Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-25

VIII THERE re CHANGE or POLICY?
The new Spanish premier is reported
ms saying that he docs not apprehcnd
that anything will happen to Interfere
with the friendly relations of Spain and
the United States. This implies that
tile Spanish government does not expect
any change OF policy on the part of our
government. but that 1t will maintain
an attitude Of strict neutrality and non
Interference in respect to Cuban affairs.
On the other hand. the statement comes
from Washington, apparently with au-
thority, that the new minister to- Spain.
General WoodfOrd, who will arrive at
his post within week. has been in.
structed to talk very plainly to the Span
ish government in regard to the wishes
of this government 1t is said that he
will intimate to Spain that the United
States will intervene unless the situation
in Cuba speedily improves. President
Mckinley. ii is asserted is disposed to
adopt the course of General Grant in
rendering the good offices of the United
States to bring about n settlement of the
war.
The announcement by Premier Azcar-
raga that the Spanish government is sat
iSiiCd with the conduct of General Wcy-
Ter and that he will continue IN com
mnnd in Cuba Is not reassuring. Wcy
lers brutal and barbarous policy. to
which he rigidly adherCs. has had very
much to do with intensifying American
u,rnipyt S,oip. ,riyit,n
to the demand for some decisive action
by this government The advocates of
an aggressive policy on the part of the
United States have found in the course
nf Wcyler their most potent appeal to
popular feeling here. No one can read
of the cruelties perpetrated by his au-
thUrity. of which women and children
as we'll rs men are the victims. without
keen sense of resentment. The time
is most opportune for Withdrawing Wey-
Ter and such action by the Spanish gov
ernment would have a quieting effect
upon public feeling here. The approval
of his policy by that government and its
decision to continue him in command in
Cuba may be expected to give renewed
vitality to the demand for some sort Of
Intervention by the United States. Re
cent happenings in Cuba have been of
IL nature to greatly strengthen sympathy
with the Cuban cause.
1t is not improbable that the reports,
regarding the Instructions received by
Minister Woodford are well-founded. 1t
would be no surprise to find the admin
iStration rendering the good offices OF
tile government to bring about settle
| ment Of the Cuban conflict. But in the
highly probable event of such tender
being declined by the Spanish govern
ment, what then? Undoubtedly there
| would be very great pressure Oh Presi-
| dent Mckinley to exercise his authority
| to accord belligerent rights and even to
recognize Cuban independence. This
pressure would be both political and
| commercial and that from the latter
source would very likely have much the
greater weight with the president But
we do not apprehend that there is any
danger of Mr.. Mckinley taking any step
| in this matter that would lead to n rup-
| ture of friendly rela lions between Spain
and the United States. His first and
| greatest desire is for the restoration Of
prosperity and there will be nothing
| done, it is safe to say, that might inter
rupt or interfere with this. Heartily as
| the president may sympathize with the
| Cuban cause the prosperity Of the Amer
lean people is his first consideration
| Therefore we do not believe that any
| radical change of policy in regard to
| Cuba is now contemplated.