The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-12
She Has Fairly Won Freedom
by Valiant Fighting.
BUYING LIBERTY OPPOSED
Members of the House Repel the
Proposition-In Impression Prevails
That Spania rds see in Such
Deal al Chance to Replenish Their
Bankrupt Treasury.


! purchase the liberty she has fought so
long and valiantly to secure. They are
not inclined to the theory that patriotic
} Cubans ought TO reward Spain for hav-
! ing starved to death thousands of men.
women and children, by making her a
+ present of $2o0 60o,e0O when the victory
I has been won by the Cubans. and the
freedom they crave is within their grasp.
Several members were interviewed yes
terday respecting the proposition from
this country to guarantee $200,0OO,0DO Of
/ Cuba's bonds. to enable her to secure
1 independence by purchase. but in no
/ case was there an intimation of approval
/ OF tie scheme.
Gen. Grosvenor of Ohio who is believed
to reflect the views of the President
when he talks on public questions. said:
We don't want TO fight for Cuban inde-
/ pendence and TO pay money for it. too.
/ / hope Cuba will soon receive her inde-
/ pendence.''
Judge King. of Utah, said:
Il do not think that this Government
] ought to guarantee Cuban bonds. If the
/ loss of the Maine cannot be directly fas-
tened upon the Spanish government, and
should prove to have been the act of
! fanatic. do not think the Spanish gov
ernment should be held responsible fur
ther than the payment of an indemnity to
US. We have no concern in the issue of
bonds, and therefore should not guarantee
| them
I'VE ought TO recognize the indepen-
dence of Cuba, form a treaty with the ISL
and. and then, to establish peace. inter
vene and drive the Spaniards from the
island.
/ 1T is foolish to talk about the purchase
of Cuba's freedom. At one time Cubans
would have been glad to have purchased
/ it, but now too many have starved to
death from the crueltes perpetrated for
the proposition to be entertained.
"Cubans, themselves, would not want
/ to buy peace when they are practically
! free and would not want to issue bonds.
| Why should this Government force them
TO do SOP
Mr.. Swanson of Virginia said:
u am unalterably opposed to the prop
osition that this Government should
! guarantee bonds issued by Cuba for the
settlement Of this trouble with Spain.
This Government should not guaran-
tee TO Spain the payment of any amount
of money.
81 do not believe in any such system
of settlement. If the Spanish govern
ment in Cuba is so inhuman and brutal
that it cannot be tolerated, it should be
driven out.
1T is wrong TO compel the Cubans to
pay for the efforts of Spain to continue
the infamous government there"
Mr.. McEwan of New Jersey said that
he did not favor the proposition to guar
antee bonds.
Mr., Howell also a New Jersey Repub-
lican, heard Mr.. McEwan's remarks and
said that he indorsed them.
The talk has been going on for several
days TO the effect that the scheme of the
Administration is to force Cuba TO pur-
chase her freedom through the guaran-
teeing Of her bonds by the United States
has revived the story that leaked out
shortly after the departure of Senior
Muruaga- the Spanish minister, who pre-
ceeded De LONE. Senor Muruaga and
Secretary Of State Blaine had long been
close friends. On the day that the dip
lomat presented his letters of recall he
and Mr.. Blaine sat down for a quiet talk
in the private office of the Secretary.
Mr.. Blaine reminded Muruaga that
he was then a private citizen. said he was
going TO discuss a subject which, while
he was the representative Of his gov
ernment in Washington, he could not
have broached, and which the minister
would not have been willing to discuss
even casually. Mr.. Blaine then asked
senor AIuruaga how Spain would take
an offer Of SiO0000,0OO for Cuba, that being
al that time the amount of the external
debt of Spain. Senior Muruaga and the
Secretary frankly went over the whole
situation. The diplomat said that all
well informed persons in Spain knew that
sooner or later Cuba would be lost to the
1 Spanish crown, but the fact remained
that the temper of the people was such
that any government or any party that
suggested the sale Of the island would
be swept out of existence. Deep as was
the home government in debt Minister
Muruaga said that for no sum Of money
would Spain pocket its pride and dispose
Of the island TO the United States OF any
other power II was the last piece OF
colonial territory In the world, except the
Philippine Islands. remaining to proud
race. and the sentiment that caused them
TO hold it could not be overcome. Senor
Muruaga said that even the queen reg
ent recognized that it would be better for
the government 10 get rid of the constant
course Of annoyance by turning it into
gold, but no government had yet been
willing TO even put out suggestion
looking to this end.
That feeling exists in Spain today. and
it is hardly probable that any scheme
looking TO the purchase Of the island
would meet with the approval of the
government, for the reason that to do Sc
would mean its retirement from power
The party in power would fare much bet
ter TO lose the island after fight with
the United States. However this may be
there has been a sudden revival Of the
purchase scheme. and IL is understood
that Senator Elkins, Of West Virginia
who stands close to the moneyed inter
ests Of New York. has in his desk at the
Senate q bill ready TO introduce at the
first propitious moment. Offering the
faith Of the United States in guaranteeing
bonds in the sum Of 500 900 900.
There is a feeling that the Montgomery
may never be permitted TO leave the
harbor. II hOstilities should commence
or II war were TO be declared officials
at the department do not hesitate to say
that the Spaniards would violate all in
ternational law by opening fire On the
cruiser In the harbor instead of giving