The evening times., 1895-11-14

1t has developed in Washington that the
Spanish government is contemplating
| fresh move against the Cuban insurgents
in an entirely new direction.
| A Germa dipIoma who has no affilia ions
| with either the Cubans or the Spanish
government, and who las no direct interest
| in the cause of either, is authority for the
statement that Spain will shortly attempt
| TO cut off Cuba's source OF revenue from
| the Cuban cigarinakers in this country by
throwing out of employment, il possible,
every cigarinaker ut present at work in this
| country.
Great assistance has been rendered the
Cuban leaders ever since the outbreak Of
| the insurrecti ion by the patriotic cigar
makers of Tampa, Key West and New York
| city, who have always set aside each week
| certain. amount OF their wages to be sent
| to aid the Cuban cause.
This amount, 1t is stated, exceeds $3.50
000, annually, and has done much to carry
| the insurrcction on as. far as it has gone.
| Spain realizes this. and is very anxious to
| cut off this source of support to the in
! surrectiouists, knowing that without money
| the insurrcction cannot be carried on. The
| means, she will take TO stop this const taDt
supply of funds to the insurgents is unique,
DuI IL is tUOuSUt IL Ilsi Dt
THE PURPOSE OF SPAIN.
! There are thousands of Cuban cigar
| makers at Tampa, Key West. and New
York, and they are employed solely in the
manufacture of cigars from Cuban tobacco.
| The product, of course, is claimed TO be the
same as the imported Havana cigars, as
| the materials and workmanship are iden =
| teal
OF course, were the Cubans To he en-
| ployed upon the manufacture OF domestic
| cigars there would be nothing gained, as
the average purchaser does not care much
whether his cigar OF American tnbacco is
| made by Cubans or Africans.
The idea is TO impose an export duty upon
tobacco that will make the cigars made in
America of imported tobacco cost more
than the imported cigars. The export
duty will be so adjusted that when the ini-
port duty of this country is added the
cost will be So great as to make it impossi-
bic to make cigars in this country that will
be as cheap rs the same grade of cigars im-
ported from Havana.
The idea OF the Spanish government is to
cause as many Cubans as possible To be
thrown out of employment in this country,
knowing that every Cuban who loses work
in this country ceases TO be supporter OF
the insurrecton.
Ex-senator Edmunds. one of the best au-
thorities upon constitutional law. and
whose opinion upon all matters relating
to the present Cuban situation, is of para
mount Importance, has broken the habitual
reserve that has always characterized him,
and in an interview discusses the case of
the Cuban insCrrectioniSts with more lati-
tude and freedom than he is used to eX
hibitin- in affairs of this sort.
Mr.. EDMUNDS' OPINION.
because OF the reputation of the ex-Sena-
tor as a master of International and con-
stitutional law, but because he does not
believe that under existing conditions bel
ligerent rights can be accorded Cuba. no
matter how much We may sympathize with
their struggle for liberty. He comedies that
there may arise at any time situation
which would admit of this recognition, but
he does not believe that that time has yet
come.
He points out that. while the Spanish
American republics were strugg Cling for
their independence from Spain, about the
time the Monroe doctrine was formed, this
country did not feel that belligerent rights
could be granted, though there existed
better excuse for such action by this coun-
try than a I the present time in connection
with the case of Cuba.
He also called attention to the ia ct that
at the time England. Spain and other Eu-
ropean governments recognized the Con
federates as belligerents during the war
of the rebellion, this country was inclined
to view that action with great displeasure,
and criticized severely the policy OF the
various governments so recognizing the
Confederate States, although they had an
established seat of government, and al the
time occupied a considerable part of this
country, controlling ports and sustaining
large armies. Cuba, he stated. has not
so far a seat of government, and has not
advanced to a point where this country
can give it recognition.
NOT LACKING SYMPATHY.
Mr.. Edlmunds was particularly anxious
to have il understood that, in taking this
attitude, he did not desire to express any
hostility toward Cuba, nor did he wish to
be considered as lacking in sympathy with
the Cubans. The situations might arise
at any time, he said. that would alter the
aspect of affairs, and when belligerent
rights would have to he accorded. regard
less of the matter of popular sympathy with
the rebels.
In discussing the matter OF the an
nexation of Cuba, Mr.. Edmunds took the
ground that this country does not care as
yet to make the dangerous experiment of
taking into its organization such island
communities as Cuba or Hawaii.
He did not think it likely that such ac-
tion would follow the success of the in
surgents, in case they win their fight with
the parent country. He stated that he did
not think the mass OF the people had ad-
vanced far enough to make II desirable
they should be represented in the United
States Senate on an equality with the
States Of the Union.
Their politics. he said, would be dominat-
ed by the comparatively small class of in
telligeDt and rich planters without respect
to the ma jority Of the citizens, or else the
control would fall to the dominant class
which was not up to our standard OF cfti-
ZeDsiiip. In either event, he did not think
annexation desirable. He took pains, how
ever, to point out the differentiation be-
tween the question of recognizing the rights
OF the Cubans as belligerents and the cues