The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1897-11-06
THE SPANISH REPLY.


Our dispatches say that the reply OF
Spain has not been received by our Gov
eminent. but its purport is very well
known. 1t Is an attempt to prove that
the immense sacrifices of Spain in Cuba
have been fruitless solely because the
United States have failed to do their du-
ty under International law. Beyond this
there is probably an intimation that Spain
will go to war rather than permit inter-
ference by the Uuited States to restore
peace in Cuba.
On the whole, the position assumed by
the Spanish Government seems to be boil
der. more self-assertive, more provoca-
tive OF trouble than any ventured upon
by the CanOvas Ministry. Coming into
power with the announced intention Of
placating the Cubans by concedlng most
of their demands. Senior Sagasta resents
foreign interference far more vigorously
than his predecessor, who offered no con-
cesslons, ventured to do.
We are inclined to think his position a
perfectly logical one. Offering the olive
branch to the Cubans in the form ofsclf-
government he is in far better position
TO defy the United States than was his
predecessor, who offered only the sword
and torch as the alternative to abjcct sur
render. He Is in better position because
the civilized world revolted against the
methods of his predecessor. and will see in |
his an attempt to put government in Cuba
on reasonable basis.
But II the Cuban people are determined !
to be free, Scnor Sagasta will fail as sig
nally as did Canovas. He does not offer
the Cubans freedom. but only modifica-
tion of the conditions of their present de-
pendence upon Spain If they refuse this !
offer, II they continue to fight for abso- !
lutte freedom, the situation will remain as
II has been, and in the long run our Gov
crnment will be compelled to take some /
action. It's inconceivable that we can |
permit such war to go on forever on the |
theory that European Power has indie
feasible rights in its colonies on this side
OF the Atlantic. The beginning of our
own national history shows that we must
always reject that theory, and uphold the !,
antagonlstic one that naturally and as a
matter of right the Cubans have q right
to govern themselves in complete indie
pendence of any and every other people,,
We may not wish to go to war to estab-
fish this principle, and as a matter Of fact
we do not-but in the event of the contin-
uance Of the war we do not see how our
Government, having regard for II and for
the sympathes of the people, can avoid
doing as much as recognizing the Cubans
as belllgerents
That would be interference. from the
Spanish point of view, and would Justify
a declaration of War against the United
States, but, in our opinion, our Govern
ment should not be guided by the wishes
or the threats OF Spain. II the men who
have stood out for two years and half
against an army of 250,OO men are enti-
tied to the rights OF belligerents. these
rights should certainly be accorded by the
Government Of a people which believes
in popular government, no matter what
the action OF Spain may be.
Senior Sagasta may find that he has as.
sumod too naughty an attitude. The poo
pie of the United States are pcacc-lov.
ing people, dreading war, but, neverthe.
less, about the last In the world whom IL
Is safe to hector. They may hesitate to
interfere In Cuba, for fear of doing
wrong; they will not hesitate for mo-
ment for fear of anything Spain may do,
and may act more hastily than they
would otherwise have done because Of
SPANS provocative attitude.-Times- Tn /,
ion and Citizen.