The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-13

CONSULTATION CONFIDENTIAL FREE.
more severe?" this senator was again
asked
Il use the word reparation advised
ly,' he replied, and you must draw
your own conclusion as to what that
word means. There is a vast differ
ence between reparation and indemnity.
Indemnity implies money considera-
ton only; reparation may mean some
thing decidedly more drastic
The senator declined to go into any
explanat ton as to the meaning of
his intimation beyond the statement
that there was a vast difference be-
tween the meaning of the two words
Money indemnity is easily understood,
but reparation may mean one of sew
eral things that might be suggested to
Spain in the shape of an ultimatum
that would not be accepted. Although
this senator did not say so, the only
conclusion that could be drawn from
what he said was that this Govern
ment would exact such conditions from
Spain in connection with the Maine
that they could not be agreed to.
Reparation, he intimated, might mean
the demand for the stoppage of the
cruel war in Cuba and the immediate
evacuation Of that island.
And would such a demand be COM
piled with?" he was asked the ques-
tion being based upon the conclusion
drawn.
That" said he, 'fs a question that
Spain alone can answer.
And if it is refused, then what"
'If refused, the only thing this Cow
ernment could do would be to enforce
it. To enforce it would mean war, for
we would be compelled to seize the
port of Havana and levy tribute until
our demands had been complied with.
If Spain were to refuse the demands
Of this Government a crisis would be
precipitated at once. If, however,
Spain We're to acquiesce in our de-
mands and pay the indemnity, if in
demnity only were asked. that would
not settle the whole problem. The sit
uation in Cuba would still be open for
settlement and this Government could
not look with equanimity upon the
prosecution of the war in that island
as it has been prosecuted by Spain dur
ing the past two years. Then. too. we
are bound to take into consideration
the subject of autonomy and decide
whether or not the autonomy now be-
| ing enforced in Cuba is such autonomy
as VIII give the people of that island
| a permanent relief from the evils to
| which they have been subjected II
| the Conservatives are restored to pow
| er in the coming elections in Spain and
| Weyler should be sent back to Cuba
| or his methods should be enforced this
! country could not ignore the conditions
| that such a policy would mean. There
| must be an honest effort on the part
of Spain. after having stopped the war
| to give Cuba home rule and a complete
| emancipation from the conditions that
| have obtained there for so many years
! or this Government must intervene and
| declare and maintain such peace as
will comport with the ideas of human
| liberty that pertain on this side of the
Atlantic"
! This senator. however, does not look
for a settlement of the question in any
thing like a peaceable manner. He does
not believe Spain will agree to any
| thing this Government will suggest and
expects that war will be declared in
| short order after the report of our
naval court has been made public and
the consular correspondence has been
laid before Congress. L expect war
| I, 4
thing in the future, for 1 am convinced
that the nature of the Spaniard viii
| not permit his government to dispose
| of this question along those lines that
| appeal to other nations in the settIe-
| ment of grave subjects and which are
actuated by the dictates of humanity.
| Spain is desperate and will fight be-
fore she will yield an inch in this mat
. ter. She has gone so far that she can
not recede without a revolution at
home and war with the United States
is preferable to a revolution at home.
| We are prepared for the struggle if ii
must come and after exhausting the
arts of diplomacy we will enter this
contest in such a way that the end
cannot be long delayed There is nc
possible doubt as to the result of a
fight between the two countries and il
Cuba can only be freed through a war
with Spain the President will assume
the responsibility conscious of the iacU
that the American people will endorse
whatever he may do in order to drive
from this hemisphere the last vestige
of Spanish tyranny and put a stop to
a war that is being conducted in a
manner that has shocked the whole
civilized world