The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-06

seen ct q. Spanish legation today and
consented tC talk OF the present condi-
/ ton of ara.rs. He spoke freely and at
times with intense -.>rnestness. The in
terview is authoritative throughout.
Il am still hopeful Of peace" said he.
THAT may seem optimistic at a mo-
ment when such passions are aroused.
such naval and military operations are
going on. and when the current of pub
lie sentiment seems TO be that war is
inevitable. / cannot say that l base
my view that peace will prevail upon
any direct or official information. On
the contrary, ii is my individual judg-
ment, based solely upon the conviction
that in these enlightened days two self
respecting nations, made up of men
and women of high aspirations and no.
bic instincts, can not and Will not re-
sort TO that last and brutal expedient
of war 1t would be too wanton, too
criminal, too offensive to all the die
tates of civilization and Christianity
for such an awful consequence to be
brought about To be sure, l cannot
close my eyes to certain obvious cir
cumstances existing, both here and in
Spain. AT times these have inclined
me to share the popular view that the
relations between the two countries
were fast approaching an irrecOncilable
issue. And yet. at no time has it SEEM
ed to me. nor does it now seem, that the
issue has progressed beyond the bounds
of reasonable and just settlement
alike honorable to both governments.
TWO SIDES TO THE CASE
Consider for a moment some of the
elements 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 to this case.
There are always two sides to a case,
and is il just. or fair, or chivalrOus for
your people. borne on by the strongest
innate patriotism, to say, We are right,
Spain is wrong; that ends it,? In a
spirit of simple justice, why will not
this disposition yield for moment to
a calm consideration of both sides of
the case. including some of those fac
tors which are vital and essential to
Spain?
cuba has been colony of Spain
from time immemorable-from the time
of its discovery by Christopher Column
bus-and, as a part of Spain, there is
clustered about it a reverence that is
almost sacred.
Cuba is regarded by our people just
as you regard one of the states of your
foreign power said to the United States
that Illinois or Texas or California
must be free and Independent of the !
United States? Would not your very
honor be brought into question? OF
course, can understand that some one
VIII rise up and say. Yes. but the states 1
are wen governed and are at peace. /
while Cuba is misgoverned and in a
state Of Instruction There, again. I
simple justice and fairness demand I
that there be something more than alb /
stract assertion. To be sure. YOUR press /
tells of brutal savagery existing in Gu !
ba. do not wish to deal in recrimina-
ton: the time for that has gone by
But I give you my word that this saw
aSery does not exist at all; that all re- /
liable reports, official and unofficial. /
Spanish and American. agree with !
whatever may have been the condition /
of affairs year or two ago. General B
BlancO has inaugurated a humane and /
heneficent system characteristic of the I
man.
WAR IN USUAL WAY.
Naturally, with an insurrection in
progress, military affairs have pursued
the usual methods Of military life And
in this they have been constantly re-
strained at all time by the determine
ton TO have their operations worthy of .
an honorable nation and an honorable
people. That is all Spain has sought to
do in putting down rebellion. 1t is
what any government on the face of
the earth would do. 1t seeks no more
and no less than TO preserve her estab-
Ished rights.
Now, as to autonomy. For some
reason intense feeling has been aroused
in this country against the home rule
regime which Spain has inaugurated in
Cuba 1t seems to be overlooked in !
the passing of the moment, that this
home rule has been the aspiration of
the Cuban for years. 1t seems to be
overlooked also that President Cleva-
land and Secretary Olney urged full
of home rule as the means
likely to bring about a termination of
tibet Cuban conflict. Spain has granted
that, granted ii with the deepest sim
cerity.
FINDING FLAWS.
There is a disposition to ind flaws
in the details of the plan. Let any one
who is anxious to pick flaws and who
cares for war, take this hOn~ rule plan
and examine it in detail. He will find
that it gives the Cubans the most COM
plete control of their own affairs They
have parliament of their own and a
cabinet of their own ministers. Is it
fair. just as this local parliament and
local cabinet is about to assume COM
plete control of the Cuban affairs, to
sweep aside this entire system and TO
declare that it is a failure before it
has even been tried? l do not wish
in this to repeat an argument for au-
tonomy, but simply to call attention to
the fact that plain Justice dictates that
a system of home rule. brought forth
after the deepest solicitude and con-
and based upon what the
Cubans themselves have long desired
and what the United States government
deemed most fitting as a settlement
should not be lightly dismissed on rep
of the press, or even on
the reports of men of sober Judgment
RECONCENTRADos.
"As to the reconcentrados, can only
say that the DEGREES of concentration
have been revoked, and urgent steps
are being taken for the relief of these
door creatures. While there is no doubt
Of the misery of their condition, the
is making the most heroic
efforts 10 alleviate this condition. As to
the insurgents, they have borne arms
against Spain for three years, entail
ing terrible loss of life and money. And
yet, believing these men To be mis-
guided, the government has sought to
regain their confidence. Even today
the official Gazette at Havana pub
fishes an appeal by the home rule gov
eminent, urging all those In arms in
as we'll as Spanlards, to cease
hostilities, join and celebrate the res
toration of peace. 1t tells them also
that II this home rule is not perfect,
that it may be improved. In short.
the insurgents are invited to Join the
Spanish soldiers in laying down their
arms, saying that a period of calm I
nav he given during which lust and