Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-07

effective upon ratification by the cortes. 1t
creates 4 Cuban parliament which, with the
insGlar executive. can consider and vote
upon all subjects affecting local order ana
interests. possessing unlimited powers save
as to matters of state. war and the navy,
as to which the governor general acts by
his own authority the delegate of the
central government
This parliament receives the oath of the
governor general to preserve faithfully the
liberties and privileges of the colony. and
to it the colonial secretaries are respon-
sibie. 1t has the right to propose to the
central government, through the governor
general, notifications of the national char
ter and to invite new projects of law or
executive measures in the interests of the
colony.
Further Powers of Parliament.
Besides its local powers. 1t is competent.
first. to regulate electoral registration and
procedure and prescribe the qualifications
of electors and the manner of exercising
suffrage: second. to organize courts of JUS
tice with native judges from members OF
the local bar; third. TO frame the insular
budget both as to expenditures and reve-
EueS to meet the Cuban share Of the na
| tional budget. which latter will be voted
by the national cortes. with the assistance
of Cuban senator's and deputies; fourth. TO
initiate or take part in the negotiations of
the national government for commercial
treaties which may affect Cuban interests;
fifth. to accept or reject commercial treat
les which the national government may
have concluded without the participation OF
the Cuban government; sixth. to frame the
colonial tariff, acting in accord with the
peninsular government in scheduling arti-
cies of mutual commerce between the moth
er country and the colonies. Before intro
ducing or voting upon Il bill, the Cuban
government or the chambers. will lay the
project before the central government and
hear its opinion therein. all the correspond
ence in such regard being made public. FL
nally. all conflicts of jurisdiction arising be-
| tween the different municipal. provincial
| ter and the insular executive power. and
which from their nature may not be re-
| fcrable to the central government for de-
| cision. shall be submitted to the courts.
Spain Entitled to Time.
That the government of Sagasta has en-
| tered upon a course from which recession
| with honor is impossible, can hardly be
| questioned: that in the few weeks it has ex-
: listed it has made earnest of the sincerity
| of its professions is undeniable. l shall not
| impugn its sincerity. nor should impatience
| he suffered to emharrass it in the task IT
| has undertaken. 1t is honestly due TO SPAN
| and to our friendly relations with SPAN
| that she should be given reasonable
| chance to realize her expectations and to
| prove the asserted efficacy of the new order
| of things to which she stands irrevocabiy
| 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 10
care for the helpless and permit those who
| desire to resume the cultivation OF their
| fields to do so. and assures them or the
| protection of the Spanish government IN
| their lawful occupations. She has just re-
| leased the Competitor prisoners. heretofore
| sentenced to DEATH and who nave Deen the
subject of repeated diplomatic correspond
| ence during both this and the preceding al
| ministration.
Not a single American citizen IS now un,
der arrest or in confinement in Cupa, o'
| whom this government has any knowledge
As to Our Future Policy.
The near future will demonstrate whether
the indispensable condition of righteous
peace just alike to the Cubans ana u
Spain. as we'll as equitable to all our In
terests so intimately involved in the welfare
of Cuba, is likely to be attained. II not
the exigency of further and other actor
by the United States will remain to bt
taken. When that time comes that actor
will be determined in the line OF the indis'
putable right and duty. 1t will be faced
without misgiving or hesitancy. In the ligh'
of the obligation this government owes tc
itself, to the people who have confided to /,
the protection of their interests and honor
and to humanity.
Sure of the right. keeping free from al
offense ourselves actuated only by upright
and patriotic considerations. moved neither
by passion nor selfshness. the government,
will continue its watchful care over the
rights and property of American citizens
and will abate none of its efforts to bring
about BY peaceful agencies peace which
shall be honorable and enduring. If it shall
hereafter be Il duty imposed by our obliga'
tions to ourselves. to civilization and hu
manity, to intervene with force. it shall be
without fault on our part. and only because
the necessity for such action will be sc
clear as to command the support and ap'
i, proval of the civilized world.
ANNEXATION NJ HAWAII