The sun., 1890-01-24
Cuban Views Of cuba,s Future.

In Ell Pdis, one of the best edited and best
known newspapers published in Havana,
there have lately appeared two articles on
Cuba's present difficulties and on the reme-
dies proposed. The journal in question
would itself solve the Cuban problem by
giving the island autonomy, or home rule
system analogous to that possessed by the
Dominion Of Canada. 1t does not attempt,
however, to ignore or belittle the objections
to the practicability Of that solution, andft
states with candor and cogency the argu-
rnents OF those who insist that the salvation
of the island depends on annexation to the
United States.
AS Ell Pals acknowledges the idea of an
nexation is gaining ground rapidlyin Cuba.
while the so-called autonomists are losing
heart The. concession Of the right to elect
Deputies to the C6rtes at Madrid is a farce.
and native Cubans are excluded from any
share In the local administration. So far as
participation In provincial and municipal
government is concerned, they might as well
be foreigners In trivial as well as moment
GUS matters all official authority which Is not
vested In the appointees Of the Madrid Min
istry, is monopolized by the peninsular ele-
ment, that is to say, by the Spaniards who
have come to Cuba to make money. Even
were 1t conceiv-Lle that change Of regime
at Madrid might be followed by the bestowal
ofautonomy on the island, the peninsular ele-
ment would continue to retain the confidence
OF the Spanish Government. Unless the
Spanish sojourners on the island could man
age under home rule system to keep their
present ascendancy, they would soon prevail
upon the dominant party in the Cortes to re-
tract their concessions. There would then be
nothing left for the deceived and exasperated
Cubans but recourse to revolution. The
autonolnists, In other words, are theorists
that beat the air. Their road leads nowhere.
Their programme is essentially unfeasible.
On tho other hand, annexation to the
United States is a practicable and, what is
less generally known. constitutional
remedy for the ills Of Cuba. 1t is pointed
out by Ell Rais that the present Constitution
Of the Spanish monarchy declares (arti-
ole 55) that "the King must be authorized
by special law to ALLEVIATE, cede or exchange
any part of the national territory" The
provision. of course. implies that whenever
the C6rtes shall see fit to pass an enabling
act tho Spanish Prime Minister for the time
being will be at perfect liberty to sell
Cuba to this country. 1t also plainly follows
that II the C6rtes. which is the mouthplece
OF public opinion, may lawfully pass bill
authorizing q cession OF Cuba, 1t must also
be lawful for any Spanish subject to attempt
to mould public opinion by an agitation Of
tho annexation question. To forbid such
agitation would obviously be to thwart the
clear intention of the Spanish Constitution.
1t is not the annexationists, but they who
strive to silence them by intimidation who
arc guilty of violating the organic law.
This fact is likely to surprise many who
have heard the advocates OF annexation de-
nounced In the present C6rtes as traitors to
their country. Such denunciation Is but
windy rhetoric. unjustihed by law or COM
mon sense or historical precedents. 1t would
be no more disgracefnl for Spain to sell
Cuba than 1t was TO sell Florida. 1t would
be incomparably less 30. because the trans
action would be far more profitable. Were
Spain. indeed. to make US a present Of Cuba.