The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-26

The text OF SPANS reply to the United
States is yet unknown, but there seems to
be good reason for believing that the sub
stance of the reply, though couched in
moderate language. Is that Spain will
brook no interference on the part Of our
government of any character. There has
been a vague notion that q change of
ministry in Spain might be followed by
some modification Of attitude toward the
United States, that q Sagasta government
might possibly be willing to conoede
that our interest in Cuba by reason of
our nearness to it and our commercial
relations with it,gave us certain right to
inquire AS to Spain's purposes in regard
to it. There has never been,
however, any very good ground
for such idea. Spanish sgoyern-
ments, whether conservative or liberal,
have to pay close attention to the feelings
of the people, closer attention than many
sionate nature of the population. Very
likely Sagasta, left to himself. knowing,
as he must know, the danger of precipi-
tating conflict with the United States
| would concede much to avert 1t. But
Sagasta is not left to himself He is the
| representative of the Spanish people, the
great majority of whom have little
| knowledge of this country, and firmly
believe that they could whip 1t in shor.
| order. Threatened interference on our
part has therefore no terrors for them
| And while they do not fear US, they hate
| us. Hence no sense of fear copstrains them
| to keep out of trouble with us, while
their hatred impels item to refuse
to make any concessions to us whatever
This is the feeling that Sagasta has tt
face, and it isyso general and intense thai
he cannot ignore it, but must respect
and follow it if he would keep Office
Anything that looked like trucking t.
| the United States would rouse such a
STERN of opposition as would put his gov
lernment in jeopardy.
| While the temper of the Spanish people
remains as 1t is today. it is probably use
less for us to offer our good offices toward
a settlement of the Cuban affair, or t,
ask questions in regard to SPANS inten
lions in the expectation or hope of receiv
ing any answer except a diplomaticall,
worded none of your business. Whateve
we do in the Cuban matter we have got
to do without any help from Spain ant
in all probability against her vigorou us re
sistance, even to the point of going t
war with us. If we recognize Cuban bel
ligerency in the ipresent temper of tn
Spanish people, the chances are that W
shall soon find war on our hands.
we recognize their independence war ma
be regarded as inevitable The time whel
we could exercise moral influence in be
half of the Cubans without great risk o
being obliged to supplement- it with
physical influence is gone by. Perhaps
is we'll that this is the situation, for Con
gress is coon to meet, and the Cuban bus
mess will be prominent matter for con
sideration. Heretofore it has been posi-
BILE to get considerable support for resolu
tions recognizing the belligerency or in
dependence of Cuba, from congressme
who were not ready for
war with Spain, on the plea tina
such recognition did not mean wal
though there cannot be much question
but that eventually they would have LEI
to war. In other words, it has heretofor
been possible for. the jingoes to ge
the country into war when it did no
want one. This will not be possible
probably, any longer Congress
likely to understand this winter that an.
sort of interference in the Cuban matte
means war, and hence will b
disposed to treat the yariou
propositions which may be offered in be
half of Cuba with more circumspectiol
than heretofore.