Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-08
Views of President Palma of the
Revolutionary Committee.
Is De FAC9O GOVERNMENT EXISTS
Havana's Capture Would Immedi-
ately Follow Recognition.
HAS SPAIN A LOBBY HERE?

rs President Tomas Estrada Palma of the
Cuban revolutionary committee, Manuel
Sanguilly, Gonzalo de Quesada, Horatio
Rubens and other members Of the body are
at the Raleigh, where they will remain for
some time.
Conversing with Star reporter this morn
ing about the state of affairs in Cuba, Presi-
dent Palma spoke with confidence about the
eventual success of the revolution.
by its own admission said he. "the
Spanish government has sent 900 SOL
diers to the island. Adding those who have
volunteered and been conscripted, the num-
ber Is easily 100000. That immense army
has been sent to territory not larger than
the. state of New York for the purpose of
putting down what has been represented to
be the uprising of a few bands OF bandits
and negroes. 1t was represented by the
Spanish government that when the dry sea-
son commenced the rebellion would be
easily crushed. What are the true facts?
The dry season has seen a constant advance
of the revolutionists' forces from the west
to the east and the very provinces where
the great cane fields are situated have been
entered. There Is only month and half
of the dry season left. The result, think.
is obvious to all intelligent men who try to
secure accurate knowledge Of the conditions.
lhe general impression seems to be-" he
recognize the Cubans as belligerents until
they have captured Havana. l do not think
this country can take any great credit to
Itself for such proviso. II we were al
lowed to fit out cruisers in this or any other
country we would take Havana at once
But that would be a violation of neutrality
laws; Suppose we did take Havana, as we
could If it were desirable There would he
American and English fleets there to protect
the property of their citizens, and we would
have nothing afioat to preserve recognition
OF our own rights.
Why the Cane is Destroyed.
You ask me why the Cubans are de-
vasta ting the cane fields. The Cuban gov
ernment, sir, is a de facto government, and
it issued orders thai no cane should be
ground, because 1t is from the tax on sugar
that Spain gets her sinews of war Those
orders were violated and the Cuban gov
ernment showed it's power to punish those
who violated them. 1t has proved that be-
yond question, and It is proving It every
day. 1t Is precisely the same principle that
was followed in the south by the United
States government during your war of the
rebellion. when cotton was, made a coutrs,
band of war and seized and destroyed and
your Supreme Court, in the case Of Mrs
Amanda Scott, who was a loyal person. re-
siding in the enemy's country, ana whose
cotton was burned by federal orders de-
clared that her property was one of the
resources or the enemy, and it's destrac-
ton was in accordance with the rules of
war. That Is precisely what we are doing
in the destruction. OF the cane We are
attacking the resources of the enemy If
the Senate and House of Representatives
would equip themselves with proper knowl-
edge of the conditions in Cuba the reco..ni-
ton of our rights as belligerenrs would. I
believe. be quickly forthcoming. We would
snow the world then how quickly we would
take Havana and other ports and assume
full independence of the Spanish govern
ment"
RumOrs of n Spanish Lobby,
In well-informed circles here 1t is stated
with positiveEess that a powerful lobby
has been formed to prevent the recogni-
ton by Congress of the Cuban revolution
lists as belligerents. It is declared that the
Spanish government has devoted large
amount Of money to this purpose, and that
nany powerful corporate interests have
Joined in subscribing for the fund. The
reason for this is said to be that Spain has
pre- missed the owners of the destroyed su-
gar plantations in Cuba to fully reimburse
them for all losses sustained at the hands
Of the revolutionists, and has further PROM
ised large favors to them upon the sup
preston of the rebellion. Many of the men
interested in the plantations are citizens
OF this country, end are also heavily in
terested in United States railroads and
other big enterprises. The Spanish govern
ment has pointed out to them it is said,
that it can only carry out it's promises of
reimbursement in case the present war is
terminated in its favor, and that such re-
suit will be made Iearly impossible if the
Cubans are granted the rights of belliger-
ents by the United States. They have been
asked, therefore, to join with Spain's Sc
cret representatives to influence Congress
against taking any action in favor of the
revolutionists, and have acceded to the re-
quest. 1t is stated that number Of infiu-
entail men have been enlisted in this pro-
ject, with a large fund at their command
and that lobby as powerful as the fa-
nous Pacific Mail organization is already
in Washington and working vigorously to
offset the influence of public opinion upon
Congress.
1t is also asserted that the administra-
ton has been Urged to send fleet to
Havana to- protect American interests
there in case of the capture of the city by
Gomez, and that it has refused, on the
ground that the repeated assurances of
Minister de LONE that the city is in no
danger makes the granting Of such a re-
quest unnecessary.
Personal Mention.
Dr. R. ]. Calling Of Hartford, Conn. in