Evening journal., 1897-12-07

The enforcement Of the enlarged and
onerous code Of neutrality would only
be influential within our own jurisdic-
tion by land and sea and applicable by
our own nstrumentalites. 1t could inn
part to the United States no jurisdic-
ton between Spain and the insurgents.
II would give the United States no right
of Intervention TO enforce the conduct
OF the strife within the paramount au-
thority Of Spain according to the inter-
national code Of war.
For these reasons regard the recog-
milton of the belligerency of the Cuban
insurgents as now unwise and there
fore inadmissible. Should that step
hereafter be deemed wise as a measure
OF right and duty the executive will
take IL.
Intervention upon humanitarian
grounds has been frequently suggested
and has not failed to receive my most
anxious and earnest consideration, but
should such a step be now taken when
IL is apparent that a hopeful change
has supervened in the policy Of Spain
toward Cuba? A new government has
taken Office in the mother country.
The first acts of the new government
lie in the honorable paths. The policy
of cruel rapine and determination that
so long shocked the universal sentiment
of humanity has been reversed. Under
the new military commander a broader
clemency is proffered. Measures have
already been set on foot TO relieve the
horrors of starvation. The power of
the Spanish armies, It is asserted, is to
be used not to spread ruin and desola-
tion, but to protect the resumption of
peaceful agricultural pursuits and pro-
ductive industries. That past methods
are futile to force a peace by sub1u-
cation is freely admitted and that ruin
without Cancellation must inevitably
fail to win for Spain the fidelity of
contented tendency
DEGREES in application of the fore
shadowed reforms have already been
promulgated. .
That the government of Sagasta has
entered upon a course from which re-
cesslon with honor is impossible can
hardly be questioned; that in the few
3 weeks it has existed it has made ear
nest of the sincerity of its professions
is undeniable.
THE GOVERNMENTS SINCERITY.
, I shall not impugn its sincerity, mol
should impatience be suffered to embar-
, rass # in the task IL has undertaken. IT
is honestly due to Spain and to our
! friendly relations with Spain that she
/ should be given a reasonable chance to
. realize her expectations and to prove
/, the asserted efficacy of the new order OF
: things to which she stands irrevocably
committed. She has recalled the COM
mander whose brutal orders inflamed
the American mind and shocked the
civilized world. She has modified the
e horrible order of concentration and has
e ! undertaken to care for the helpless and
e. permit those who desire to resume the
i cultivation of their fields to do so.
{ Not a single American citizen is now
T in arrest or confinement in Cuba OF
s whom this government has any knowl-
e edge. The near future will demon
e. strate whether the Indispensable condi
. tion of q righteous peace just alike tC
o the Cubans and TO Spain as we'll a.
o equitable to all our interests so init
I mately involved in the welfare of Cubi
d is likely to be attained. If not. the ext
r. gency of further and other action by tn,
e United States win remain to be taken
IS When that time comes, that action vii
It be determined in the line of indisputabl
D. right and duty, and it will be face,
If without misgiving or hesitancy.
y If IL shall hereafter appear to be
Il duty imposed by our obligations to our
y selves to civilization and humanity L
II intervene with force, it shall be withou
d fault on our part and only because tn
lie necessity for such action will be 81
, clear as to command the support ant
/ approval of the civilized world.
g THE ANNEXATION PROBLEM.
:, BY special message, dated the let
70 day Of June last, / laid before the sen
a ate treaty signed that day by tn
, Observation-Disclosures of the United State
a. and of the republic of Hawaii, havin
!, for its purpose the Incorporation of tn
a. Hawaiian Island as an integral part @
r. the United States and under its sover
= eighty. The senate having removed tn
~ Injunction of secrecy - although tn
treaty is still pending before that bod
~ the subject may be properly referre
- TO in this message because the neces
1n sary action Of the congress is require
ed to determine by legislation many dc
~ tails of the eventual union should I'll
ns fact Of annexation be accomplished, a
rs I believe it should be.
is If the treaty is confirmed. as ever
OF consideration Of dignity and honor rt
rs quires. the wisdom of congress will sc
10 TO it that, avoiding abrupt assimilatio
IL of elements perhaps hardly yet fitted
H. share in the highest franchises of cit
OF zenship and having due regard to Il
ne geographical conditions, the most ju,
provisions for self rule in local mattel
- with the largest political liberties as a
De integral part of our nation will be az
II corded to the Hawaiians. No less
due a people which after nearly fly
years of demonstrated capacity to fu
~ fill the obligations of self governir
on statehood come Of their free viii
gu merge destinies in our body polite.
~ ' The questions which have arisen b
tween Japan and Hawaii by reason
- the treatment of Japanese labore'
ne emigrating to the islands under II
II Hawaiian-Japanese convention Of 1SS
iu are in a satisfactory stage of settl
De ment by negotiation. 80"
es THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
it A subject Of large Importance to ol
us country and increasing appreciation {
mt the part of the people is the complete
It's of the great highway of trade betwes
n the Atlantic and Pacific, known as Il
se Nicaragua canal. It's utility and vail
tv to American commerce are universal
gh admitted. The commission appoint,
he under date of July "A last ito cOntinI