The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-24
POLITICAL MOVEMENTS IN CUBA.
Conservatives sua Autonomists or Liberals
Cheeks 20 Free Speech.

are two political parties In the island OF Cuba
the Constitutional Union and the Autono
mist party. The former Is dlatlnctively
Spanish organization. conservative In its
methods and loyal to Spanish rule; or rather
blindly and stubbornly in favor Of Spanish mis-
rule. To this party belong the heads oil
Spanish commercial houses and some chear
Cuban aristocrats. whose titles date since the
late war 1879, and are the price OF their In
difference to their country's Independence.
Among the Autonomists are ranged the
friends OF Cuba and all who entertain liberal
views with regard to the colony's rights. Many
Spaniards belong to this party who for
merly were afflliated to the Constitutional
Union. It lately acquired great prominence
when. during the unsettled period imme-
diately succeeding the Sartorius uprising.
the Autonomst party declared itself against
the crazy venture and urged tho people to
strictly refrain from aiding that abortive
movement which was doomed to speedy col
lapse. Time verified the political acnmen OF
it's leaders. and the people OF Cuba have as 1t
WERE manifested new interest and Increased
faith In them. The Autonomist party has
passed through alternate periods OF inactivity
and influence. and even through a serios Of
names; but for some years past II has been
the voice Of Cuba within the Spanish council
halls. It's constitution Is necessarily narrow
and it's demands not excessive: nothing else
would be tolerated by the existing laws gov
erning the island and It is an open secret that
many Of it's chief men hold holder views than
the policy Of the party will permit them to
utter: but 1t cannot be gainsaid that In It's
ranks are found Cubas best orators. her ripest
scholars. and most successful merchants.
The Constitutional Union OF late has been
undergoing a change. and. in imitation OF
French political nomenclature. It Is now d.
vided into Derechistds tho right wlngl and
IzQ'redistds tho left wing. The former
represent the ultra conservative element. and
have lately been manifestinR great opposition
to Senior Maura's projected colonial reforms.
though 1t is by no means certain that the
Colonial Minister'S good promises will ever
materialize. Indeed. a Spanish Minister may
be defined as q mixture. equal parts. OF good
intentions and liberal promises. The prom
ises serve to I'LL out his term OF office. and the
good Intentions 20 to pave populous region.
whose temperature Is reported to be high.
Outside OF these two parties there are num-
Der OF we'll known persons who though they be-
long to neither Of them. yet when elections come.
their approval or dissent from either orRani-
cation is reflected in the votes cast There 10
still another group Of distinguished Cubans.
whose ideas are too radical to be contained
within the party's PLATFORM but whose influ-
ence is exercised against the typical Spanish
organization. These men have the advantage
OF being eloquent orators and finished writer's
and their familiarity with the historical prob
lens Of their country gives to their utterances
a coRency and force that are irresistible.
Moreover. these men own newspapers. and
hence find no difficulty in bringing before the
public what timid journals would. perhaps. not
dare to publish,
The labor Of this group has not been In vain,
and to their persistent propaganda. perhaps.
may be traced the disruption OF the constitu-
tional party into two wings. and the further
subdivision Of the left wing into two parts.
Within the past fortnight third party. sprung
from the conservative ranks. has como into
existence: and its debut has been SO startling
and its tone SO bold that 1t may be said to
have jumped. fully matured and In complete
steel. into Cuba's political arena. as did Mi
nerva from Jupiters head.
Senior Don Pedro Gonzalez Llorente seems to
be tho leading spirit Of the new party. which is
called the Reform Circle" In his address on
the night Of it's inauguration he boldly pro-
claimed that the party was form cd to secure for
Cuba her rights: that the time for prevarication
and hollow promises was past. and that should
the Spanish Government place any obstacles to
thwart the realization OF the Colonial Minis
;;er's good promises the country would be
'orced into desperate, struggle: and though
ne had grown gray IN the service OF the Span
did not hesitate to declare he would be found
On the side Of Justice when tho hour came, and
on the eI6ans IN tfe demand for
he bloody chasm Of war.
The audience was wonder-struck for mo-
,iasm swept through the hall. The newspa-
pers TEEN with opinions on Senior l.lorente 5 |
address. The Cuban papers hail the words
cred. not as threat. but as the key to the
situation. The Spanish journals. however. |
Minister reform m easures upon this address.
ayinS that i9 Ter granted nov VIII serve to
he end weaken Spaip's power and help to
The tone Of senior florente's address is the
evolution no was President OF the Municipal |
ouncil. and he has always been associated |
% psea
}esto Gsetorres. editor Of the Eeos de ouJa
uegos. was arrested at his house. The police |
demolished lem. his Furniture and searched all his
vent to the printing oiice. and took possess
v vii they had been printed the corporal
lhe cord was drawn SO tight that the veins |
tood out like whiDS0rds and the mans arms
NeIe, tueH WTencnou OeIlnu MS DICK ana PIN |
oned In n peculiarly cruel manner. In this |
condition he was dragged through the streets |
Ike common felon. at a time when tho whole |
lily was out OF doors. for 1t was the feast |
lay OF Santiago. the patron saint OF |
pain. which is observed here as a holiday. |
lie WAS put into Jail. whore he is still |
ocked up and all communication with the |
outside denied him. 1t Is said some friends OF |
enor usatorres intended to telegraph tho
acts TO THE Sun In the hope that the publica-
lon OF this outrage In the foremost American
ewspaper would have some effect on his cap
ors. Perhaps they have done So but at any
ate now send the details.
1t may be asked how the Spanish Govern
nent has allowed Senior Lorentes address to
ASS unrebuked and has permitted the news
apers to comment on It quite freely This Ia
n evidence OF the cunning and duplicity OF
Ia authorities. They have hit on the plan OF
lowing the papers to sny II great deal. look
az upon these great illusions as II sort Of
hfety valve for pent-u feelings. on the prn-
iple that barking dogs never bite" and
iere are many here. ms elsewhere, whose bat
les are n fought on paper
The ruin authorities know full well that
he island Ia not III contentcd mood, and it
'oulq not be- safe t. keep too tight n rein on |
he high spirited Cuban people. The bravery
nj heroism OF the Cuban people canuot 10
allied int question by any student OF history.
n TACT, their yalor by reason OF it's very reck-
'ssnesS. has led them into their previous dis
sters. They rushed pell- nell at the first call |
? arms. without due preparation OF oven a
hought as to the necessary resources and n
IA AFT I'M Ia, |