The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-21
AUTONOMY AS A BASIS OF PEACE,

The intense interest which attaches to the
Maine affair and the report of our court
of inquiry should not blind Americans to
the fact that autonomy may soon become
an important factor in the settlement of the
Cuban question. 1t is evident that the
Spanish authorities are attaching great inn
portance to it, and preparing perhaps to
make their last stake upon it. 1t is hardly
fair to assume that they are using it merely
as pretext to gain time, because it is
legitimate mode of settlement, and if they
can bring it about it would be a happy de-
liverance for them. Moreover, it is a mode
of settlement to which the United States
cannot object, if the Cubans accept it, and
which we cannot afford to interfere with.
The Journal has expressed the belief that
autonomy will fail. and it is still of that
opinion. There is a possibility, however.
that it may be accepted by the Cubans or
the largest part of them, as a satisfactory
basis of settlement, and thus furnish a
basis for the early ending of the war. This
is rather a remote possibility, yet it exists.
If events should take this course the United
States would not be justified in intervening
to prevent the success of autonomy or to
enforce q. different basis of settlement For,
in the first place, the declared position and
policy of this government from the begin
ming has been the restoration of peace in
Cuba and if this can be accomplished or if
there is good prospect of its accomplish
naent in a short time by the autonomy plan,
the United States should be well satisfied
to see it done. In the second place, the plan
was adopted on the urgent suggestion Of the
United States. and President Mckinley is
committed to giving it fair trial. In his
last annual message he said:
1t is honestly due to Spain and to our
friendly relations with Spain that she
should be given reasonable chance to real
ize her expectations and to prove the
serted efficacy of the new order of things
to which she stands irrevocably committed.
. The near future will demonstrate
whether the Indispensable condition of a
righteous peace, just alike TO the Cubans
and to Spain as wei. equitable to all our
fare of Cuba is likely to be attained. If
not the exigency of further and other ac-
ton by the United States will remain to be
taken When that time comes that action
will be determined in the line OF indisput-
able right and duty.
This was said in December last, a little
more than three months ago. Since then
the principal executive officers of the au-
economist government have been appointed
and the elections for members of the Cuban
legislature are to take place on the oath of
April. Unless the report of our naval court
of inquiry shall call for prompt action or
Intervention by the United States on other
lines, it will hardly be justified in interven-
ing until Il shah be clearly demonstrated
whether autonomy is a failure or not. That
demonstration may appear in the result of
the pending elections, or it may appear be-
fore that In a formal rejection of the plan
by the leaders of the insurgents and a
declaration of their intention to continue
the war. But while autonomy is pending
with any prospect of success the United
States is almost In honor bound to refrain
from Intervening. All that is said here APP
plies only to the situation il the report of
the court OF inquiry shall not furnish clear
case for action on account Of the Maine