The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-18

Cuba is de facto in a state of anarchy. as
an intermission of sovereignty cannot be
viewed in any other light The American
commissioners rejoined that, without ac-
cepting sovereignty, the United States con-
sidered themselves deputed and bound to
maintain security for all the inhabitants,
that they would not fail to introduce and
uphold order, and. in short, that they would
do all that was necessary to put the island
as speedily as possible in state of normal
organization, to be transformed at the earli-
est moment into legal regularity satisfac-
tory for the security of all.
upon this the Spanish commissioners.
with what seems striking logic, promptly
replied that by the fact of the declaration
Just made them and of the United States
undertaking to restore legality, order and
security, the United States were invested
with veritabie sovereignty and consequent
ly could not refuse to accept the conse-
qucnces of such sovereignty, seeing that
they admittedly could not tolerate the re-
lapse into anarchy of an island placed under
their supervision and direction.
Notwithstanding these striking objec-
tions. the American commissioners persisted
in their refusal and officially declared that
the United States cannot be considered in
vested with sovereignty and that they (the
commissioners could not deviate from this
definite declaration. According to impress
sions have been able to collect in various
circles unconnected with either side, but en-
titled to weight, the refusal of the Onited
States is not of so positive a character as
would at first sight seem to result from the
formal declarations mentioned. The reason
ing given me is It's: 1.-THE United States
have declared that they made a war, not
of conquest, but of liberation and order, be-
cause they could not allow the prolonga-
ton at their very dors of a state of things
which was, in their eyes, a blow to the
cause of humanity and civilization. They,
therefore made a public declaration that
the war was not one of conquest and they
now consider that by agreeing to be in
vested with the sovereignty of Cuba they
would give themselves the appearance of
having conquered the island for territorial
ACKNOWLEDGMENT They refuse to give them
selves the appearance of conquering
nation Hence they positively refuse to ac-
cept that capacity Of sovereignty which
would be inconsistent with the character Of
humanitarian disinterestednesS essential to
the honor of America
their firm refusal to accept sovereignty does
not exclude obligation, on the footing OF
justice and equity, to make Spain real con-
cessions as to financial burdens, which
would be crushing if she were saddled with
the whole Cuban debt We may be certain
that on this point the Americans will be
less inf1exible than on the principle Of SOW
ereignty. The proof, am told, that the
United States are disposed to meet Spain
In an equitable fashion, is that the Spanish
commissioners, who would not at first ac-
cept an invitation to dine with General
Horace Porter until the end Of the confer
ence. have now accepted. Friends of the
United States here think it might have
been better If they had proceeded more
openly, and if, instead OF conquering the
island indirectly. the Washington govern
ment had frankly accepted sovereignty in
Cuba with all the rights and obligations in
volved."
The Paris correspondent of the Daily Mail
says: 81 hear that the peace problem will
soon be- settled.-..Almerica assuming the
Cuban per cent. loan of 1896, which was
fioated entirely for Cuban purposes, and re-
jecting the per cent. loan Of $780,"