New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-25
THE OFFER TO BUY CUBA.

One Of the most striking bits OF news that
have come from Cuba for many day IS con-
talned IN The Tribunes special correspondence
this morning. 1t occurs in an interview WITH
| General Gomez the great captain OF the insur-
gents, and is, IN brief, the statement that the
| Cubans are ready to purchase their indepen-
| dence from Spain by payment OF cash FOR Span
! ish withdrawal from the island. The sum named
is 0O.000,0OO. That is n large sum, but Gen
eral Gomez seems to think the Cubans could
pay It, under the guarantee of the United States,
| which assuredly ought to be acceptable TO
Spain OF his right to speak with authority OF
the willingness of the Cubans to make such n
bargain there can be no doubt General Gomez
IS not the Cuban Government, any more than
Washington was the American Government at
the time Of Valley Forge. But that he would
make such a statement without knowledge that
the Government would agree TO It. or that the
Government would dissent from any proposition
he might make, is not 10 be for a moment I'M
agined.
This offer is the more interesting because the
notion has been put forward that the Cubans
would not make nor consider any such bargain.
II has been said that they were intent upon
gaining their independence and would be salts
fed with nothing less True. But they are
now seen to be willing to secure their indie
pendence by paying for It in cold cash. That
IS not an unworthy attitude for them TO
sumo There are those who will say IL IS. that
It IS an offer to compromise honor for cash.
Nonsense 1t IS simply a recognition Of the
facts that war costs money, that the conflict in
Cuba IS more than commonly expensive and
even ruinous to the commerce and industries OF
hot - no far hofta m
pay 80 much money to the Spaniards than TO
spend perhaps twice much in further fight
ing. That Is not compromising honor 1t IS
sound business sense, and sound patriotism, too.
Provinces devastated, industries laid PROSTATE,
treasure spent for that which profteth moth
ing. lives lost by tens Of thousands these are
the things the Cuban leader would get rid OF in
a day by paying the stipulated sum TO Spain
The only thing to be regretted IS that the thing
will not be done.
For. unhappily, there Is at present no reasona
bic hope Of acceptance OF the offer. Spain has
hitherto refused to sell the island She would not
sell It 10 a friendly nation. Is It to be supposed
she will sell it 10 her own rebels! 1t would
be an act of wisdom for her to do so, but IN
fortunately. she does not always act with wis
dom, as others see wisdom. Her foremost
statesmen and generals have made Il known
that she will not relinquish Cuba voluntarily.
Her honor. they say, forbids It Well, If honor
forbids her 10 grant independence 10 the Cubans
for the sake Of ending exhaustng. devastat-
ing and savage war II will forbid her TO do so
for the sake Of cash Nevertheless, it IS well 70
have It placed upon the record that the insur-
gents have been willing to ransom themselves
and their island and that Spain has refused to
accept the offer. 1t is sometimes necessary for
the bitter cup Of errors 10 be filed to the very
hrm