The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-29

New York, March 2S.-A Washing
ton special to the Commercial Adver-
tiser contains the following concern
ing the new phase in the Cuban ques-
ton:
THAT the president has conducted
his negotiations with Spain in a spirit
cf firmness and dignity is evident from
the advices received here from Madrid.
The tone of the note presented by Min
lister Woodford, as indicated in last
weeks dispatches from Washington
and confirmed today in the dispatches
from the Spanish capital, meets with
general approval among members of
congress and the administration will
be supported strongly in following up
the policy which it has outlined.
At the same time, without departing
from this policy in its ultimate pur-
pose, the president is considering with
some seriousness the plan for a temp
orary arrangement which shall permit
a peaceful solution of the Cuban ques-
tion. The plan is one which has been
proposed by the Spanish minister, and
its substance is this: Ample relief sup
plies will be sent by the United States
to the starving people of Cuba and
an appropriation for this purpose will
be asked from congress. The sending
of this relief will not be antagOnized
by Spain. On the contrary, the Span
ish authorities will help to distribute
the supplies If 1t is desired. The re-
concentrates will be allowed to leave
the walled towns and to return to their
homes and the policy inaugurated by
Weyler is to be abandoned. Spain will
offer to the insurgents a plan of au-
tonomy as complete in every way as
that now enjoyed by Canada. The
Spanish flag will continue to float and
there will be certain other evidences
of Spanish control. Spain will have a
short time in which to put this scheme
for autonomy into practice. The in
surgents will be led by the United
States to accept the Spanish offer with
the understanding that Spain's good
faith is to be guaranteed by the United
States Should the insurgents agree to
the plan then there will be an armis-
tice and both sides will lay down their
arms. 1t may be assumed that the
war would soon be at an end. Should
the insurgents decline the proposition
and insist on continuing their struggle
Tor independence, then the United
states government will wash its hands
OF the whole business and inform the
insurgent leaders that they will have
10 carry on their struggle at their own
risk.
This is substantially the plan as pro-
posed by the Spanish minister. There
are details which it is not now neces-
sdry 10 touch upon. 1t is supposed
that IT would afford modus vivendi.
The plan has not been formally ac-
"a Nxytl
ported by a majority of the cabinet
and is not unfavorably regarded by the
president. but it is not believed that he
VIII adopt it unless he finds congress
in a complaisant mood. In the last
two days he has talked the question
over which several leading senators, to
all of whom he has said that in his
view the scheme had merit, and to
some of whom he has intimated that
he did not see how the United States
could we'll reject so fair a proposition,
Some of the senators with whom he
has spoken favor the scheme; others
criticize 1t as a compromise craftily
suggested by the government at Mad
rid.
1t should be said that the plan is part
of scheme which the president has in
mind for gradually bringing to an end
the Cuban troubles. After securing
Spain's consent to the distribution of
government supplies and the liberation
OF the reconcentrados, he would pro-
ceed in due time to request complete
diSarming OF both the Cuban and Span
ish troops. Should this proposition Ee
aCccded TO, 1t is calculated that Span
ish supremacy in the island would dis
iItegrate, and that independence would
be matter of only short time. 1t
is supposed that the enlisted men in
the Spanish army, who were drafted
from the Pvrennees, who are mostly
half-grown boys, and who have been
unpaid and unfed for months, would
seize the opportunity to break away
from their military control and scatter
over the island, settling down with the
native Cubans on terms of mutual
goodwill, and intermarrying. This is
a project which appeals to the fancy
of those members of the administra-
ton who are peaceably inclined.
Should 1t be formally proposed in the
senate it is believed that it would have
the support of a majority in that body.
With few exceptions Republican SEN
ators Cisapprove it. But 1t would
have practically a unanimous support
ator German heartily approves 1t from
a political point Of view. The Popu-
lists and the silver senators also re-
gard it with favor. A change has come
over the silver contingent since 1t has
dawned upon them that a war with
Spain would not necessarily force the
United States to a silver basis. At
first they believed that this would be
the inevitable outcome of hostilities,
but now they realize the probability
that war would only result in fixing
the gold standard more firmly. 1t has
been noticeable in the last few days
that their belligerent spirit is modified.
fhe reason for this is not far to see.
They hope that the Republican admin
istration will bring negotiations to a
lame and impotent conclusion and that
when the fall elections come around
the Spanish flag WIN still be flying In
Havana and Cuban independence will
be as fer on as ever. Such outcome as
this they are sure would work disas-
-erausly T. sh~ Republican party at the