The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-06-21
washington Post.)

At1SdIloh It1tiitlH -"l' L '2I'1 - 80
most eminent ~diplomatist in America to-
day. He was for many years counsel
for the Mexican legation, and he has
been Secretary of State, Minister to
Spain, agent Of the United States IN
many delicate diplomatic negotiations,
and the agent Of him III her settlement
Of the Japan-China war.
Mr.. Foster has made a profession OF
diplomacy and to-day he Is acting as
the agent Of the Department Of State III
NEGOTIATING with Sir Julian Iauncefortr
the British Ambassador, and represen-
tative of the Dominion government at
Ottawa. Il treaty which shall settle the
boundary line between Canada and the
United States. His diplomatic mission.
Mr.. Foster explained, prevented hiM
talking us freely as he might otherwise
have done about matters now pending
or which may soon come before the state
Department.
1T is possible said Mr.. Foster, that
Spain Will retain the Canary Islands
when the conflict Is over, but not II the
war is prolonged"
DO YOU believe that the war VIII
extend over any considerable period:
II don't see.' said Mr.. Foster. how
that will lee possible. | don't see how
Spain can afford to prolong it. She has
no resources. And if, as IS probable, we
destroy her fleets. she cannot replace
them. They talk of sending troops TO
the Philippines. Spain can never 90
that. She has not got them to send.
She can raise any number of men to
defend her own coast but not send TO
her colonies.
AN INEVITABLE CONFLICT
Il have lived in Spain and | know and
have the kindest personal feeling for her
leading men. | have the kindest feeling
for the Queen. But ! cannot see how
this war could have been avoided. SPAN
had to choose between giving up Cuba
and fighting the United States, and If
Spain had given up Cuba, there would
have been Il revolution which would
have o~vcrthrown the present dy-
nasty
Then you think war was incvitable:'
| asked.
What could have prevented it? Yes,
it was inevitable, and since il was in
eyitabIe the sooner it came, the better.
Spain had been destroying our peace and
interfering with our commerce and we
must have interviewed. Since buchanan $
time it has been the policy of the United
States to free the people OF Cuba. In
fact, for nearly a century. We have had
in mind the removal of Spanish authorl-
ty from the island.
Spain once offered us great commer-
ciaI advantages if we would guarantee
her sovereignty by treaty, but we re-
fused to do so. Twice Spain and france
approached us to ask that we assure
SPANS control of Cuba, but we would
lot d it. Grant recognized the right
of -una to he free in his message to
Congress in 1863. Secretary Hamilton
Fish recognized it when he said that
--.1+ ,..+\,,A Int IT could
not prevent the contamination OF ou-
ha's fight for freedom.
War has been inevitable since Mir.
Cleveland made the mistake of SuppoS-
ing that Spain would settle the Cuban
question by granting autonomy to the
Cubans. Mr.. Mckinley Inherited that
policy and he had to give it Il fair trial.
But that trial showed how hopeless 1t
was and how inevitable was the con-
hict. 1t was as Mr.. Fish had said-au-
tonomy could only postpone the freedom
Of Cuba.
ARSURDTTY OF AUTONOMY.
"'Why couldn't the Cuban people be
satisfied with autonomy" | asked.
How could Spain offer an autonomous
government to one of her colonies, when
Spain herself had never had autonomy :
It would take Il long time to explain the
system of Spanish rule. but, briefly. 1t Is
this: When Il new administrator comes
in Governors are appointed for the forty
odd provinces: these Governors 90 out
within a day or two to take control OF
affairs. They appoint their projects and
their subprcfectS. Then the election Is
held. 1t always goes in favor Of the Gov
ernors. 1t always Will.
.Spain's rule in Cuba has been worse
than her rule at home. 1t could not be-
expected that she would break up en-
tirely the system under which so many
representatives of Spanish families have
lived in Cuba, and Il system of Sclf-GoT
crnmcnt which would leave the rcinS ol
power in the hands of Spaniards Woulc
be Il missioner.
1--WE have no right to expect the CuhaI
people to accept autonomy from Spain
Suppose that in 177S, when the heroes o.
the Revolution had been battling for in
dependence for three years. and aft"1
they had beaten B~urgoyne. Lord \ortl
had said: We were mistaken. We VII
grant YOU representation III ParllamCn
and a voice in the matter of taxation
for which we had entered into the wa
for independence. Would our forefather
have done well if they had accepted thi
compromise? Would we have been salts
fed with them If they had?
THE Cuhans had held out agalnS
Spain for three years. Two lundrc
thousand troops had been sent agalns
them: there were 00.0O0 Of them ]
Cuba when this war broke out: we d
not know how many nave dlcd since
and the reports of our Consl1lS ana q
tr1stworthy men who went into Cut
las: winter were thai the SpAnE1rdS hc'
the cities by force Of arms. that the
had abandoned the rest Of the country
-.It IN lnLI