New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-22
SPAIN AND AMERICA

General Azcarraga. who has been provisional
Prime Minister of Spain since the death cf
CauOyas has been confirmed in the permanent
holding of that office. This Is not unexpected
and il is entirely logical As was promptly
pointed out in these columns. the death OF
Canovas afforded no opportunity FOR reVoi"'ioh'
1t indicated no change in popular sentiment
and called for no change OF governmental poi-
lev. The talk about CanOvas being succeeueu
by Sagasta was altogether Ill advised. There
was never any thought of such thing or OF
ANYTHING but the filling Of the vacancy with
man Of CanOvas's own party. Such II hiah
has been found in General AZcarraga. lie was
Canovas's Minister Of War. and was in COM
plete accord with the late Prime Minister OH all
important matters. and especially in regard 10
Cuba He will, Of course, maintain Canovass
policy subject only 10 such notifications as
changes in the situation may require.
That will be entirely logical and. we may
add. proper from the Spanish point of view.
The United States may wish for Cuban 1nde-
pendence or at least autonomy. Other rations
may deem some other settlement of the troubles
in that island desirable But Canovas was not
and Azcarraga Is not Prime Minister OF the
United States or OF any of those other nations,
but Of Spain. H. is the servant of the Spanish
people and is bound TO obey their will. And
of the nature of that will there is no room for
doubt. 1t is as true to-day as it was when
Secretary Fish recorded the fact twenty-fonr
years ago, that 1.-THE Spanish Government AMI
1.-The Spanish people are almost unah
.mously adverse to the independence Of Cuba.
That is the salient fact in the case. There Is no
reason TO suppose that if the Spanish people
were TO elect a new Cortes to-day they would
make it of a materially different political COM
plexion from the present. Or If they ana, ana Il
Liberal majority restored Sagasta TO ONCE
there Is no reason to suppose the CUBAN pollcy
would be materially modified from what it was
when Sagasta was last in power and the ABA
zuza law was proposed and the Cubans began
their present revolt.
No. the Spanish policy toward Cuba seems
fixed. no matter whether AZcarraga or Robledo
or Silvela or Sagasta be at the head or the
Ministry 1t is with the Spanish policy as II
is not as we might like it TO be. that this Gov
eminent has to deal The various alarmist
tales set afoot by European journals may be
passed by The United States Government has
not made any German newspaper its offcial
mouthpicce More pertinent than such current
rumors are simple memories of the official ut
teronces of This Government on a former Occa-
sim President Grant Orcp expressed his deep
concern and regret at the announcement that
Spain would grant no reforms in Cnba nh'li
the insurgents had laid down their arms. lie
or his Secretary Of State did not hesitate to
declare that Cuba ought to he an independent
republic and would inevitably some day he-
come one. He rendered To Spain the good of
fees of this Government for the pnrpos" or ei-
"fectinr the peaceful separation Of Cuba
from Spain" He declared Spains rejection 81
that offer to have been unwse. And then re-
ferring to the continuance of the cuban war.
the losses il inflicted upon American citizens
the devastation and barbarity with which II
was marked ami the expense and anxiety To
which il subjected this Government. he assert
cd tina, such state Of affairs was growing
day by day more insupportablc To the United
States"
General AZcarraga is not merely Prime Min
lister of Spain. He is. as we have said, repre-
sentative and an embodiment of Spanish ma
,ional sentiment on the Cuban question. The
Government of the United States Is likewise
representative of American opinion. The two
may therefore deal with each other with all
possible authority. both political and moral
Certainly ncgoti atonS between them should he
fruitful Of good Both desire an ending OF the
ruinous strife now prevalent in Cuba. To say
they cannot agree upon the manner in which 1t
is 10 he effected is 10 east grave reproach
mon the wisdom or the humanity OF one or the
other of them: reproach which the world
would with reluctance believe TO be deserved.
TO bring them TO such an agreement and to
make II effective for the restoration OF peace
would he an achievement rejecting honor upon
both nations and productive Of good to all man
kind