The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-03-25
THE PRESIDENT HOPE
Seeking Peaceful Solution of Our
Quarrel With Spain.
A PLAN OF CUBAN HOME RULE.

6CneH0 1udG "oulu DEihB Il CaCo w ieh
Honor, Satisfy Both Cuba and Spain and
Avert the Necessity of Armed Interven.
ton by the United States.
WASHINGTON, March 21.-l Special. lit
q an open secret here that President Nc
Kinley has all along hoped to be able to
find way of settling the Cuban question
without resort to war. He still has hopes
in that direction, though officials who are
close to him say the indications are he is
not as confident of a good result as he was
some time ago. As nearly as 1 can learn
the president has never been able to make
up his mind by just what method Spain
could be ousted from Cuba without wal
with this country. Various propositions
have been discussed, including g uarantee
of 5000, 900, 900 of Cuban bonds, but
against every proposal objections are urged
To this day it does not appear there is any
plan of settlement which could be adopted
that would satisfy both Spain and the in
surgents. 1t looks very much as If the
situation had been permitted TO drift along
till it has become square contest between
antagonistic forces and would have to be
fought out on those lines, with the issue
either Cuban overthrow or Spain eVacua
tion of the island.
Still, in these days diplomacy is able to
perform wonders. 1t cannot yet be said
to be wholly impossible that the interna-
tional lawyers shall be able to find an &C.
,ommodation-a scheme Of settlement to
which both Spain and the Cubans may
agree. One plan much talked of in adj
ministration circles is to give the Gubans
a perfect home rule government, such as
the Canadians enjoy, Spain to retain only
q purely nominal or titular sovereignty,
and even this to come to an end after the
lapse of few years, or as soon as the
bonds which had been guaranteed by the
United States were paid off by the Cuban
government. Then Cuba would become
wholly free and independent.
Advantages of the Plan.
The advantages of this plan, as argued
by those who presented it to the president
for his consideration, are these:
First.-It would enable Spain to get out
of Cuba slowly and by easy stages, with
out that shock to her pride and narrowing
of the feelings of the masses of her people
which might make war necessity. So
far as the masses of SpaiU are concerned,
it would be enough for them to know that
the Spanish flag still floated at Havana.
Second.-It would avert war and give
prosperity to the island of Cuba. Instead
of more war to ravage that unfortunate
island, peace would como at once, with
repair of the devastation wrought by the
disorder of the last three years. Instant
peace would be the means of saving many
thousands of lives that must otherwise be
sacrificed. With the United States guar
anteeing the payment Of Cuba's Indemnity
to Spain, of course the United States
would for a time administer the customs
of the island.
Third.-This would insure tranquility
in Cuba. 1t would assure prosperity. The
power of the United States would be the
real power in that island. Spain would be
only fgurehead, and her captain general,
or whatever she chose to call him, would
be without actual power. Cuba would be
under the wing of the United States, and
Washington and not Madrid would really
map out the policies Of the colonial gov
eminent.
Fourth.-Finally, the 10 or 90 years
period In which Spain was to hold NOM
inal control while the United States was
maintaining proteotorate would give the
Cubans inst the opportunity they need for
preparing themselves for the responsible
ties of independence. That the Cubans are
now ready for complete self government
no one believes. They are children. If the
Independence of the island were secured
today, endless and hopeless discussions
would follow. The struggle for the mas
terry between the Cubans proper and the
Spanish property holding classes would be
80 savage as always to afford a menace to
peace But with the strong hand of the
United States guiding the government and
ever ready to step in to restrain and COM
pei peace it is believed the population could
be gradually fitted for governing them
selves.
Whether or not the negotiations for set.
Element of the Cuban problem will ever
come to this do not know. But it looks
like rational mode of settlement. The
objections to it are quite as likely to come
from the insurgents as from Spain, but
there shout, be no objections from the
United States if the government is able to
bring negotiations to that stage. 1t is by
such methods as these that modern gov
ernments attempt to effect revolutions of
a peaceful nature in states where disorder
prevails. Instead of the old, semibarbaric
and heroic method of beginning to shoot
and kill till one side or the other cries
quits, the science of government as we find
it today recognizes equities, negotiates for
settlement, reorganizes gradually, protects
the interests of all concerned as best posi-
BILE and changes a people from one nation
or system to another without the dreadful
shock of war.
Improvement on Old Methods.
1t is quite like to the Improvement
which the world has effected in its means
of settling disputes between neighbors. In
the old times they went to war. They
had vendetta. Tribe made war upon
tribe, or family upon family. There was
shooting and burning and woe and de-
struction. Now men take their differences
to court, where they are settled according
to we'll recognized principles of equity, by
officials neutral and skilled. Modern ma
lions are in one sense the worlds court for
adjudication of just such cases as this
struggle between Spain and her rebellious
subjects in Cuba. The case should be set
tied in court, without war, and President
Mckinley has all along hoped it might be.
Obviously it is the duty of the United
States, if of any nation, to make the effort
to reach a peaceful settlement. We have
set up the claim that on this continent our
will is law. We leave to the nations OF