Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-12-09

behalf OF Spain herself Possessing a
navy and controlling tho ports Of cuba,
her maritime rights could be asserted not
only for the military Investment Of the
island. hut up to the margin of our own
territorial waters, and condition Of
things would exist for which. the Cubans
within their own sdomain could not hope
to create parallel; while It's creation
through aid or sympathy from within our
domain would be even more impossible
than now. with the additional obligations
of international neutrality We would per-
force assume.
Tho enforcement of this enlarged and
onerous code Of neutrality Would only be
influential within our own jurisdiction by
land and sea and applicable by our own
fundamentally, II could impart to the
United States no jurisdiction between
Spain and tho insurgents. II would give
the United States no right of Intervention
to enforce the conduct Of the strife within
the paramount authority of Spain accord
ing to the International code Of war.
FOR these reasons regard the rcCogni-
ton of the bellgerency Of the Cuban in
surgcnls as now unwlse and therefore in
admissible. Should that step hereafter be
deemed wise as a measure OF right and
duty the executive will take II.
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 nov taken when Il is apparrnt
that hopeful change has stipervened in
the policy of Spain toward Cuba? a new
government has taken office In the mother
country. 1t is pledged in advance to the
declaration that all the effort In the world
cannot suffice to maintain peace In Cuba
by the bayOnet; that vague promises Of
reform after subjugation affected no solu-
tlon OF ins,llar problem; that with a sub
| stitutton of commanders must come a
change OF the past system Of warfare for
one in harmony with a new policy which
shall no longer aim TO drive the Cubans to
the horrible alternative of taking to the
| thtcket or suCcumbing In misery: that
reforms must he instituted in accordance
with the needs and circumstances Of the
time, and that these reforms,
ma llnJ 9AlS ol pouSls5p euuM
reforms, while designed to give fun au-
tonomy to the colony and TO create n yir
tual entity and sclf-controlled admins.
'ration, shall yet conserve and affirm the
sovereignty of Spain by a Just distribution
OF powers and burdens upon basis of
mutual interest untainted by methods of
selfish expediency.
Inc iirst acts of the new government lie
III these honorable paths The policy Of
cruel raplne and slaughter that SO long
shocked the universal sentiment of hui
mainly has been reversed, Under the new
military commander broad clemency is
proltered Measures have already been
set on foot TO relieve the horrors of star
walton. The power of the Spanish armies.
1t is asserted, is to be urged not to
1 spread ruin and desolation. but to pru.
| tect the resumption of peaceful agricul-
tural pursuits and productive Industries
Fhat past methods are futile to force a
peace by subIugaton is freely admitted
and that ruin without cancellation must
Inevitably fail to win for Spain the fidel.
ity of contcnted dependency,
DEGREES in application OF the foreshad.
owed reforms have already been promuI
gated. Tho full text OF these DEGREES has
not been received. but as furnished In d
telegraphic summary from our Minister
are; All civil and electoral rights of pen.
lnsular Spaniards are, in virtue of exist.
ing constitutional authority forthwith ex
tended TO colonial Spaniards. A scheme
OF autonomy has been proclaimed by de
cree, TO become effective upon ratification
by the Cortes. Il creates Cuban Parlia
ment which, with the insular executive
can consider and vote upon all subject.
Affecting local order and interests pos
sesslng unlimited powers save as to mat
tiers of state. war and the navy, as Il
which the encouragement acts by hi.
own authority as the delegate OF the cen
trail government. This Parliament re-
celves the oath of the governor general t
preserve faithfully the liberties and priv
leGcs Of the colony, and to it the colonia
secretaries are responsible. 1t has thu
right to propose to the central govern
ment, through the governor general, mod
tications Of the national charter, and Il
invite new projects Of law or executiv,
measures in the interest of the colony.
Besides its local powers It is competent
first, to regulate electoral Tegstratio!
and procedure and prescribe the qualItlca
tions Of electors and the manner of exer
cising suffrage; second to organize court
OF justice with native judges from mem
hers of the local bar; third, TO frame thu
insular budget both as to expenditure
and revenues, without limitation Of an,
kind, and to set apart the revenues Ii
meet the Cuban share OF the nationa
budget, which latter will be voted by tn
National Cortes with the assistance O
Cuban senators and deputies fourth, Il
initiate or take part In the negotiations o
the national government for commercial
treaties which may AFFECT Cuban inter
ests; fifth. to accept or reject commercial
treaties which the national government
may have concluded without the partici
patton Of the Cuban government; sixth, t
frame the colonial tariff acting in accor
with tho penlnsular government in SEIZED
ulng articles Of mutual commerce he
; tween the mother country and the colo
mics. Before introducing or voting upo
|. bill, the Cuban government or th
Chambers will lay the project before tn
central government and hear its opinio
: thereon. all tho correspondence in sue
regard being made public, Finally, a
conflicts of Jurisdiction arising betwce
the different municipal, provincial aud in
stlar assemblies, or between the latte
= ana the iusular executive power, an
! which from their nature may not be refer
, able to the central governments for de
/ cision, shall DO submitted TO the courts.
I That the government of Sagasta has er
tered upon a course from which recessio
g with honor is impossible can hardly b
: questioned. that the few weeks II has c,
' listed, II has made earnest of the since
: ity of its professions is undeniable.
shall not fmpugn Its sincerity nor Shout
, Impotence be suffered 10 emharrass it /
!, the task It has undertaken. 1t is honestl
! due to Spain and TO our friendly relation
with Spain that she should he given
n reasonable chance to realize her exec,