The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-12-08
THE CUBAN QUESTION.
The Time Not Ripe for Intervention
on Our Part.

The Time Not Ripe Tor intervention
| on Our Part.
The most important problem with which
| this government is now called upon to deal
pertaining TO Its foreign relations concerns
Its duty toward Spain and the Cuban insur-
| rection. Problems and conditions more or
| less In common with those now existing
have confronted this government at Yari-
for many Years has been one OF unrest
| growing discomfort; an effort toward
| larger enjoyment OF liberty ana selr-con-
troll: Of organized resistance to the mother
country; of depression after distress and
warfare and of Intellectual settlement to be
| followed by renewed revolt. For no endur-
| ing period since the acknowledgement of the
continental possessions Of spain 10 the
Cuba or the policy Of Spain toward Cuba
not caused concern to the United States,
| The prospect from time to time that the
weakness of Spain's hold upon the island
and the political vicissitudes and embar-
| easements Of the home government might
| lead to the transfer OF Cuba to continen.
| tai power called forth, between 1929 and
1860, various emphatic declarations Of the
policy of the United States to permit no dis
| turbance of Cuba's connection with Spain
unless In the direction Of independence or
| acquisition by us through purchase; nor
| has there been any change Of this declared
policy since upon the part OF the govern
Not Civilized Warfare.
The cruel policy of concentration was
initiated February 49, 1896. The productive
were depopulated. The agricultural inhab-
ltants were herded In and about the gar
rison towns, their lands laid waste and
| their dwellings destroyed. This policy the
| late cabinet Of Spain justified as a neces-
sary measure of war and as means Of cut
ting off SUPPLIES from the insurgents. 1t has
utterly failed as war measure. 1t was
not civilized warfare. 1t was extermina-
| tion.
Protests Entered.
Against this abuse of the rights OF war
| / have felt constrained on repeated occa-
sions to enter the firm and earnest pro-
| test of this government. There was much
Of public condemnation of the treatment OF
| American citizens by alleged Illegal arrests
and long Imprisonment awaiting trial or
pending protracted judicial proceedings. l
| felt 1t my first duty to make instant de-;
mand for the release. or speedy trial of all
| American citizens under arrest. Before the
change Of the Spanish cabinet In October
| last % prisoners, citizens Of the United
! States, had been given their freedom. For
| the relief of our own citizens suffering be-
| cause of the conflict the aid OF congress was
| sought in special message, and under
the appropriation of April 4, 1897 effective
aid has been given to American citizens in
| Cuba, many of them at their own request
having been returned to the United States.
The Present InsurrectiOn.
The present insurrection broke out In
February, 1895. 1t is not my purpose at this
| time to recall its remarkable Increase, or
| to characterize its tenacious resistance
| against the enormous forces massed
against 1t by Spain. The revolt and the
| efforts to subdue 1t carried destruction to
every quarter of the island, developing
wide proportions and defying the efforts
Of Spain for its suppression The civilized
| code of war has been disregarded, no less
SO by the Spaniards than by the Cubans.
| The eXiSfinQ pnn1ifinnS cannot hlt fill
this government and the American people
| with the gravest apprehension. There IS
no desire on the part of our people TO
profit by the misfortunes of Spain. We
prosperous and contented, enjoying that
measure of self control which is the in
| alienable right OF man, protected in their
treasures Of their country '
The offer made by my PREDECESSOR In
April, 1885, rendering the friendly offices
Of this government failed. ANY mediation
answer read: There is no effectual way
| TO pacify Cuba unless 1t begins with the
| actual submission of the rebels to the
mother country" Then only could ,.pain
| act In the promised direction OF her own
motion and after her own plans.
Minister WOOdford's Instructions.
The instructions given to our new min
lister to spain before his departure for his
| post directed him TO impress upon that gov
ernment the sincere wish OF the United
States 10 lend its aid toward the ending
OF the war In Cuba by reaching a peace
tul and lasting result. Just and honorable
alike TO Spain and to the cuban people
Those instructions recited the character
and duration OF the contest, the Widespread
| losses II entails, the burdens and restraints
1t imposes upon US, with constant dis
turDance Of national interests and the in.
jury resulting from an Indefinite contin-
| uallre Ol thlS state Of things. 1t was stated
hnN ittn Nttr no
| constrained to seriously inquire If the time
was not ripe when Spain of her own Voli.
| tion, moved by her own interests and every
sentiment of humanity, should put STOP
posals of settlement honorable to herself
and just to her Cuban colony. 1t was urged
that as neighboring nation, with large in
terests in cuba, we could be required tc
walt only u reasonable time for the mother
country to establish its authority and re.
| store order within the borders of the island
that we could not contemplate an indeh,
mite period TOR the accOmpIlanIne", ~ ,n..
result
No Humiliation Suggested.
No solution was proposed to which tn,
could attach, and indeed precise proposal.
were withheld TO avoid embarrassment tc
that government All that was asked
or expected was that some safe way might
be speedily provided and permanent peace
| restored. 1t so CHANGED that the consider
alton of this offer, addressed to the same
| Spanish administration which had declined
the tenders of my predecessor, and which
for more than TWO years had poured mer
and treasure into Cuba In the fruitless eff
fort TO suppress the revolt fell to others.
Spain Promises Much.
The reply IL our note was received on the
| sd day Of October. 1t Is In the direction OF
better understanding. 1t appreciates tht
friendly purposes OF this government. II
admits that our country Is deeply affected
| for peace are just. 1t declares that the
present Spanish government Is bound by
every consideration to u change VI policy
that should satisfy the United States and
pacify Cuba within a reasonable time.
To this end SPAN has ueciueu 10 puI into
effect the political reforms heretofore ad-
| vocated by the present premier without
halting for any consideration In the path
which In its Judgment leads to peace. The
military operations II Is said viii continue
| but will be humane and conducted with ali
regard for private rights, being accom-
panied by political action leading TO the
autonomy OF Cuba while guarding Spanish
sovereignty. This, 1t is claimed, Will result
in investing Cuba with distinct person
ality; the island to be governed by an ex-
ecutive and ny a local council VI chamber
reserving to Spain the control of the for.
| eign relations, the army and navy and the
judicial administration. To accomplish
| this the present government proposes ~
modify existing legislation by decree. leaV.
ing the Spanish cortes, with the aid of
Cuban senators and deputies, TO solve the
| economic problem ana properly Distribute
the existing debt. In the absence of q
declaration of the measure that this gov.
ernment proposes to lake in carving out
its profrer OF good offices 1t suggests thai
| Spain be left free TO conduct military
| operations and grant political reforms.
while the United States, for its part. shall
| enforce its neutral obligations and cut on
the assistance watch II is asserted the in.
Il apni.s kNa
supposition OF an indefinite prolongation oi
the war Is deAled. 1t is asserted thai Inc
western provinces are already well-nigh re.
claimed; that uie planting OF cane and TO-
] by force Of arms and new and ample re-.
| forms very early and complete pacihcation