The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-20

wise than gzatIfied BY the attitude OF the
administration upon foreign affairs II IL
aEgGfa4d and conservative. but firm The
Instructions given TO Gen. Woo6ford. the
r.ew minister 20 Spain. could not be tsttsr.
The three points presented clearly and DIS
tfnefiy declare the true condition Of affairs
as between the United States and Spain.
We are not actuate6 by any unsrienaly
feeling towards that country, nor does this
country desire TO take advantage OF
SPANS trouble with her colony 10 bring
about the annexation OF Cuba; bur unless
Spain Will herself make a move toward
meeting the inevitable and giving Cuba
freedom, the United States will be COM
PEELED TO interfere. and tn case Of inter-
ventioa annexation might naturally fol-
low Here Is i policy OF which Spain can
not complain That country's experience
with hc- South American possessions must
have prepared her for the possible loss OF
Cuba through the same causes. We need
have no more hesitation about deriving
Spain Of the possession Of what is practic-
ally part of this continent than we had
OF Gepriving England OF ore Of her most
important colonial dependencies. and one
with which the ties were much closer than
those between Cuba and Spain.
President Mckinley has never taken
particularly partisan view OF Cuban at
fairs, and Is free from any prejudices, SO
that Spain Will not be irritated by the
expectation Of a policy as to which his
mind Is already made up. The instruc-
tons given TO the ambassador leave IL
open 10 Spain 10 bring about result
which she Is seeking no less than Cuba
II win be rather singular. however. If Sec
rotary Sherman should and himself com
PEELED 10 carry out the presidents nstruc-
tons and draft treaty of annexation.
He has expressed himself as very 6ec!d-
eddy opposed 10 annexation. He would
limit our relations TO a reciprocity with
Spain as TO Cuba. so that We might send
our goods there instead OF forcing the
Cubans TO buy OF England. France and
Germany. He paid a visit to Cuba a few
years ago. and formed an opinion that
this country could do the island much
more good by trading With 1t on an equal
basis than We ever could by annexing it.
In the book he published recently he
deals at some length with the impressions
he formed Of the island. that is as far as
be could judge by seeing Havana. and he
did not hesitate 10 say that the island
was In deplorable condition. Even then.
nearly ten years ago he judged from what
10 heard from, hoth Cnhau yrsricars
Spaniards that 1t was in condition of ILL.,
suppressed revolt. One observation he
made Is of particular interest to Us just
now. that the natives nearly TO man We're
in favor OF annexation 10 us. They had
given over the idea OF independence and
had begun TO recognize that they were in
capable OF self government.
The newspaper accounts from Cuba now
ara naturally biased; but there was no
call for partisan view taken by writers
on Cuba at that time. and one of them,
who was especially Well qualified TO write
on the subject, said that Havana was
city when New York was stili a village,
but is 100 years behind any American town
OF it's size. The condition OF the natives
was pitiahle and no serfs in Russia were
ever greater slaves than the Cubans were
to Spain Even then the Cuban dollar
was worth only abcut forty American
cents and the Cuban scrip was being
ground out as fast as the presses could
print IT, Even the gold was below par
about six per cent below the American
greenback and most OF ii and the silver in
use. had been punched or Clipped to make
money OF the pieces thus cut out. The
country was deeply Ia debt and the
wretched citizens groaned under the heavy
taxation.
Nearly thirty years have passed since
the first important insurrection against
Spanish rule. and the island is no nearer
prosperity and peace than II was In 1865
The offers Of Spain to introduce reforms
made under the stress of war have not
been carried out In spirit after the surren-
der of the people. The whole OF the East
crn province held out against the Spanish
army during the period Of the revolution
OF 1S,ss. which lasted for ten years. and IL
is manifes,inS rs ability to maintain its
+ practical indeps- ience n spite Of the
vest army sent ont hy Spain agans. t.
There Is no dependence 70 be placed upon
the promises Of the Spanish government.
and the Cubans know Il to their cost; II
is not - be wondered at that they regard
offers Of reform only vsiJh suspicion In
/ TIE beginning e 1895. as a concession to the
sutonomlsts' demand for universal sag.
rrara tha Spanish government carried a