Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1897-12-10

M tbe untried measures there remain
only recognition OF the insurgents as
beliiperents; recognition OF che inde.
nsndence, Of Cuba; neutral In Intervention
10 end the war by imposing rational
,ompromise between the contestants,
and Intervention In favor OF one or the
other marty. speak not Of forcible an.
nexation. for that cannot be thought OF,
That by our code Of morality would be
criminal aggression.
Opposed to Recognition.
regard the recos nitton OF the bel.
ligerency Of tho Cuban insurgents as
now unwise and therefore insd INVISIBLE.
Should that step hereafter be deemed
wise az o measure Of right and duty the
executive will take IL.
Intervention upon humanitarian
grounds has been frequently suggested
aud has not failed to receive my most
anxious and earnest consideration. But
should such step be now taken when
it Is apparent that hopeful change has
supervened in the policy OF Spain to.
ward Cuba? A new government has
taken office in the mother country. IL
ia pledged In advance to the declaration
that ali the effort in the world cannot
suffice to maintain peace In Cuba by the
bayonet; that vague promises Of reform
after subjugation afford no solution Of
the insular problem. that with q substi.
tuition of commanders must come a
change of the past system Of warfare
for one in harmony with q new policy
which shall not longer aim to drive the
Cubans TO the "horrible alternative OF
taking to the .thicket or succumbing In
misery" that the reforms must be In.
,tituted IN accordance with tho needs
aud circumstances Of the time aud chat
these reforms. while Designed TO give
tull AUTONOMY TO the colony aud to ere.
ate a virtual entity and self controlled
administration, shall yet conserve and
affirm the sovereignty Of Spain by just
distribution Of powers and burdens upon
basis of mutual interest untainted by
methods of selfish expedienoy.
1t is honestly due to Spain and to our
friendly relations with Spain that she
should be given q reasonable chance to
realize her expectations and to 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 inflamed
the American mind and shocked the
civilized world. She has modified the
horrible order Of concentration and un.
dertaken to care for the helpless aud
permit those who desire to resume the
cultivation OF their fields to do 80. and
assures them OF the protection OF the
Spanish government In their lawful oc.
equations. She has just released the
Competitor" prisoners, heretofore sen.
fenced to death. and who have been the
subject of repeated diplomatic CORES.
pondence during both this aud the pre-.
ceding administration.
Not O single American citizen Is now
under arrest or In confinement in Cuba
| Of whom this governments has any
knowledge. The near future will dem.
onstrate whether the indispensable con.
di.ion Of righteous peace, just alike
| to the Cubans and to Spain as we'll as
equitable to all our interests so init.
mately involved in the welfare of Cuba,
is likely to be attained. II not. the ex.
igency Of further and other action by
the United States will remain to be
taken. When that time comes that &C.
ton will be determined In the line OF
indisputable right aud duty. 1t will be
faced without misgiving or hesitancy
In the light Of the obligation this gov.
ernment owes to itself, to the people
who have confded to it the protection
Of their interests aud honor aud to hu.
manity.
Sure Of the right. keeping free from
all offense ourselves. actuated only by
upright aud patriotic considerations.
moved neither by passion or selfishness.
the government will continue its watch.
full care over she rights and property Of
American citizens and will abate none
OF its efforts to bring about by peaceful
agencies q peace which shall be honor.
able and enduring. lit shall here.
after appear to be . duty imposed by
our obligations to ourselves. to civiliza.
ton and humanity to intervene with
force 10 shall be without fault on our
part, and only because the necessity for
such action viii be 20 clear as to com.
mand the support and approval OF the
| civilized world