New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-13
THE SPANISH REPLY.

A semiofficial forecast is made this morning
of the reply of the Spanish Government 10 the
representations recently made by the United
States Government through its Minister at Ma
drid. The reply apparently will be temporz-
ing and indefinite one. declining TO fix date for
the restoration Of peace, but expressing III gen
fral terms IN expectation that II will soon be ac-
complished That is exactly the sort Of reply
that was to be expected 1t Is the natural II not
the only possible one. The suppression of rebel
lion is not like the building Of house or the run
ming of n railroad train. You cannot tell, even
spproximately, when II will be done. date
may bc set when renforcements of the army will
no landed but you cannot guarantee that they
will win the victory A date may be set when
offers of compromise and autonomy VIII be
made but YOU hav. no assurance that they will
he accepted No one, unless gifted with super
human prophecy. ca i say that on such or such
a date war will be ended
The grounds of the Governments eXpecta
tion of peace are however, to be considered
.The situation Of the rebels is critical" We
have heard that hundred times In the last
two years. and there is no apparent reason for
believing It now any more than on former occa-
sions when Il was certainly not true. The
Madrid Government doubtless believes II. but
its chief source of information is General Wcy
Ter who has over and over again demonstrated
his utter untrustworthness as a reporter. I'M
Partial observers neither Spanish nor Cuban
nor vet American, declare the instruction
is no nearer being crushed now than ii was
year or more ago. THE Spanish troops are
sure of success" Why? They are over two
hundred thousand strong and have for many
months been unable to make Roadway against
the rebels Are they 10 be reinforced: Or Is
their efficiency to be in some miraculous man.
ner increased? If they nave rot been able In
wear 10 thrash one-ffth their number, what
assurance Is there that they will ever 90 so?
Concession OF autonomy, administrative and
economic before January Is mentioned. 1t is
confidently believed that such concession will
be offered That 1t will be accepted is doubt
full in the extreme. The Cuban leaders declare
they win not accept It Nor. indeed, does 1t
seem possible to put 1t IN form which will
prove acceptable. Certainly II will not be ac-
ceptable If it saddles some $40 100000 Of Span
ish indebtedness upon Cuba, nor yet II it keeps
a Madrid-made Governor General supreme over
local legislation and administration. Yet there
Is no hint Of any offer of autonomy free from
those conditions.
The complaint that the instruction has been
largely maintained by the "succor of flibus
tertrs under the American flag Is not TO he
well taken. There has been little. very little
filihustering not tenth part as much as might
lie supposed from the accounts given I'm the
sensational press II Is pot bellevablc that
there has been enough % 1t to have any ma
terial effect upon the progress of the war, or to
have delayed by n single day the restoration
Of peace There has. no doubt, been a consid-
cradle sale and shipment Of arms and ammu-