The silver lance., 1897-12-10

Constitutional authority. forthwith ex-
tended to colonial spaniardn- A scheme |
Of autonomy has been proclaimed by |
decree to be effective upon ratification l
by the cortes. 1t creates Cuban par
lament, which. with the insular execu-
tive, cnn consider and vote upon all /
subjects affecting local order and In |
terests, possessing unlimited powers |
save as to matters OF state, war and |
the navy, as to which the governor gen.
erals acts by his own authority after |
the delegate Of the central government. |
1t has the right to propose to the central
government. through the governor gen
eral, modification Of the national char.
ter and to initiate new projects OF
law or executive measures In the inter
est Of the colony.
That the government Of sagasta has
entered upon course by which q re-
cession with honor is impossible can
hardly be questioned. and that In the
few weeks 1t has existed 1t has made
earnest of the sincerity Of Its profess
sions Is undeniable. shall not impugn
its sincerity. and impatience should be
suffered rather than to embarrass 1t In
the task 1t has undertaken.
VIII Give spain Chance.
1t is honestly due to Spain that she
realize her expectations and 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 infiamed
the American mind and shocked the
civilized world. She has modified the
horrible order OF concentration and has
undertaken to care for the helpless and
permit those who desire TO resume the
cultivation of their farms to do SO and
assures them of the protection of the
Spanish government in their lawful
pursuits against outrages. She has re-
leased the Competitor prisoners here
tofore sentenced to death and who
have been the subject of repeated diplo-
matte correspondence during both this
and the preceding administration. Not
a single citizen Is now under arrest or
In confinement In Cuba Of whom this
government has any knowledge The
near future will demonstrate whether
the Indispensable conditions OF
righteous peace-just alike to the Gu
bans and to Spain as well, equitable
to all our interests so intimately In
volved in the welfare Of Cuba-is likely
to be attained. II not the exigencies OF
further and other action by the United
States will remain to be taken.
When the time comes that action will
be determined In the line of indisput-
able right and duty. 1t will be faced
without misgiving or hesitancy in the
light OF the obligation this government
owes to itself, to the people who have
coniided to 1t the protection of their In
terests and honor, and to humanity.
Sure of the right. keeping free from
all offenses ourselves. nctuated only by
upright and patriotic considerations,
moved neither by passion nor selfish
ness, the government Will continue IT'S
watchful care over the rights and prop
erty of American citizens and VIII
abate none OF It's efforts to bring about
by peaceful agencies a peace which
shall be honorable and enduring. II It
shall hereafter appear to be duty I'M
posed by our obligations to ourselves,
to civilization and humanity to inter-
yene with force, 1t shall be done with
out fault on our part and only because
the necessity OF such action will be 30
clear as to command the support and
approval Of the civilized world.
. Tho woIcott Mission.
Under the provisions Of the act OF
, , Congress. approved March 3. 1907, for
the promotion OF an international
. agreement respecting blmetallism,
aupointed Hon. Edward o. Wolcott OF
Colorado, Hon. Adlai II. Stevenson OF
Illinois and Hon. Charles j. Paine OF
Massachusetts as special ENJOYS to
: represent the United States. They
have been dilIgent In their efforts to
secure the cooperation Of European
countries In an international settle
ment OF the question, but up to this
time have not been able to secure an
agreement. They have not made their
| fs.4 Iona n 1~l
pending and In contemplation. 1t is
10 be earnestly hoped that their labor
may result in an international agree
ment which will bring about recogni-
ton Of both gold and silver as money
upou such terms and with such safe
guards as will secure the use of both
metals upon basis which shall work
no injustice to any class of our citi-
zens.
Hawaiian Islands Should BE Annexed.
BY special message dated the 10th
day of June last laid before the Sen
ate treaty having for Its purpose the
incorporation Of the Hawaiian islands
as an integral part Of the United
States and its sovereignty. While
consistently dlsavowing from very
early period an aggressive policy OF
absorption in regard to the Hawaiian
islands. a long series Of declarations
through three-quarters of n century
have proclaimed the vital interests Of
! the United States In the independent
life Of the islands and their intimate
commercial dependence upon this
country. At the same time it has re-
. peatedly asserted that In no event
could the entity Of Hawaiian state
| hood cease by the passage Of the
, Islands under the domination or under
any power other than the United
states, as natural strength binds the
islands and is realized by the free will
of the Hawaiian state If the treaty