The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-04-18
WE HAVE HER?
THE CUBAN ANNExArl0N QUESTION
STILL ALIVE

ago that the Spanish government, through
their disgracefnl 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 ONE to I'LL the measure, % they
clearly tell the people here that they have
nothing to expect in their favor from
Spain, whose political leaders seem to
compete as to who is to increase the most
the heavy burden of charges and all taxes
which the Cuba merchant, manufscturer,
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 in
creased taxes. NJ attention Whatever. ~
usual, was paid in Madrid to this protest,
aud the annexationists have taken advan-
tage Of the disaffection 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 was arraignsd
the government considering It as incentive
to rebellion). it was said some time ago
that the only way annexation could be
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 conservative press has exhausted all.
the anathemas furnished them by the ritz
ual of their stale patriotism to excommun-
icate the liberal papers that have declared
that Enumeration propagation is perfectly
legal lnasmuch as the 55th article Of the
constitution declares that the king needs
to lie 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
quoted above, those who are in favor of the
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 has been foreseen by the
trainers of the constitution now enforced
in Spain over her dominions, andthe prop
agation of such n doctrine is therefore
thoroughly lawful.
With the exception Of some newspaper
editors who have boldly assumed the re-
sponsibility Of their acts, the main past 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 prudently observe
the signs of the times before adopting o
political line Of conduct that would bind
them forever. The doubt that still pre-.
walls regarding the attitude the United
States may sun in this question, in.
duces q great many, whose influence may
weigh heavy in the balance, to remain in
the background. Be it as it may, the au-
Economists, through n of their most inn
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 forclbly 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
a system of rigor and prosecution to put
down the annexationist movement, as adj
vised to do by some Of the most rabid con-
sentative papers, being we'll aware, by what
happened in other American countries that
once belonged to Spain. 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 nov is to know
whether any of the memberso Of the govern
ment at Washington would b. willing to
favor the movement Just initiated in Cuba.