Evening star., 1898-01-17

How He Treated the Intervention
QuesfiOn in His ANIMAL Nessaye.


The disclosures by Mr.. Pepper as to the
grave situation in Cuba revive interest in
the propositions stated by the President OH
this subject in his annual message to Con-
sress. Herewith are reproduced those por-
tions of the message that bear upon the
matter of action by the United States to
cause the stoppage of the war:
The existing conditions cannot but fill
this government and the American people
with the gravest apprehension. There is
no desire on the part of our people to profit
by the misfortunes of Spain. We have
only The desire to see the Cubans prosper
oIs and ccntented. enjoying that measure
of self-CoItrol which is the inalienable
right of man. protected in their right to
reap the benefit of the exhaustless treas
ures of their county.
throughout all these horrors and dangers
to our own peace this government has
never in any way abrogated its sovereign
prerogative of reserving to itself the de-
termination of its policy and course ac-
cording TO its own high sense of right and
In cOnSOnance with the dearest interests
and convictions of our own people should
the prolonsation of the strife so demand.
'of the untried measures there remain
only: Recognition of the insurgents
belNgerentS: recognition of the indeDend-
ence of Cuba, neutral Intervention to end
the war by imposing rational compromise
Between the contestants. and Intervention
III IdNOE o. b0S Ot the ointT L SPEAK
not of forcible annexation, for that can
not be thought of. That by our code of
morality would be criminal aggression.
For these reasons / regard the recognf-
ti0n of the belligerency of the Cuban in
surCents as now unwise and therefore in
aimisSihn Should that step hereafter he
deened wise as a measure of right and duty
the Executive will take il.
Intervention upon humanitarian grounds
has been frequently suggested and has rot
failed 70 T6ceiV- my most anxious and
earnest consideration. But should such
step he now taken when it is apparent that
a hopeful change has supervened in the
yolicy OF Spain toward Cuba? new gov
ernment has taken Office in the mother
country 1t is pledged in advance 10 the
declaration that all the effort in the world
cannot suffice to maintain peace in Cuba
by the bayonet; that vague promises of re-
form after subjugation afford no solution
of the insular problem: that with a substi-
tuition of commanders must come a change
of the past system of warfare for one In
harmony with a new policy which shall no
lcr ger aim TO drire the Cubans to the 'hor-
rihle alternative of taking to the thicket or
sLccumbins in misery; that reforms must
be instituted in accordance with the needs
and circumstances of the time. and that
tfese reforms. while designed to give full
autonomy to the colony and to create vir-
tual entity and self-controiled administra-
ton. shall yet conserve and affirm the SOW
ereignty of Spain by just distribution Of
powers and burdens upon basis of mutual
"
pediency.
'-The first acts of the new government lie
in these honorable paths. ."
That the government of Sagasta has
entered upon a course from which recess
sion with fonor Is impossible can hardly
be questioned: that in the few weeks it
has existed il has made earnest of the
sincerity OF its professions is undeniahle.
1 shall not impugn its sincerity, nor should
impatierCe be suffered to embarrass il in
the task it has undertaken 1t is honestly
due TO Spain and to our friendly rela-
tions with Spain that she should be given a
reasonable chance to realize her expecta-
tfons and to prove the asserted efficacy of
the new order of things to which she
stands frrevoCably committed.
The near future will demonstrate wheth-
er the Indispensable condition of right
ecus peace. just alike to the Cubans and to
Spain as well as equitable to all our in
terests so intimately involved in the wei
fare Of Cuba. is likely to be attained II
not. the eXigency Of further and other ac-
ticn by the United States will remain to be
taken When that time comes that ac-
tion will be determined in the line of in
disputable right and duty. 1t will be faced
without m!sgiying or hesftancy in the light
Of the obligation this government owes to
Itself. 10 the people who have confided to
1t the protection Of their interests and
honor, and to humanity.
Sure of the right. keeping free from all
onense ourselves. actuated only by upright
and patriotic considerations. moved neither
by passion nor selfshness the government
will continue its watchful care over the
rights and property of American citizens
and will abate none of its efforts to bring
abcut by peaceful agencies a peace whicn
shall be honorable and enduring If ii shall
hereafter appear to be a duty imposed by
our obligations to ourselves. to civilization
and humanity to intervene with force il
shall be without fault on our part and only
because the necessity for such action will
be so clear as to command the support and
approval of the civilized world