The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-09

The North American Review for March
contains an article on the timely topic I'm
PREVENTION of the United States in Cuba,
by Professor Latane, of Johns Hopkins
University, which has special interest at the
present time. When General Grant be-
came President Cuba was having one of its
revolutions. The disturbance was one of
the first topics to claim the attention of the
then new President. In June, 1869, he in
structed General Sckles to offer the good
services of the United States to close the
civil war. 1t was not proposed to recognize
the Cubans as belligerents, but President
Grant proposed to mediate upon the follow
ing terms:
l. The independence of Cuba to be ac-
knowledged by Spain.
2 Cuba to pay to Spain a sum, the amount
and conditions to be agreed upon
g. Abolition of slavery in the Island of
Cuba.
A. An armistice pending the negotiations
Tor the settlement above referred to.
The Spanish government held that it was
beneath the dignity of the mother country
to treat with insurgents while they were in
arms, and that whatever agreement was ar
rived at must be in the nature of a volun-
tary concession on the part of Spain, con-
summated according to strict legal and con-
stitutional forms, and not in the nature of a
treaty between armed powers. The Spanish
propositions were as follows:
!. The Insurgents to lay down their arms
z. Spain to grant simultaneously a full
and complete amnesty.
3: The people of Cuba to vote by universal
Suffrage upon the question of their indie
T. The majority having declared for indie
pendence. Spain to grant it, the Cortes con-
Sehtlng, cuba paying a satisfactory equiva-
lent guaranteed by the United States.
After mature deliberation the administra-
ton instructed General Sickles to negotiate
only on the basis proposed by our govern
ment. Two unfortunate incidents followed.
one of which was the allowing of the pur-
port of the proposition of General Grant to
become known, with the understanding that
if Spain did not comply Herewith Cuba
would be recognized This touched the
Spanish honor, and nothing more was done
for the time, except that the offer of Cen
eral Grant was withdrawn.
In February, 1873 when Spain was for a
season republic, friendly relations were
resumed, but they did not continue long
because of the taking of four men from the
American vessel Virginius by Spanish
war ship and putting them to death under
sentence of court-martial. But while the
negotiations were going on over the Vir-
ginius affair. in 1875, President Grant caused
the Spanish government to be informed
that the time is at hand when it may be
the duty of other governments to intervene
solely with view OF bringing to an end a
destructive and disastrous conflict" Euro
pean governments We're approached with a
proposition to put an end to the war. but
Great Britain declined to be a party to in
tervention at that time. Soon after Spain.
in a courteous note. explained the nature
of the insurrection and made it evident tha
its government was in position to ouell il
This statement, with the promise that
slavery in Cuba should be abolished and
that Cuba would be granted many admins
trative reforms put further attempts at in
tersention at that time out of the question.
IL General Grant had been sustained at
that time there would now be no war in
Cuba His mistake. however, was in ask