Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-04-06

Acting in Good Faith and That
the Scheme Of Self Government
Set on Foot in Cuba Will Bear
Good Fruit.
Washington, April 5.-The Spanish
minister, Senior Polo y Bernabe, was
seen at the Spanish legation to-day,
and consented to talk on the present
condition of affairs. He spoke freely
and al times with intense earnestness.
The interview is authitative through
out.
Il am still hopeful of peace" said
he. THAT may seem optimistic at
moment when such passions are
aroused, such naval operations are 60
ing on, and when the current of public
sentiment seems to be that war is in
evitable. l cannot say that | base my
view that peace will prevail upon any
direct or official information. On the
contrary, it is my individual judgment,
based solely upon the conviction that
n these enlightened days, two self
respecting nations made up of men
and women of high aspirations and
noble instincts, cannot and will not
resort to that last and brutal expedi-
ent of war. 1t would be too wanton,
too criminal, too offensive to all the
dictates Of civilization, and Christian
ity for such an awful consequence to
be brought about To be sure, l can
not close my eyes to certain obvious
circumstances existing both here and
in Spain. At times these have inclin-
ed to share the popular view that the
relations between the two countries
were fast approaching an irreconcila-
BILE issue And yet, at no time has it
seemed to me-, nor does it seem to me
now, that that issue has progressed
beyond the bounds of reasonable and
Just settlement, alike honorable to
both governments.
Consider for a moment some OF the
elements of this present crisis, the
minister went on, speaking with much
vigor "Can it be possible that your
people
WILL CONSIDER ONLY ONE SIDE
of the case? There are always two
sides to a case, and is it just or fair
or chivalrous for your people, borne
by their strong and innate patriotism
to say we are right, Spain is wrong,
that ends ito In a spirit of simple
justice, why will not this disposition
yield for a moment to a calm consid-
Grafton of both sides of the case, in
Guiding some of those factors which
are vital and essential 40 Spain?
Cuba has been colony of Spain
from time immemorial-fromt the time
of it's discovery by Christopher Col
umbus-and as a part of Spain there
is clustered about it a reverence almost
sacred Cuba is regarded by our
people just as you regard one OF the
States of your union. What would be
said if some foreign power said to the
United States that Illinois or Texas
or California must be free and indie
nendent of the United States? Would
not your very honor be brought in
question? Of course, / can understand
that some will rise up and say Yes,
but the States are well governed and
are at peace, while Cuba is misgov-
erned and in a state Of Instruction
There again, simple justice and fair
ness demand that there be something
more than abstract assertion. TO be
sure. your press tells Of brutal saw
agery existing in Cuba. do not wish
10 deal in recrimination. The time fer
that has gone by But I give you my
word that this savagery does not eX-
ist at all. that all reliable reports, Of
fetal and unofficial, Spanish and Amer
lean. agree that whatever my have
been the condition Of affairs year
or two wears ago, Gen. Blanco has in
augurated
HUMANE AND BENEFICENT
system, characteristic of the man.
Naturally with an instruction III
progress, military affairs have pursued
the usual methods of military life, And
in this they have been constantly re-
strained at all times by the determin-
alton to have their operations worthy
OF an honorable nation, and an honor
able people. That is all Spain has
sught to do in putting down a rebell-
ion. It is what any government on
the face of the earth would do. 1t
seeks no more and no less
than to preserve her established
Now as to autonomy. For some
reason intense feeling has been aroused
in this country again the home RUE
regime which Spain has lnaugurateo
in Cuba. 1t seems to be overlooked
in the passion of the moment that TINS
home rule has been the aspiration OF
the Cu5ans for years. 1t SENS to be
overlooked also that President Cleve-
land and Secretary Olney urged full
measure of home rule as the means
likely to bring about a termination or
the Cuban conflict. Spain has granted
that, granted it with che deepest sin
certify. There is disposition to find
flaws in the details of the plan. Let
any one who is anxious to pick flaws,
and who cares for war, take this home
rule plan and examine it in detail He
will find that it gives the Cubans the
most complete control Of their own
affairs. They. have parliament OF
their own, cabinet of their own min
isters Is it fair, just as this local
parliament and local cabinet is about
to assume complete control Of the
Cuban affairs, to sweep aside this en-
tire system and to declare that 1t is
a failure before it has ever been treid
For the moment, it seems as though
this equitable view was set aside and
instead we hear autonomy is failure.
We say so. That ends it. Spain must
not say that she is either sincere or
that the plan is success or will be a
success Now is such an attitude con-
sistent with the usual process of con-
sidering both sides of q1estion