The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-06
There Is No SavagerS i'm Cuba, lie As
serts, Despite the Newspaper Ac-
counts Of Horrors.
AUTONOMY IS BEING TRIED
AND HE DOES NOT BELIEVE III HAS
YET PROVED A FAILURE.
HOme-RuIe Government Now NegOti-
atinE with Insurgents to Cease
HOstiIities and Work for Peace.

WASHINGTON, April 5.-Ihe spanish
minister, Senior Polo y Bernabe, was seen
at the Spanish legation to-day and con-
scented to talk on the present condition of
affairs. He spoke freely, and at times with
intense earnestness. The interview is au-
thoritatiye throughout.
Il am still hopeful of peace" said he.
THAT may seem optiRistic at a moment
when such passions are aroused such naval
and military operations are going on and
when the current of public sentiment seems
to be that war is inevitable. 1 cannot say
that 1 base my view that peace will pre-
vail on any direct or official information.
On the contrary, it is my individual judg-
ment, based solely; on the conviction that
in these enlightened days two self-respect-
ing nations, made up of men and women Of
high aspirations and noble instincts, can
not and will not resort to that last and
brutal expedient of war. 1t would be too
wanton, too criminal too offensive to all
the dictates of civilizations and Christianity
for such an awful consequence to be
brought about
ITO be sure, / cannot close my eyes to
certain obvious circumstances existing both
here and in Spain. AT times these have in
clined me to share the popular view that
were fast approaching an irreconcilable is
sue. And yet at no time has it seemed to
me, nor does it seemtte me now, that that
issue has progressed beyond the bounds Of
a reasonable and just settlement, alike hon.
orable to both governments.
Consider for a moment some of the ele-
ments 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? Let us for a
moment admit that there are two sides 10
this case. There are always two sides to q
case and is it just or fair or chivalrous for
your people, borne on by their strong and
innate patriotism to say we are right,
Spain is wrong. That ends it?' In spirit
OF simple justice why will not this dispo-
sition yield for a moment to a calm con-
sideration of both sides of the case, in
Guiding some of those factors which are
vital and essential to SPAIN
CUBA REVERED BY SPAIN.
Cuba has been a colony of Spain from
time immemorial-from the time of its dis
covery by Christopher Columbus-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 Cali
fornia must be free and Independent OF the
United States? Would not your very honor
be brought in question: OF course can UNI
derstand that some one will rise up and say:
Yes. but the States are we'll governed anu
are at peace while Cuba is misgoverned
and in a state of insurrection.' There again
simple justice and fairness demand that
there be something more than an abstract
assertion. ~
ITO be sure, your press tells of brutal
savagery existing in Cuba. 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, Span
ish and American agree that whatever may
have been. the condition of affairs year or
two ago, General Blanco has inaugurated
a. humane and benefcent system character
istic of the man. Naturally, with an insur-
rection in 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 determination
to have their operations worthy of an hon.
orable nation and ain honorable people. That
is all Spain has sought to do in putting
down a rebellion. 1t is what any govern
ment on the face of the earth would do.
1t seeks no more and no less than to pre-
serve her established rights.
Now as to autonomy. For some reason
intense feeling has been aroused in this
country against the home-rule regime winch
Spain has inaugurated in Cuba. 1T seems
to be overlooked in the passion of the mo-
ment that this home rule has been the as
piration of the Cubans for years, II seems
to he overlooked also that President CleVe-
land and Secretary Olney urged full meas
ure of home rule as the means likely TO
bring about a termination OF the CUBAN con-
hict. Spain has granted that-granted 1t
with the deepest sincerity. There is a as
nosition TO find flaws in the details of the
plan. Let any one who is anxious TO PICK
flaws and who cares for war take TINS nome
rule plan and examine it in detail. lie VIII
find that it gives the Cubans the most COM
nlete control of their own affairs. They have
:. Parliament of their own and Cabinet of
their own ministers 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 entire system
and to declare that it is a failure before II
has even been tried?
AUTONOMY NOT A FAILURE.
II do not wish in this to repeat an argu-
ment for autonomy, but simply TO call at
tention to the fact that plain justice die
tates that a system of home rule, brought
forth after the deepest solicitude and con-
siderstion, and based upon what the Gu
bans themselves have long desired. and on
what the United States government deemed
most fitting settlement. should not be
lightly dismissed ON representations of the
press. or even on the representations Of
men of sober judgment. If the latter say
that this homo rule is not success, ! re-
ply your opportunities for investigation
have not been adequate. and, moreover.
success or failure cannot be judged before
system has been tried and when its in
ftial steps have been attended by difficulties
not only in the interior of Cuba, but cir