The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-11-03

OoA0iuloh was uil1iSateu by bn6 fSClpIoC1-
ty clause of our tariff law, but when that
was withdrawn by the passage of the
Wilson DILL, they found themselves ground
between two hostile tariffs, one of the
United States and the other of Spain it
self Mr.. Taylor believes that the rebel
lion got its Roadway from hostile tariffs,
which practically ruined the sugar plan
tations and turned loose large bands of
laborers to swell the ranks of the insur-
gents.
As to the political causes, Mr., Taylor
points out that the island is given practi'
| cally no voice whatever in its political
affairs. Everything is managed by Spain
and for Spain's interest. All the reforms
Spain has introduced or promised are,
when examined, seen to be nothing but
shams. Representatives from Cuba are
allowed to sit in the Cortes at Madrid,
but who these representatives shall be Is
settled as effeetually by the Governor
General as if he openly selected and ap-
pointed them. The concessions which
Sagasta offered about the time of the
breaking out Of the present rebellion were
mere decisions. The only thing in the
shape of local legislature which was
granted was Council of Administra-
tion,'' half OF whose mem bers were to be
appointed by the crown, and half cleo
tive, and over which the Captain Gener-
al was to preside with power to suspend
the whole Council whenever he saw fit, or
ind vidual members of it, so long as
enough remained to constitute quorum.
Of course such body as that was the
m rest travesty of legislature. Mr..
Taylor does not believe that Sagasta, who
was responsible for this sham, will
offer anything better, no matter what his
disposition may be in 1.-THE matter, for
the very sufficient reason that the Span
| ish nation would not sustain him, for the
ruling classes, civil. military and cleri-
cal, are all opposed to any concessions
to the rebels that would meet their ao-
ceptance. 1.-THE truth is" says Mr.. Tay-
lor, THAT Spanish statesmen have no
clear conception of the real meaning Of
the term autonomous colonial govern :
ment, and the Spanish people are al
most unit in their resolve to lose Cuba
by force of arms rather than permit such
a concession to be made" Mr.. Taylor
| believes that Spain is impotent to solve
the problem, and that the time has come
for the United States to take some def
| mite action. He contends that American
interests in the island are of character
| TO justify our intervention upon well set
l ri MI of int 1~r
| without reference to the Monroe doctrine.
What Mr.. Taylor would recommend he
thus states:
1.-The prompt adoption by Congress,
upon its reassembling, Of joint resolu
ton, embodying three clear and definite
propositions: The first, asserting our
but to humanity, by virtue Of the univer-
sally recognized doctrine of intervention,
as we'll as by virtue of the Monroe doo-
trine. to put an end to the dreadful con-
f1ict SO long raging in Cuba, because it
involves not only the constant disturb
ance of our internal peace, but also the
destruction Of great comm ercial and
ond, asserting that, after enduring pa
tiently all such evils incident to fifteen
years of war in Cuba out of tho last
twenty-nine, the government of the
United States has offered in vain its
friendly offices as peacemaker to Spain,
her susceptibilities, in bringing to q
close strife so destructive to the mate
rial interests of both countries; tho third,
declaring that the government OF the
United States, in view of Spain's refusal
to accept such friendly and respectful
mediation, has now resolved to exercise
upon its own responsibility it's entire
1 mr. Mt To hn nd hat hn nv.
in Cuba may be brought to speedy
close, provided Spain fails to accomplish
| that result in reasonable time, to be
clearly indicated"
Mr.. Taylor believes our moral influence
exercised in the way he recommends
would solve the. Cuban problem. So far as
his statement of the attitude of Spain
toward Cuba is concerned it will carry
with it great authority, since he has
been able to study the matter on the
ground. But his conclusions as to what
our government should do, or more par
ticularly as to what would be the effect of
to grave question. Mr.. Taylor has told
us in his opening that Spain cannot put
down the rebellion by arms and that the
ruling classes of the country will not per-
nit the granting of an autonomy that the
Cubans can accept. OF course If they
will not grant autonomy they will not
grant independence. He has testified in
his arti Gle to the intense hostility that
| the Spanish public bears to the United
States. Yet he believes that our moral
influence alone, will be sufficient to
solve the problem In what way? Ger
| tainly our moral influence exercised in
the manner Mr.. Taylor recommends,
cannot strengthen he.Spanish force in
Cubs or nerve it's arm. On the contrary
| its effect would be to weaken the Span
| iards and strengthen the rebels, SO that
| the chances Of putting down the rebellion
| by arms would be diminished by it's exer-
else. Can it be expected that it will
change 1.-The disposition of the "ruling
classes toward autonomy They are all
hostile..to it now, Mr.. Taylor AYERS. Will
the moral influence of people they hate
make them friendly toward it? 1t is
1