350 JOSÉ IGNACIO RODRÍGUEZ 



But this governmeut elaims that it has faithfully discharged all these 

 duties. 



The strife stili continúes io Cuba. It has already marked its traek by 

 devastation and ruin — towns sacked, houses burned, plantations destroyed, 

 and lives lost. On either side tbe war has been one of desolation, and, if 

 continued, niust result in the entire destruction of a large part of the pro- 

 ductive capacity of the island as well as of an immense amount of property 

 and of human life. 



It is not imposBible that the Cubans may be conquered, if Spain devotes 

 her whole energies to tbe work, but they can never again be contenten, 

 happy, faithful, or quiet subjects of that power. Assuming that 8pain may 

 eventually subdue the present insurrection, she will flnd herself in posses- 

 sion of a devastated and ruined territory, inhabited by a discontented 

 people. The enlightened statestnen of Spain cannot fail to appreciate that 

 the feelings and the affections of the entire native population of the island 

 are not only estranged, but that they are deeply hostile to the continuance 

 of Spanish rule. Ñor can they fail to recognize the advancing growth of 

 that sentiment which claims for everj" part of the American hemisphere 

 the right of self-government and freedom from transatlantic dependence. 



England, bound as she has been to the traditions of the past, tenacious as 

 she has been of her possessions, and oouservative of all her rights and iute- 

 rests has recognized the forcé of this feeling, and has anticipated events by 

 granting self-government to her North American provinces. Denmark, 

 approving the policy of the separation of colonies from the parent state, 

 is iudeavoring to part with her insular possession. Russia has set a recent 

 example of parting with her possessions in America. Ñor are these the only 

 governnient in the Oíd World that are preparing their colonies for inde- 

 jiíiidence and self-government. It can no longer be a question of national 

 dignity, ñor can the proper pride or the just susceptibilities of a great 

 power refase to consider the question of a voluntary severance of past rela- 

 tiona between itself and distant possessions. Spain herself was one of the 

 íirst of the great European powers to cede voluntarüy its distant colonial 

 possessions, for she transferred Louisiana to France, and sub?equently ceded 

 Florida to the United States. France, engaged in war and findlng Louisia- 

 na hable to military attack, replenished her teasury by its sale, wbile re- 

 lieving herself of the burden of the defense of a distant possession. 



We hope that, with these examples, Spain will now be prepared to con- 

 sider and to adopt, with respect to Cuba, a like course of wise foresight and 

 enlightened statemanship. In the ñame of humanity she can «fiord t<> 

 arrest this war, and were it not for her traditioual pride, and her recognized 

 disregard of all cousiderations of mere interest when her honor is involved 

 we might appeal to considerations of interest, (which, after all, must be 

 regarded by those who would wisely and prudently conduct the aífairs of a 

 nation), to induce her to surrender her rights in the Island of Cuba, on 

 receiving an equivalent for her property and her right of domain. 



After much consideration and a careful survej^ of the question in all its 

 relations, this governmeut has arrived at the conclusión that it is its duty 

 to exert itá friendly inüuence to bring this unhappy strife to a cióse. Duty 



