The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-04-18
SHALL WE HAVE HER?
THE CUBAN LAMENTATIONS QUESTION
/, STILL ALIVE

pee0 opened Dy several Leading papers ~
co~arageously sustained in remarkable edi-
torials that generally attract attention, one
having gone so far az to assert some weeks
ago that the Spanish government, through
their disgraceful and ruinious ~administra-
tion, did more than anybody else to throw
Cuba into the arms of the United States.
The new budgets, just voted by the cortes,
have come to fill the measure, % they
clearly tell the people here that they have
nothing to expect in their favor from
Spain, whose political leaders seem to
the heavy burden of charges and all taxes
which the Cuba merchant, manufacturer,
planter aud land tenant 10 TO pay.
Though the Cuban chambers Of com.
merce have protested in due time and in
the most energetic terms against the i'm
creased taxes. mo- attention whatever, 40
usual, was paid in Madrid to this protest,
aud the annexationists have taken advan-
tage of the disaifection created by the last
measures decreed to forward the propaga.
ton Of their doctrine and increase the
number of their adherents. In q remark
able editorial, whose author wa arraigned
(the government considering 1t as incentive
to rebellion), it was said some time ago
avoided was to Immediately proclaim the
autonomy Of Cuba, and that the conserva.
tive party should join the liberals in their
efforts to obtain from Spain self govern.
ment for the island.
The conserv ,tive press has exhausted all
the ansthemas furnished them by the rit-
ual of their stale patriotism to excommun-
icate the liberal papers that have declared
that .annexation propagation is perfectly
legal masmuch as the 55th article of the
constitution declares that the king needs
to he authorized by q special Law to alien
ate, cede or exchange any portion of Span
ish territory" Basing themselves upon
the text of tue article of the constitution
annexation of Cuba to the United States,
affirm that such an act would simply be an
alienation or Formulation OF a part of the
territory that las been foreseen by the
trainers Of the constitution now enforced
in Spain over her dominions, andthe prop
agation of such a doctrine is therefore
thoroughly lawful.
With the exception OF some newspaper
editors who have boldly assumed the re-
sponsibility Of their acts, the main pa,t of
the people, liberal as we'll as conservative,
though longing in the bottom of their
hearts for q change that would improve the
general situation of Cuba and save her in
habitants from ruin and desperation. do
not dare as yet, to pronounce themselves
too openly. They will p~rudently observe
the signs of the times before adopting Q
political line of conduct that would bind
them forever. The doubt that still pre-.
walls regarding tho attitude the United
States may assume in this question. in
duces o great many, whose influence may
weigh heavy in the balance, to remain in
the background. Be it as it may, the au-
Economists, through one of their most im-
portant organs of the press, recently pro-
claimed that il the government and the
conservative party persist in denying that
autonomy is the only possible aud accept
able solution to the Cuban problem, an
annexation will forcibly be the only saliva
ton left to the Cubans for the redemption
Of their lost liberty and trampled dignity.
The government has not, as yet, adopted
q system of rigor and prosecution to put
down the annexationist movement, as adj
vised to do by some Of the most rabid con-
servative papers, being we'll aware, by what
happened in other American countries that
once belonged to SPAN, that were they to
enforce such measures it would be the
death sentence Of the Spanish domain in
America. A fact beyond all doubt is that
there are a large number of annexation
lists in Cuba and some in the United
States. The question now is to know
whether any of the members of the govern
ment at Washington would be willing to
favor the movement just initiated in Cuba.