The Winslow mail., 1898-09-17
PREDICTIONVERIFIED
Made by an American Minister to
Spain Years Ago.
Who Solicited Proposals froE Spain
Regarding the Central of Cuba
and the Relief of the
Monarchy.

Two things have long puzzled the
student of Spanish history. One is as
to how Spain has managed TO exist so
long with a depleted treasury. and the
other is as TO how she has so long kept
such valuable islands as in the West In
dies and Tie Philippines.
In 1925 this government was repre-
sented at Madrid by Alexander II.
Everett, lis former teacher and con-
fidcntial friend, John Quincy Adams,
heing president. In the fall of that
year Mr.. Everett wrote personal let
Ter to the president that was not pre-
served in the archives of the state de-
partment and which was not made pub
lie until more than 80 years later. 1t is
of special interest in view of our pres
ent relations and impending negotia-
tions with Spain.
As secretary of state, Mr.. Adams
had himself brought about the treaty
under which Florida end all the claims
of Spain north of the parallel of 42
degrees, as far west as the Pacific,
were ceded to the United States. He
insisted upon these cessions and re-
ceiyed the credit of getting them, Mon
roe, Calhoun and other prominent
statesmen of the time being lukewarm
in the matter. Mr.. Adams had also
held in this connection that Cuba was
really a part of the Floridas and
should pass under the control if not
the ownership of the United States.
Mr.. Everett was in full sympathy with
this view of the case, and it no doubt
had bearing upon the course that he
pursued with the government at Mad
rid. He found the king obstinately de-
termined not to recognize the indie
pendence of Cuba, then in revolt. He
also found Spain without credit and in
pressing need of money, chronic con-
dition that has since become familiar
10 that power.
Under these conditions, ostensibly
upon his own motion, but approved by
the president, he sought to elicit cer-
tain proposals from the troubled mon
archy. These can be set forth in much
less space than they occupy in the let
ter referred to. Spain was just as
Jealous Of her honor then as now, and
the scheme was baited with the essur-
ance that honor and expediency went
together in this instance. The hIan-
cial distress of Spain was to be relieved
by the loan of large sum from the
United States and the burden of mill
tary charges in Cuba was to be- lifted.
Full title and ownership of the island
was 10 remain in the parent govern
ment, hut it was to be turned ever to
the United States temporarily" as
security for the loan, made for an in
definite period and without interest.
We were TO have full control of har-
bors and armaments, guaranteeing
against invasion or seizure by other
powers, and to restore actual posses
sion to Spain when the debt was
paid
In arguing this plan Mr.. Everett
made some predictions that have been
fulfilled and others that history has
failed to verify. He urged upon Spain
that the Cubans would persist in their
revolutionary movements until their
independence was granted or their re-
lease from Spanish control was effect
ed through foreign Intervention. he
insisted that the government could not
stand six months without replenish-
ing its treasury. He declared that the
CubaIs were not capable of self-gov-
ernment, that their affairs would have
equitable administration at the hands
of the United States and that the one
way of maintaining Spanish honor
had been opened through this pro-
posal. Some of the kings advisers
urged his acceptance of the prcposi-
tion, but he obstinateiy and blindly
refused 10 ALLEVIATE the island upon any
terms or for any purpose.
How history would have been
changed had these secret negotiations
been successful Is largely a matter of
imagination, but it is not credible that
Spain would have repaid the millions
1t was proposed to advance her, and it
Is certain that the war Iow in progress
would never have been fought. The
scheme was revived when the acquisi-
ton of Cuba was agitated under the
second Grant administration, but the
sequel to il all Is being read in the
story of current events.-Detroit Free
Press.