The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1897-01-02

NO other great tower. 1t may safely re
said. under circumstances Of Similear PER-
neXity would have manifested the same re-
strain; and the same patient endurance.
1t may also be said that this persistent
attitude of the United States towards
Spain In connection with Cuba nnuueStion-
ably evinces no slight respect and regard
for Spain on the part Of the American peo-
pie. They, in truth. do not forget her
connection with the discovery of the West
ern hemisphere. nor do 1n.y undcr csti-
mate the great qualities of the Spanish peo-
pie. nor fail to fully recognize their splendid
patriotism and their chivalrOus devotion
to the national honor
They view with wonder and admiration
the cheerful resolution with which vast
bodies Of men are sent across thousands OF
miles of ocean and enormous debt accum-
ulatcd that the costly possessions Of the
gem of the Atilles may still hold its place
In the Spanish crown. And If neither the
government nor the people of the United
States have shut their eyes to the course
OF events in Cuba or have failed to real
iZe the existence of conceded grievances
which have led to the present revolt from
the authority of Span-grievances recog-
niZed by ,nc queen regent and by the cor
ties. voiced by the most patriotic and en-
lightened of Spanish statesmen. without re-
gard to party and demonstrated by reforms
proposed by the executive and approved
y! tHe iesisiatNe uFaHcn VI Tue SpuHisu
government. 1t is In the assured temper
and disposition Of the Spanish government
to remedy these grievances. fortified by
indications Of influential public opinion in
Spain, that this government has hoped
TO discover the most promising and effective
means OF composing the present strife, with
honor and advantage to Spain, and with
the achievement of all the reasonable OBJ
iects Of the insurrecton.
1t would seem that If Spain should offer
to Cuba genuine autOnomy-a measure CT
home rule, which, while preserving the SOW
ereignity of Spain, would satisfy all ra-
tional requirements of her Spanish sub
jects-there should be no just reason why
the pacitcation of the island might not be
effected on that basis. Such a result
would appear to be in the true interest Of
all concerned. 1t would ut once stop the
conflict which is now consuming the re-
sources of the island and making it worth
less for whichever party may ultimately
prevail. 1t would keep intact the possess
siOns of Spain without touching her honor,
WHICH will be consulted rather than i'm
pugned by the adequate redress Of ad-
United grievances. 1t would put the pros
pe"ity of the island and the fortunes of its
inhabitants within their own control, with
out Severing the natural and ancient ties
which bind them to the mother country,
and would yet enable them to test their
favorable conditions.
Offers of Intervention Ignored.
1t has been objected on the one side
that Spain should not promise autonomy un-
Ill her insursent subjects lay down their
arms; on the other side, that promised
autonomy, however liberal and insufficient.
because without assurance of the promise
being fulfilled, but the reasonableness of Il
requirement by Spain of unconditional
surrender on the part of the insurgent Gu
bans before their autonomy is conceded, is
not altogether apparent. 1t ignores i'm
portant features of the situation-the stabi!-
ity two years duration has given to the in
surrection; the feasibility Of its indefinite
prolongatiOn in the nature of things, and
as shown by past experience; the utter and
imminent ruin of the island, unless the pres
ent strife is speedily composed; above all,
the rank abuses which all parties in Spain,
all branches Of her governments and all her
leading publ. lien concede to exist and pro-
fess a desire to remove.
Facing such circumstances, to withhold
the pr"fe" of needed reforms until the part
les demanding them put themselves at
mercy by throwing down their arms, has the
appearance Of neglecting the gravest perils
and Involving suspicion as to the sincerity
Of any professed willingness to grant re-
forms. The objection on behalf Of the in
surgents-that promised reforms cannot be
relied upOn-must be, of course, considered,
though VIC have no right to assume and no
reason for assuming that anything Spain I'M
dertakcs TO do for the relief Of Cuba will
not be done according to both the spirit and
the letter of the undertaking.
Nevertheless, realizing that suspicious and
precautions on the part Of the weaker of
two combatants are always natural, and not
always notwithstanding sincerely desir-
Gus in the interest of both as we'll as on its
own account that the Cuban problem should
be solved with the least possible delay-jt
was iptimated by this government to the
government of Spain some months ago thar,
If satisfactory measure Of home rule We're
rendered the Cuban insurgents, and would
be accepted by them upon guaranty Of its
execution, the United States would endeavor
10 find way not Objectionable to SPAN OF
furnishing such guaranty.
While no definite response to this intima-
tion has yet been received from the Span
ish government. it is believed to he not
unwelcome, while, as already
suggested, no reason is perceived why it
should not be approved by the insurgents.
Neither party can fail to see the Importance
of early action and both must realize that
to prolong the present state of things for
even short period will add enormously to
the time and labor and expenditure ncces-
sary to bring about the industrial recupera.
ton Of the island 1t Is therefore earnestly
hoped on all grounds that earnest efforts
for healing the breach between Spain and
the insurgent Cubans upon the lines above
indicated may be at once inaugurated and
pushed to an immediate and successful is-
sue. The friendly offices of the United
States, either in the manner above outlined
or In any other way consistent with our
and laws, will always be at
the disposal of either party.
Whatever circumstances may arise our
policy and our interests would construin
us to object to the acquisition of the island
or any interference with it's control by any
other power. 1t should be added that it
cannot be reasonably assumed that the
hitherto eXpectant attitude of the United
States will be indefinitely maintained.
While we ale anxious to accord all due re-
spect to the sovereignty of Spain, we can
not view the pending conflict in all its
features. and properly apprehend our in
evitably close relations to it and its possible
results. without considering that by the
course of events we may be dra wn into
such an unusual and unprecedented con-
dition as will fix limit to our patient
waiting for Spain to end the contest. either
alone and in her own way, or with our
friendly cooperation. When the inability
Of Spain to deal successfully with the in
surrection has become manifest, and it is
that her sovereignty is ex-
tnct III Cuba for all purposes Of its right
full existence. and when hopeless struggle
for It's establishment has degenerated
into strife which means nothing more
than tie useless sacrifice of human life and