The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-06
SPANISH MINISTER
PRESENTS HIS SIDE.



ing CrueIties In Cuba.
WASHINGTON. April s.-The Spanish
minister Senior Polo y Bernabe. was seen
at the Spanish leea ton today. apd con-
sensed 10 talk on the present condition Of
snairs- He spoke freely. and at times
with intense earnestnsss The interview Is
authoritative Throughout:
- am still hopeful Of peace" said he
vh ea' PAY seem optimistic q a moment
val and military opsTsisoas are going on,
SEEMS g q sAss xsf + Ins S '" csn.
win prevail upon "a. any arsss fs a. oe RsaSs
formation. On the Contrary. II Is my In
diylduxi Judgment, based solely upon the
two nations sds ue day. y
men and women Of high aspirations and
nooie inYtsnets. leanaoi and will net resort
g Qat last and brutal expedient Of war.
To % sure. ] cannot CLOSE my eyes TO GER
tain obvious circumstances existing both
Aerf apd In Spain. At times these have
inchred ms TO share the popular view that
approaching an irreconoilable Issue And
yet. at no time has 1T seemed TO me, nor
does Il seem. that the issue has progressed
just settlement, alike honorable 20 both
governments.
Can it be possible that your people viii
consider only one side OF the case? There
are always two sides to case. and is II
just or fair or chivairous for your people.
borne on by the strongest innate patriot
Ism, 10 say. We're right: Spain is wrong.
That ends IT..
Cuba has been colony OF Spain from
time tmmemoriai--from the time OF its
discovery by Christopher Colnmhua and
- part Of spain 'hsre Is clustered about
X reverence that Is almost sacred
Cuba II REGARDED by our people just as
You regard one OF the states OF your
Union. What would be said II some for
q my m 1n IsVsttA
Illinois. or Texas. or California must go
free and be independent OF the United
states Would not your very honor be
understand that some one viii rise up and
saw. Yes. but the states are we'll governed
and are at peace. while Cuba. Ia nissov-
aTasa and IN state q
demand that there be scmething more than
ahs.ract assertion. Your press tells of
Brutal savagery. existing IN cnba. ] do
give you my word that this snvagery does
not exist at all. That all reliable reports,
cfhcial and unofficial. Spanish and Ameri-
the condition OF affairs year or two
ago. Gen. Bianeo has inaugurated a hu-
name and beneficial system characteristic
81 .oa me e: man Nasnrsi.y Win an insurres
4eed the usual methods OF military life.
And In this they have been restrained at
ali times by the detsrmination to have
nation and an honorable people. That Is
all spain has sought 70 do IN putting down
q rebellion. II IL what any government
Now 'as 70 autonomy. II seems to he
overlooked in the passing OF the moment
that this home rule has been the inspifa-
,.sa o. tie Cuban for years Spain has
sst. sincesiiy. It gives the ' cu i as the
most complete control Of their own af-
fairs. They have a parliament OF their
# 49,
and local cabinet Is ahsn. TO assume com
piste control OF Cuban Affairs to sweep
aside shis sn,,rs system and 10 dee.are
trieds Ii the United States say that this
home RUE Is not a success. | reply. your
opportunities for investigation have not
been adequate. and moreover, success or
failure cannot be Judged before system
has been tried and when it's initial steps
have been attended ey difficulties moi only
in the interior OF Cuba. but circumstances
without sgpding 10 defeat the very end
sought. Even though we may differ in
this. at least We should agree that the
,sndsmen' OF one should ne' be forced ar
hitrartly upon the ether. For the mo-
fnent IL seems as though this equitable
view was Set aside. ai1 instead vie hear.
autonomy ss failure. We ssy SO, That
ends H. spain must not say that she Is
eithsr sincere or that tas Plan II a sue
cess Now. Ia SUCH ar attitude consistent
witp the usual process Of considering
besS SIDES 81 a Question: Can a seff-fe-
spec'ing nation admit OF such con-
tempsuOus disposition of a policy she has
presented ia the interest OF peace and
prosperity for Cuba
As 10 the reecaee atraGes. while there
Is no doubt of the misery OF their cordi-
tian. tae government IL making the most
herele efforts 80 alleviate this cpndittoa,
As ID the insurgents. they have borne
arms against Spain for three years. en-
failing terrible loss Of life and nancy.
Yet believing those men 10 lie misguided.
ere government has sought to regain their
ness patriotism and intense vtxor OF the
American people. but fee. 'hs; !: Is not
isruferer for nse to suggest that ~ such
- profoundly solemn moment rarnestnsss
snd strength should fse tempered With a
eaira judgment ara 5ispu4stsor 20 lock
~ both SIDES % che question. ana not 70
ene sias -