The San Francisco call., 1898-04-06

| and consented to talk on the present
 condition of affairs. He spoke freely
 and at times with intense earnestness
 The interview Is authoritative through
 out.
 T am still hopeful of peace" said he | That may seem optimistic at mo- 1 ment when such passions are aroused,
 such naval and military operations are | going on and when the current or pup | lie sentiment seems to be that war IS | inevitable I cannot say that ] base
 my views that peace will prevail upon
 any direct or official information. on | the contrary, I express my individual
 judgment based solely upon the conv1c-
 tion that in these enlightened days two self lf-respecting nations, made up or
 men and women of high aspirations and
 noble instincts cannot resort to that last and brutal expedient of war. It
 would be too wanton, too criminal, too offensive to all the dictates of civiliza- tion and Christianity, for such and awful consequence to be brought
 about. To be sure, l cannot close my eyes to certain obvious clr- cumstanceS existing, both here ana III Spain. At times these have inclined me to share the popular view that the re- lations between the two countries were fast approaching an irreconcllable ls-
 sue And yet at no time has 1t seemed to me, nor does it now seem, that the issue has progressed beyond the poundS of a reasonable and Just settlement alike honorable to both Governments.
 consider for a moment some or the elements of this present crlslS, the Minister went on, speaking With much vigor. Gan it be possible that your people will consider only one side or the
 case? Let us for moment admit that there are two sides to this case.
 There are always two sides to case, and is it just or fair or chivalrous Tor
 your people, borne on by strong and innate patriotism. to say we are right; Spain is wrong; that ends it?' in a spirit of simple justice, why will not this disposition yield TOT mo- ment to a calm cons1deratloh oI potn sides of the case, including some or those factors which are vital and es- sential to Spain.
 "Cuba has been colony of Spain from time immemorable-from the tune of it's discovery by Christopher Colum-
 bus-and as part of Spain there IS clustered about it a reverence that IS almost sacred. Cuba is regarded py 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 independent of the United States? Would not your very honor be brought into question? Of course l can understand that some one will rise up and say Yes, but the States are well governed and are at peace, while Cuba is misgoverned and in a state of insurrection.'
 There, again, simple justice and fairness demand that there be some thing more than abstract assertion. To be sure, your press tells of brutal SaV- agery existing in Cuba. l do not wish to deal in recrimination. The time for that has gone by. But l give you my word that this savagery does not exist at all, that all reliable reports. official and unofficial, Spanish and American, agree that whatever may have been the condition of affairs year or two years ago, General Blanco has inaugurated humane and bench cent system characteristic of the man. Naturally, with an instruction in pro- gress, military affairs have pursued the usual methods of military life. Ana in this they have been constantly re- strained at all times by the determina- tion to have their operations worthy of an honorable nation and an honorable
 
 to do in putting down rebellion. It is what any government on the face of the earth would do. It seeks no more and no less than to preserve her estab- lished rights.
 Now, as to autonomy. For some reason intense feeling has been aroused in this country against the home rule regime which Spain heJ inaugurated in Cuba. It seems to be overlooked, in the passing of the moment, that this home rule has been the aspiration of the Cuhans for years. It seems to be over looked also that President Cleveland and Secretary Olnev urged full meas ure of home rule as the means most likely to bring about termination of the Cuban conflict. Spain has granted that. granted it with the deepest sin cerity. There is a disposition to find flaws in the tails 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 tl- it gives the Cubans the most comDlate control cH their own af- fairs. They have ~arliament of their own and 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 | declare that it is IdlluIG DSlOIc IL UdS even D6Sn CT1eQ do not yiSh in this to repeat an argu- ment for autonomy. but simply to call attention to the fact that plain justice dictates that system of hon,a rule, brought forth after the deepest solici- tude and consideration and based upon what the Cubans themselves have long desired, and what the United States Government deemed most fitting as a settlement, should not be lightly dis missed on representations of the press, or even on the representations of men of sober judgment. If the latter say that this home rule is not a success I reply, Your opportunities for investi- gation have not been adequate, and success or failure cannot be judged before system has been tried and when it's initial steps have been at- tended by difficulties not only in the in- terior of Cuba, but circumstances with out tending to defeat the very end sought Even though we may differ in this, at least we should agree that nd or1f 0f ov,a ctoo