The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-19

direction described. Senior Sagasta said the
other day at Madrid that there would be
peace and happiness in Cuba in three weeks
If the American people willed ii. The insur-
gents, he said, would accept the terms of
peace offered by the autonomist authorities
If they were convinced that the United
States did not intend to recognize them or
intervene in their behalf, and he announced
that if they should return the Spanish gov
eminent would receive them with open
arms.
This opinion has been expressed repeated
~ by Senior Polo, the new Spanish minister
in Washington, not only at the State De-
partment but elsewhere, and through a
third person he has requested our govern
ment, through the consus in Cuba, to make
such representations to the insurgents as
will convince them that their best course is
to accept home rule and submit to the pres
ent government, which for the first time in
history is composed Of men of the native
Cuoans. The terms of surrender. which
have already been printed in these dis
patches yield everything the insurgents
have demanded except the nominal SOW
ereignty Of Spain.
1t is assumed that the men who compose
the new government at Havana are just as
patriotic as the half naked negroes who are
brandishing their machetes among the cane
fields, and are no less sincere in their
anxiety for the freedom and the welfare or
their fellow-countrymen They believe that
home rule under a nominal sovereignty Is
the best form of government for popula-
ton of which Is per cent are illiterate, and
that it would be satisfactory to all con-
cerned If it were given fair trial
A gentleman who has the confidence or
the Spanish minister, in speaking OF the
plan of mediation above described, said to-
day:
'dThe first of the objections is that the
insurgents would not regard any repre-
sensations made to them by the United
states 70 THIS tbe pure anG in
the solution. They have made no real
progress in driving Spain out or in estab-
fishing a government of their own, and
their hone success
tween Spain and the United States. once
assure them that this is not to be and that
we demand of them, as well as of Spain.
that devastation and bloodshed cease and
the experiment of autonomy be tried, and
there can be little doubt that they Will
either treat with the autonomist govern
ment or break up and disappear as an or
ganized force. In case, however, TINS turns
out to be a mistaken view and they pay no
heed to our representation no one Is
harmed by the attempt and very little time
need be lost
''The second objection is one purely of
sentiment and if well founded would have
great weight with the country and justly
So which Is that in taking the attitude pro-
posed the United States would be helping
bravely for liberty the chains of an lntoler-
able bondage. The contrary is the 1act.
The United States would be securing 10
Cuba all the benefits of free government
under such circumstances as would make Il
impossible that it should ever pc Win
drawn, and would bring about the lmne-
date re-esta adjustment of peace, good oruer
and too-long-delayed opportunity for re-
Mobilization and renewal of prosperity. II
peaceably gained the further continuance
of the struggle for the mere name is not
worth while for Cuba, and certainly would
not Justify war our part.
1.-The third objection Is that 1t Woulu oe
unjuStifiable to ask Cuba to trust again 10
the promises of Spain, as she has always
heretofore found that they were not to be
depended upon. Without going into dls-
agreeable "reminiscences, conditions are now
so changed that it is plainly apparent sne
can never withdraw any rights and Priv
legeS she has conceded and would never at
tempt it.. The day for such things mas
passed. Suppose. however, that she did IL
is again true that neither the United States
nor Cuba would be the worse of for the
experiment Cuba would have had
breathing spell and chance to recuperate,
and if it became necessary to revolt again
the sympathy Of the world would be en-,
have better chance of success than now
The trial holds the probability OF great gam
and no chance of loss.
FINALLY, it is widely and continuously IN
sisted that after a brief attempt under the
most adverse possible circumstances auton-
a aiay indc5tions that it has been slowly gain
ing ground. A study of the decree SHOWS
certainly some very liberal and admirable
features. If others are less desirabie, or IT., II
there are any essentially Objectionable,
there can be little doubt that friendly repre-
sentation on the part of the United states
would secure their modification on the part
of SPAIN and their acceptance as whole,
at least experimentally and as modus
vivendi. on the part of the insurgents.
When the excitement due to past Incidents,
famed to white heat by an unscrupulous
and mendaciouS press for purposes or spec
uiation is allayed and the county vniIiS i
not conclude that some such way out OF
the difficulty is not only possible, but best,
and that decree that 1t must be so, com,
ing from great powerful, prosperous and
peace-loVing nation having in the arena OF
public opinion of the whole civilized world
rf.Tr1 oil I'M
cIIfe Itself without the use of force? AS 1
have said, the experiment is big, with pos
sibilfties of success, carrying no FISK OF loss
or harm to any one, and war, Justitaole
only as a last resort is always available as
such"
thorities are going to make a success OF the
April elections if possible. This IS apparent
from the peculiar instructions which Gen
eral Blanco has just issued 10 ms s9no sttei
the last two weeks 1900 fresh troops nave
arrived from Spain. Some estimate the
ievies General Blanco has about $1,000 men
able to do duty, without including 10000 or
40 600 Spanish volunteers who are Kept as
garriSonS in the several cities, and are an
unstable and uncertain quantity. why
Spain should send re-enforcements to CUBA
just at this time is mystery, although tne
movement may be based upon the fear or
trouble with the United States. The new
soldiers have not all landed at Havana
Not less than 5000 disembarked at santiago
ard it is said that 20 900 more are expected.
The rainy season, in which all operations
must be suspended, is only six weeks off. If
these troops were to be employed against
the insurgents they should have been sent
out in November, but there seems TO be
something more than Spanish procraStlna-
ton in the late arrivals. The last winter
has seen less fighting than any period since
the revolution began, and now, according to
advices received here to-day all military
operations throughout Cuba have ceased.
General Blanco has issued orders to stop
all aggressive movements and to make the
troops as comfortable as possible at the
most convenient garrisons.
This change of policy is supposed to be
due to the elections, and the Spanish really
have hopes that If the United States will
use its good offices the elections may
demonstrate public satisfaction with the
present government and result in the res
toration of peace without the surrender of
Spanish sovereignty.
TRAGEDY In A SCH00LH0USE.