The times., 1897-12-11


FraREnesS ana truth in a Spanish states
man are not qualities TO be soagbt, as
rule, with any prospect Of finding them.
D It tie latest declaration of Senpr ia
gaSta il the Cortes seems, on its face, to
form Al exception to the ruie senor
Ssgastl confessed that the decree for
Cutah aUtG0my was ISSUED in practical
defiance Of national sentiment, and. N SO
saving. lie also admitted that 1t .loes rot
stand tie least chance of heing enacted
into law by the Cortes u be elected next
March, witheut the ratification of which it
is so muci waste paper
Two Things stand ont very prom.n .ntly
in thisconnection. ThefirSt is the hypocrisy
and ticachery OF a scheme which sagasta
Comedies to have been exploited merely
TO Yankee delusion and palliation; and
the second is that the declaration displays
fupEtful duplbiiy ii the dealings which
the cabinet OF Madrid has had with that
OF Washington.
ABOVE all, in his sudden change OF front,
seBor : a@asta eyinees an amount ofingrat-
itude 10 his best friend, and tie most
devoted ally Of his country. Mt. MeKn-
ley, that, in point Of turmtude, almost is
iucouceivable
or course, it barelyis possible that sa-
GGsra cid not intend 10 effect this ainaz-
Ing change of base at So early date,
but there is too much reason for be
lieving that he old, n that he onl "a .ait-
ed publication Of the American Presid .nt's
mes age to put the latter in n predica-
ment. That he la 5 done SO. whether with
malicious Premeditation or not, nobody
can deny. Before the ink S dry on SIR.
McKinley's labored essay IA support Of
autonomy his Spanish colleague comes out
and commits himself To the statement
that ii is a fraud.
But sagasta has done & good thing in
clearing the horizon Of the American
Spanish situation, and IN giving final
and conclusive proof tnat good faith and
the truth are impossible TO Spain. IN
SO doing he makes it easier for rs TO
revert TO first principles and TO reach the
decision that the time his come TO drive
this diabolica prosecuting, torturing
butcherinI n8tiou Of bloodlhirsty co,v..rds
out Of the Western hemisphere. why not!
Cuba Is the last Of the Spanish possessions,
except the little island Of Porto Rico.
Oh this side Of the world. All the Others
Mexico and number Of Central and Sonth
American States-lIave passed from Ler
grasp through successive and successful
wars OF independence. Tne Shiny trau
of the Spanish serpent has been wiped
out in those countries and. though slowly,
sun not TIE less sureIy :, they are begin 1i9g
TO recover from the evil effects Of former
Spanish mSule. We might rs well
take measures 10 complete the job, and
the impudent tone Of the spanish govern
ment and press toward America ;fford
Us the best possible excuse for doing 80.
Lpt tnr senators and Members Of tne Con-
greSs who are not interest ID in the Spanish
Caban bord-holcng and sugar Trust 5, n
diCste. and, indeed, all who are friends of
American liberty and humanity, get to-
gethei and form Ieagcc for the recog-
milton OF Cuban independence. Too long
have our national fame and honor been
disGraced by the course OF our Govern
n,ent The fight should be ORGANIZED at
once and pressed to a finish. There is
rot a scmtins OF doubt about the It
titude % the American people on the sub
5ect. sepators and Representatives who
are neither owned nor on general prin-
ciples are in favor OF the heliish methods
and practices Of Spain, owe it to them.
selves, their constituencies. to patriotism
and CIVILIZATION, to rise an their might
and force tie Administration to do its
duty te the country