Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-12-10
THE CUBAN QUESTION.
The Time Not Ripe for Intervention
ON Our Part.

THE CUBAN QUESTION.
The Time Not Ripe for Intervention
ON Our Part.
The most important problem with which
this government " now called upon to deal
pertaining to its foreign relations concerns
rection. Problems and conditions more or
have confronted this government at yari,
GUS times in the past. The story OF Cuba
srowns nss an e g
larger enjoyment Of liberty and self-con-
troll; of organized resistance to the mother
and 9 o 10
Ing period since the enfranehisement Of the
western continent has the condition of
Cuba or the policy of Spain toward Cuba
FROM 10 fns 70 @
weakness Of Spain's hold upon the island
and the political yicissitudes and embar-
lead to the transfer Of Cuba to a continen-
tai power called forth: between 1872 and
1850, various ons emphatic declarations Of the
turbance of Cuha's connection with Spain
unless in the direction Of independence or
has here be e any ebangSe Of Iris
policy since upon the part of the govern
Not Civilized warfare.
The cruel policy of concentration was
initiated February 49, 1896 The productive
districts controlled by the Spanish armies
The n ana fbs pap
rison towns. their lands laid waste and
their dwellings destroyed. This policy the
sary measure of war and as means Of cut
ting off SUPPLIES from the insurgents. It has
utterly failed as a war measure It was
h hon. ''S'''ze' warfare y was sN's'A'A
Protests Entered.
Against this abuse Of the rights Of war
| / have felt constrained on repeated occa-
test of this government. There was much
| of public condemnation of the treatment OF
Hn by ag s1a fss ra os
pending protracted judicial proceedings, l
| felt 1t my first duty to make instant de,
ep h or
| change of the Spanish cabinet In october
last % prisoners. citizens Of the Uni Ne.
the relief of our own citizens suffering be-
| cause of the conflict the aid Of congress was
SS g IN s2ss al Hpr ISL eets
Cuba. i many any Il them at their own request
| having been returned TO the Unlteo states.
The Present insuPFectton.
The present broke o1t II
4 time to to recall its remarkable increase, or
to characterize its tenacious resistance
against it th By SPAIN The TsSet and
efforts to subdue 1t carried destruction TO
guarter Of the dsSns ss
Of Spain for its suppression. Thu, civilized
code Of war has been ,disregarded, no less
# ey ex KS eondona casna but iii
this government and the American people
4 with the gravest apprehension. Iheve y
pTo aes by t IN ns ea @ 81 SPAIN
have only the desire to see the Cubans
a sa mbe noynS
sss 2 p1S b5ss
. The offer made by my predecessor ia
Of this government failed; ANY mediat iS n
answer an Sul read There IS no atfectnal way
to paelfy Cuba unless i begins with thss
a motar copntry Then n ONLY could pain
Il act in the promised direction Of her own
motion and after her own plans.
Mtnixter Woodford's INSTRUCTIONS.
i The instructions given to our new mip-
post directed d him 70 Empress upon that gov:
ernment the sincere. wish O, the United
States to lend It's aid toward TIE eaa.ng
alike et to spain and to 'n I6s Gnbah peopls
|; and duration Of the contest. the Widespread
| losses it entails the burdens and restraints
, It imposes, upon US, with constant dis
I jury resulting from an indefinite contin:
uance OF this state Of things 1t was stated
at this GuE tba
was not ripe when Spain OF her own VOL.
ton, moved by her own inter ests and every
!, to this destructive. war and make pro.
posals OF settlement honorable to hersel!
and Just to her Cuban eel9ny vas urge
terests in Cuba, we could be required. t.
j wait only a reasonable time for the mother
sore eG sha she boraers
that we could not contemplate an indef
I mite period for the accomplishment Of Till!
result
No Humiliation Suggested.
I slightest idea Of Humiliation to spai,
were withhsld t. avoid ip6a
be speedily provided and permanent peac
@ this so en snaf ne fSs
b Spanish, administration, which had decline.
the tenders Of my predecessor. and whicl
and aa a into cba il EFutiess
i fort to suppress the revolt fell to Others.
!. Spain Promises Much.
The reply IT, our note was received on tn
: 2sd day Of October, i is N the direction 9
!, friendly purposes Of this governmenf. r
! admits that our country is deeply affecte
d by the war In Cuba. and that Its desire
!. present Spanish government Is bound b
i. every consideration to a change OF polio
that should satisfy the United States an
II pacify Cuba within reasonable time.
20 To this end Spain has decided TO put int
I effect the political reforms heretofore ad
Il yocated by the present premier withou
~ hating for any consideration in the pat
"a when n lts Jnagment leads to peace. Th
!. but viii be humane and conducted With a
y regard for private rights. being accom-
y autonomy of Cuba while guarding Spanis
Is sovereignty. This. it is claimed, Win res u
T. T. in investing Cuba with a distinct person
% ality; the island ar to be governed by an e,
,s reserving to Spain the control of the fo
1e eign relations, the army and navy and ii
,,e judicial administration. 10 accomplis
IS this the present government proposes
a modify existing legis.ation by decree, lea,
n Ing the Spanish cortes. With the aid I
Cuban senators and deputies. 70 solve ii
IS economic problem ana properly disiTjbul
s. the. existing debt. In the absence OF
We declaration of the measure that this 20,
e. eminent proposes to take in carrying OF
eF Spain be left free to conduct militaf
s: oberations and grant political reform
q While the United States. for its part, sha
sur surgents receive ts eenneqy the
Mt superstition OF an indefinite pfofonga ton
e. the war is denied. It is asserted tiiaff Il
i'd western provinces are already WELL nigh Il
n claimed; that the planting Of cane n nd 4
e. pacco therein has been resumed, and tn
!: liver ills