The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-06
STILL HOPES FOR PEACE.
Minister Bsrnabe Takes an Opti-
mistic View OF the Situation.
HE MAKES ASTR0NG Plea FOR SPAIN
Argues that Antonoms iia. Not Bccn
Given a Chancc--Thc Proposal
i for n Truce.

lister, Senior roo Bernabc. was seen at
| the legation today 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.
i am still hopeful OF peace" said he,
although that may seem optimistic nj a
moment when such PASSIONS are aroused,
| such naval and. military preparations are
going on and when the current Of public
sentiment seems to be that war is newt
able l can not say that base my view
. That peace will prevail upon any direct or
efiicial Information. On the contrary. Ii
is my personal Judgment, based solely upon
the conviction that in this enlightened day
TWO seif-respecting nations, made UP OF
men and women OF high aspirations and
noble institutions, can not and viii not
resort to that last and brutal expedicnt of
war. II would be too whnton, TOO criminal
too offensive 10 all the dictates of civiliza-
ton ana Christianity for such an awful
consequence to be thought about. To this
purpose can not close my eyes TO certain
epVious circumstances existing both hrre
ana IN spain At times these have in
ciined me to share the popular view That
tue relations between the two countries
were last approaching an irrceoncilaple
situation And yet at no time has IL seemed
10 me, nor does 1t seem to mo now nm,
.hat issue has progressed beyond the
puuhns oil reasonable and Just settlement,
honorable TO both governments.
CONSIDER Tor moment tbs elements of
sr,,ai pu,'Nai eriss The minister went on.
| sleaSihs with much vigor. Can IL BIO
possible thai your people will consider anil,
one side OF the case? Lei MS for No
i it ADMIT that there are two sides 10
ms case, There are always two sidrs ia a
ease ana is IL lust or fair or chiynlrous
LOT ,or US people, born with strong and in
ST. aot pa'riotism, TO say: We are right;
SPAN is wrong, that ends it?'
In spirit of simple Justice why ,,,,
not this disposition yield for u mome,t II,
"a ca' M consideration OF both sides of tho
case lacinoing some Of those factors which
are Vial and essential to Spain?
~ mas peen "a colony of Spain from
.iine lnmemorial, frcm the time Of It's die.
n"s.iy hy ohristophor Columbus and as
par Of Spain there is clustered abont II n
reverence almost sacred
Nuna Is regarded by our people inst -,
w regard one of the States of your Union
VIM would he said IL some foreign mower
saiu TO the United States that Illinoie mr.
,eNas or California must be free and in
us' intent of the United Statese Would
Nv. your honor be broken? OF course can
uhuefstand that some one viii toke this nm
ana say yes, but the States arc well eove
erhea ana are peace. while Cuba is mis-
governed and In state of insurrecilon,'
ihera again simple Justice and fair
ness demand that there be something more
'han abstract assertion. To he sure YOUR
press tells OF brutal savagery existing In
y rfnh fs,.
tlon The time for that has gone by But
give you my word that this savagery does
not exist az all. that all reliable reports
official and unofficial, Spanish and Ameri-
can, agree that whatever may have been
the condition OF Affairs a year or two ago
General Bllnco has naugurated a humane
and btneilcent system characteristic Of the
man. Naturally, with an insurrection IN
progress. military affairs have pursued the
usual methods of military lie. and in
this they have been constantly restrained
at all times by tho determination to have
thcir operations worthy OF an honorable ma
ton and mn honorable people. That is all
Spain has sought to do tn putting down
a rebellion. II is what any government on
the face of the earth Will do. II wants To
preserve her established rights. Now, 40
10 autonomy: For some reason intense
feeling has been aroused in this country
against the home rule regime which Spain
has inauguratpd IN Cuba, II seems to be
overlooked in The passion Of the moment
that this home rule has been the asplra
lion Of the Cubans for years. II seems TO
be overlooked also that President Cleveland
and President Mckinley urged this meas
IRE of homo rule as the means likely to
bring about n termination or tho Cuban IN
suirectIoD. Yet Spain has granted that.
granted 1t with The deepest sincerity. There
is disposition to find fault With tho de-
tails OF the plan. Let any one who Is
anxious TO pick flaws and who cares for
var take this home rule plau and examine
II In detail. He VIII find that tho govern
ment OF Cuba Is in NEST complete control
of their own affairs. They have a Dariia-
ment OF their own and a cabinet Of their
own ministers. Ii It fair. lust as this local
parliament and local cabinet is about 10
assume complete control OF Cuban arairs
10 sweep aside this entire system and to
declare 1t Is failure2Jt has not even
been triedl
II want simply to call attention to the
fact that plain Justice dictates the right
al home rule brcught forth after the deep
est soiic.tude and consideration and based
upon what the Cubsns themselves have
long desired and on which the United states
government deemed most fitting settlement
should not be lightly Dismissed on repre-
sentatioms Of the press or even on the
representations o. men o. aoher judgment
II the latter say tho home rule " no,
success ] reply youi opportunity for IN
yestlgetion has not been adequate. ant.
moreover, success or failure can no, be
judged before a system has been tried ana
when It's Initiative policy has been at
tended by difficulties not only In inc m
terror OF Cuba. but circumstances "llhout
tending To desaee the very ends sought
Even ihough wo may differ on this, o.
least we should agree that judgment ehoulf
nc, be forced arbitrarily on the other for
the moment 1t seemE. iholgh this yiew was
sd aside. We hear. Autonomy II failure.
We ray so. that ends II. spain must not
saY that she Is aither sincere Of tpat lne
rs such overture consistent with the United