Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-07-30
HOME RULE OR REVOLUTION.
Two Parties in Cuba, and What the are Con-
niving At.
" NOrly TritI Ilpe

niying At.
NV York Tritune.
Following in the footsteps of the Irish
people, the Cuban people have been try
| ing to obtain home rule for Cuba from
Spain. The Spanish ministry have had
| the matter under consideration, and a
few days ago concluded that Cuba must
still continue under Spanish rule. The
rejection of the home rule proposition
was to have been the signal for another
uprising of Cucans, and great prepara-
tions had been made for carrying it into
effect During the winter meetings were
held in New York. Philadelphia, and 9th
er cities, where any number of Cubans
live. and money was raised IN large
amounts for the prosecution of the war
for independence. But the movements
of the Cubans in the United States, Mexi-
co. and Jamaica have been greatly re-
tarded by the birth of new party in the
island, which agitated the home rule pol
icy and put it before the ministry of
Spain for its action. The home
ule party desires to procure local self
government through other means than
fighting and bloodshed. On the contrary
the Cubans living in countries outside the
domains of Spain are anxious to stake
their lives and property on the result OF
another revolution. When King Alfonso
III. died and the reign of the kingdom de-
volved upon regency the hopes of the
Cubans were aroused to high pitch and
they thought that the time for action had
arrived 1t was expected that the Carl
ist party would rise in Spain and that
the army would be required at home to
restore peace and preserve the rights of
the royalists. But the Carlist party did
not rise and the preparations made
by the Cubans in this and other cOun-
tries to descend upon the island at the
moment internal warfare had been de-
clared were all for naught. But the Gu
bans have waited patiently for years and
they have evidently made up their minds
that all that they can do is to have every
thing ready for action aed declare war
the moment that an opportunity presents
itself.
A few days ago Gen. Rafael Rodriguez
who was a brigade commander i'll the last
revolution, left New York for Key West.
He had been here i'll consultation with
the Cuban leaders, and 1t Is understood
that he bore letters and documents from
Gen. Gomez, commander-in-ch chief of the
Cuban forces. Following closely on the
heels of his departure came the discovery
of nearly one hundred pounds of Hazard
rifle powder on pier No. l, East river, at
midnight on June %. Two young men
were seen lettering on the pier to which
the staamer Niagara, that runs to Cuba,
was fastened, and when policeman ap-
preached them they ran away, leaving the
powder. The company was informed,
but denied having lost any powder. The
clark on an adjoining pier says that
steam launch come up from Ellis island
in the early evening and lay alongside
the Niagara. The launch had on board
two tons of powder. 1t was thought by
he police that an attempt had been made
smuggle the powder on board the ship
and that it was done by Cubans.
Col. Jose Magriel Parraga, leading
Cuban, when asked concerning the pow
der, said he did not know that any had
been found. He was greatly incensed,
however, because a story had been print
ed naming the places where the insur-
gents were to start from: Jamaica, San
Domingo, Mexico, and Turks island. He
continued:
"My people will think that | am a spy
because of this article, as gave some in
formation on the subject But did not
mention where any expedition will start
from. Do you think that L am fool
enough, after all that has been gone
though, to tell the Spanish consul all our
plansY We are only waiting now the
wishes of our people in Cuba; if they say
fight, fight it is. No expedition will start
from the United States, as We respect the
laws of this country. l will say this
much, everything is in readiness for
war, and we will move when the word is
SnOken.N