The times., 1897-12-07

the message says, to represent to the Span
ish government that the conn1erGtH aud
other interests Of the United states we're
being seri, usIy aft ected by the prolonged
struggle and to Intimate that the time
was about rIEe for the motlier country
to do Something towardthe speedyternlina-
ton OF the war something beside the con-
tinuation OF operations in the field. These
representations and recommendations, 'he
President declares, were met II a frien lly
spirit, the hand Of an assassin having in
the meantime struck down the man who
nodded Spain's policy a mere liberal rim
istry succeeding.
Prime Minister Sagasta's repls was re
ceived October 23. 1t was friendly iii
tone and OF a promissory character. The
military operations will continue, but at
the same time civil reforms will be in
troduced. Autonomy is guaranteed and
provision made for local self government.
The island is to have ali executive and
legislature OF some sort, only the army
and navy and the judiciary receiving full
authority from the crown and acting with
out responsibility to the people.
In view OF these promises, some of which
have already been nominally fulfilled,
the President recommends that the mother
country be left free TO continue military
operations while perfect ing measures for
home rule.
The Madrid governments charge that his
country has not been sufficiently active
in preventing fiibustering expeditions has
no basis, and incidentally the President
mentions the fact that Spain has been SO
notified.
But" says the President, Throughout
all these horrors and dangers to our own
peace this Government has never in any
way abIogated it's sovereign prerogative
OF reserying to itself the determine tion &c its
policy and course according to its own high
sense OF right and in consOnance with the
dearest interests and convictions of our
own people should the prolongation Of he
strife 50 demand ="
Belhgerency Would Be n Burden.
The President thinks that the recognition
OF the insurgents as belligerents woald
greatly cripple the commerce Of the United
States withoutin any wa yaiding the Cuban
cause. He is not, he says, unmlndRal of
the fact that Congress has unaffected dis
position by resolution TO assume this bur
den, but he is constrained by the conditions
to take an opposite view. He does not he
lieve that the rebels possess beyond doubt
the Attitudes Of statehood and to prove
1t he quotes Gen q rant tlength on the con
ditions existing twenty-two years ago.
He concludes with Grant thata mere :nsur-
rectiOn Which controls no seaport towns
does not rise to the terrible dignity or
war. Belligerency wouldgive Spaniardsthe
right OF search, and no doubt cause vessels
of Spain to hover near our coast line.
Belligerency, ths President concludes,
is, after all, only solemn pToclama ton
OF neutrality and would not in any wise
affect the status of contending armies
toward eacn other.
For these reasons he SAYS, II regard
the recognition Of the belligerenoy of the
Cuban insIiEe as now uHwiSe and thA-e-
fore iEadmlssiblc. Should that step here
after be deemed wise as measure of right
and duty the Executive viii take it,
Referring To Sagasta's policy, the mes
sage continues The poll cy OF cruel
rapine and eXtermlB alton that 10
long shocked the unii ersal sentiment of
humanity has been reversed. Under tie
Eew military commander n broad cleIn
cncy is proffered Measures have already
been set on foot TO relieve tire horrors OF
starvation. The power 0f the Spanish ,'r
mics il is asSerte is 10 he med not to
spread rum aud deSoIation but to Irutect
the resumption of peaceful agricultural pnr-
suits an'i productive industries. That past
methods are futile to force peace by sub.
lugation is freely admitted, and that ruin
without conciliation must iney itably fail
10 win for Spain the fideity OF a oonteatcd
dependency
The scheme. of autouoTlfv n lraa,i = IN militia
TO newspaper readers in this country is re
viewed without criticism, attenti IN is
called 10 the fact that no Americans Ifu-
guish In Cuban prisons Iad then the sub-
ject is dismissed as follows: Sure
OF the rl"f.t. keeping from all Of
Tense ourselves, actuated only by up
right and patriotic eOnsidera tions, moved
neither by passion nor selfishness. the
Government will continue its aatchful
care oveI tho rights and property OF Ameri-
can citizens and VIII abate none Of its #
forts to bring about by peaceful agencies
a peace which shall Ie honorable and en-
during. IF it shall hereafter apr ear 10 be
duty imp posed by our obligations TO our
selves t. civilization and hun anity to
intervene with force, it shah ie without
fault on our part, and only because the
necessity of such action VIII De so cielr
as to command he support and aupro, al OF
the civilized world.