The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-20
What Bernabe Proposes.

With the advent of the new minister
the policy OF the Spanish government to-
ward the United States seems 10 have
been entirely changed almost reversed.
writes W. E Curtis from Washington
Senior Polo is most amiable man OF live
" disposition. earnest manners and a
manifest desire TO restore and preserve
the friendly relations between his own
country and ours Ever since his arrival
he has been engaged with great industry
in making friends and endeavoring 10 i'm
press the officials of our government with
the desire ct Spain for peace. He tells
everybody he meets both officials and pri-
vate citizens, that war is impossible be-
cause both nations know better than 10
fight. and that Spain is particularly anx-
ious 10 avoid a conflict because the gov
eminent there realizes that the strength
and wealth of the United States is TOO
great for her small population and power
~ TO contend with. AT the same time
he is endeavoring by both direct and in
direct means 20 induce the president 70
use his good offices 10 sustain the pres
ent sutonomist government at Havana
He correctly claims that II was established
at the instance OF the United States. and
that il ought 10 have fatr test. Spain
has done everything that we have recon-
mended. That government has promptly
has expressed. often no doubt with NOR
tihcation and misgivings. and now that
the critical time has come it is only natu-
raj for il TO expect from this direction
that support and encoura cement which
is necessary 10 make home rule sue
cess.
The situation in Cuba is extraordinary
and extremely delicate. The government
is intrusted 10 a group Of men who less
than year ago would have been shot or
at least sent 70 the dungeons If the cap
tain general could have laid hands upon
them, and they. with the knowledge ana
consent of the ministry at Madrid. have
offered the insurgents terms OF capitula-
ton which practically surrender every
thing but the flag of Spain; and. stranger
still, the government OF the United States
has been solicited. Indirectly and unoffi-
cially however. 10 exercise its influence
with the insurgents TO accept this olive
branch If ii had been rendered two years
ago or even a year ago, the concessions
which Spain now offers 20 her reoellious
subjects might have been effective In re-
storing peace, but they have been so re-
luctant and tardy that the latter conclude
that Spain has reached her last argument.
and are encouraged to expect absolute
Independence The Spanish government.
however still believes that il the United
States should withdraw its moral sup
port from the insurgents by convincing
them that they cannot expect interven-
ton or recognition from this government,
and would recall our fleet from Cuban
waters there is a strong probability OF
the acceptance and support OF the auton-
omist government by all classes in cuba
The critical period is approaching, the
80 rH1gNv qsg1 1ar
islature will be held April 3. and il is
believed by the Spaniards that free cleo
ton. which is offered for the FIRST time
in any Spanish colony. may be parucupat-
ed in by the Spanish conservatives AS
well as the insurgent sympathizers II our
government will only exercise its efforts
in the direction described. Senior Sa-
gasta said the other day at Madrid that
there would be peace and happiness ~
Cuba I'm three weeks if the American peo-
pie wiled II. The insurgents, he said
would accept the terms OF peace offered
by the autonomist authorities il they Were
convinced that the United states did not
intend to recognize them or intervene in
their behalf and he announced that II
they should return the Spanish govern
rnent would receive them with open arms
This opinion has been expressed repeal L
edly by Senior Polo the new Spanish min
lister in Washington, not only at the state
department. but elsewhere, and through
a third person ne has requested our gov
eminent, through the consuls in Cuba. "a
make such representations TO the insur-
gents as will convince them that their
best course is to accept home rule and
submit 10 the present government, which
for the first time in history is composed
of men Of the native Cubans. The terms
of surrender yield everything the insur-
gents have demanded except the nominal
sovereignty of Spain.