by the
United states will remain, 10 hc taken
When that time comes that action will be
determined in the line OF indispGtabia
right and duty. 1t will be faced, with
out ruisEiving or hesitaucy i'll the light of
the obligation this Government ewes to
itself to tire people who la :e oonfiled to
it the protection OF their interests and
honor and to humanity.
Sure CT the right, keeping from all Of
fense ourselves. actuated only by up
right and patriotic considerations. moved
neither by passion nor selfishness, the
Government will continue its watchful
care over the rights and property Of Ameri-
can citizens and will abate none of its #
forts to bring about by peaceful agencies
a peace which shall lie honorable and en-
during. If it shall hereafter appear 70 be
a duty imposed by our obligations TO uur-
selves, to civilization and humanity TO
intervene with force, il shall lie without
fault on our part, and only because the
necessity of such action will be SO r.elr
as to command he support and anprov al OF
the civilized world.
THE HAWAIIAN TREATY.
BY a special message dated tn. 18th Tia Y
OF June last, ! laid before the Senate i
treaty signed that day by the plenipo-
tentiaries of the United States and of the
Republic of Hawaii, having for its pur-
pose the incorporation of the Hawaiian
Island rs an integral part of the United
States and under its sovereignty. The
Senate having removed the Injunction OF
secresy, although the treaty is st:Il pend
ing before that body the subject MAJ be
properly referred to in this Message be-
cause the necessary action of the Congress
is required to determine by Legislation
many details Of the eventual Uni:n should
the fact of annexation be accomplished, as
believe u should be.