Evening star., 1898-04-01
Snain'H Renly.

The Spanish reply to the latest American
PROPOSALS concerning Cuba is so unsatis-
factory to this government that it would
seem that the end of diplomatic negotia-
tiGns between the two countries had been
reached. In short, Spain answers that
she will not or cannot accede to the de-
Dands of the United States looking to the
complete surrender of Spanish sovereignty
over Cuba. Under the circumstances this
de cision leaves outlook but toward an
outbreak of hostilities unless Spain shall
even at the eleventh hour be induced to re-
cede through pressure applied by Europe.
Spain's reply has evidently been for
nulated with due consideration of the
imminence of this result. Her prepare
tiobs during the past few weeks have all
tended to show that the official expecta-
tion in Madrid was that the dispute was
not likely to yield to diplomatic treatment.
The dispatching OF warships in alarming
numbers for American waters can only be
interpreted as signifying that the ministry
had little faith in the prospects of peace.
Meanwhile this country has been armins
ut a rate and with an earnestness that
could mean cnly similar anticipation on
this side of the water. The probability of
var has been clearly foreseen by each na-
ten, and now the crisis is at hand.
Spaia's treatment CT the issue it was
presented to her seems to be apart from
any consideration of the Maine disaster,
which is not. strictly speaking, an item of
the controversy that has just resulted in
such difference that war is apparently
the next stage to he expected. But it IS
rot to be denied that in the American
mind there has been such an intimate asso-
cation of the two questions, that relating
to Cuba in general and that concerning the
less of the battle-ship, that the latter
affair is the chief inspira ton of the per-
sistency with which the people of this
nation have demanded clear and entirely
satisfactory reply to their representations.
The reply is typical Spanish evasion Of
the proposition squarely before the min
istry at Madrid. 1t seeks to cOmplicate
the situation by injecting new elements,
new conditions. ConcernI the relief of
those whom it has been starving in Cuba
il makes promises that they shall be cared
Tor attentively and efficiently. But these
representations cannot be taken now IN
good faith. The whole record of the policy
of the Spanish government toward the
Cubans is so we'll understood and black
in it's hideousness that the world is in
credulous when in its last extremity the
ministry holds out the hope that these
wretched people may be succored.
America knows that nothing can save
these victims of an un-Christian tyranny
from certain death by starvation or disease
save the organized efforts of this govern
ment and the removal OF the cause of these
evil conditions. Spain's incapacity to care
for them is patent. Her indisposition to
restore peace to the island save under con-
ditions that are unacceptable to both the
Cubans themselves and to this government
IS apparent.
The record now making will when fin
ished show that in this entire matter the
United States has acted wisely. consider
ately and humanely. When the normal
relations of nation to nation have been re-
stored the world will have been bettered
by the episode
The American republic is slow to draw
The sword, but once engaged in battle the
sword will no, be sheathed until just retri-
button has been visited upon the nation
which has starved hundreds of thousands
Of roa-combatant Cubans and which in the
opinion of the American people murdered
the sailors of the Maine.