The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-31
CONGRESSMAN DRAPER MAKES
HIS VIEWS ON THE CUBAN
QUESTION KNOWN.
STEP TOWARDS CUBAN HOME RULE
The Spanish Authorities Now Propose
TO Allow the Cubans the Most Com
plete Autonomy, Allowing Them
to Elect a Congress.


operations, is made by Gen. William F.
Draper, who is one of the subcommittee
of the house, charged with the considera
ton of resolutions relating to Cuba.
He said today: "My standpoint in re
gard to Cuba has not changed since the
last session Of congress. 1t is my feel
ing that it is time to recognize independ
ence, when, in the first place, there is Q
place, that government has shown its
right to be considered an independent
sovereignty. 1t seems to me there il
nothing in the island of Cuba in oppo-
sition to the Spanish forces except Ger
tain armed bodies of men, each under
it's own leader, with nothing approaching
civil government. If we are to take
the message of President Cleveland as
our authority, and that is the only trust.
worthy authority that know of, it must
be admitted there is not anywhere in
Cuba, outside the SPANS lines, civil
government which is seriously undertake
ing to exercise its functions. The claims
put forth by insurgents can not be &C
cepted as in any degree conclusive in
these matters. Take, for instance, this
matter of the supposed death of Maceo
The insurgents said in the first place
that he was killed by treachery, and in
the second place that he was not killed
at all. The Spanish, in the other hand,
declared that he was killed in fail
fight. l am inclined to accept no report
from Cuba that is not official as basis
of action.
~ think the incoming administration
should have the privilege of deciding
what course it desires to take in regard
to its foreign policy and that the new
president should not be inaugurated with
a war upon his hands with an important
power, caused by the action of an out
going congress"
DO you believe that Cuba will bene-
tit by becoming an independent govern
;ment?" was asked
II do not" Gen. Draper declared. 81
am not confident that the new govern
ment would maintain civil order and the
security of person and property under
equal laws for all citizens of the island
and for sovereign visitors and residents
any more effectively than the Spanish
government. l believe that if ! were TO
s.of Cuba they would be safer under Span
ish rule, bad as it is said to be, than I'M
der such rule as would be instituted if
the insurgents should succeed and our
government should take possession of the
island"
1.-The alternative for securing orderly
government is between Spanish rule and
Americana"
Exactly" was the reply. 1.-THE United
States ought to deliberate more care
fully, moreover, before themselves tax
ing possession of the island.
Moreover, the possession of such ter
ritory would involve the maintenance of
a military force, the fertilization of i'm
portant strategic points, the increase of
the naval equipment in the island, and,
indeed, nearly the same mechanism by
which Spain endeavors to protect Cuba
and maintain orderly government There
may be conditions which will force us
to take possession of the island, but it
Ought not to be done without due con-
sideratiOn of the serious problems which
such territory would force upon the at
tention of representative republic"
do you not fear the disturbance of
business confidence if the Cameron reso-
luton should pass congress?"
Yes" said Gen. Draper ut is evil
dent tsthis shock of confidence has
been feit even by the passing of the reso-
luton before the committee. Business
men have already suffered enough from
international troubles without adding
this external one. In case of war we
would expose our gold standard to hazard
and thereby endanger many of the re-
suits of the recent election. We should
compel increased issues of bonds for war
purposes, as well as for the maintenance
of the gold reserve, and we should open
the door to a big increase of the pension
roll and to the disturbance of our en-
tire industrial system, which has been
70 severely wrenched during the past
four years."
XMAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
Washington, Dec. 24-Christmas at
the White House will be observed this
year just as it has been in the past dur
ing the present administration. The
day will be essentially chldrens festi-
val. Tonight big Christmas tree was
placed in the library and Mrs. Cleveland
herself superintendent the trimming of
the tree. The electrician Of the White
House HIS provided myriad of tiny
colored lights which will take the place
of the time-honored wax lights in allu
minatihg the tree.
Mrs. Cleveland thoughtfully remember
cd the employees today by bestOwing upon
each fine turkey for Christmas dinner.
For the White House monster bird is
now ready in the ice chest. He came
alive from Louisville, KY, a few days
ago and weighed ffty-seven pounds.
NEGOTIATIONS WILL CONTINUE.
Washington, Dec. 24.-The Dawes In
dian commission will reopen negotiations
with the FIVE civilized tribes early in
January. The Cherokees will be the first
nation treated with, and the commission
expects to secure an engagement with all
the tribes by the LIST of February; These
treaties will be probably ratified by con-
gress at the present session.
Washington, Dec. 24.-For the first
time for many years the executive de.
n partments of the government were not
closed today in accordance with the Gus
tom of giving employees a half holiday on
the day preceding Christmas. The de-
cision to keep the departments open IS
the result of an act passed by congress
on March 8, 1894, and attention was
first drawn to its provisions at cabinet
meeting last summer and considered at
recent meeting. This statute requires
all employees to work not less than seven
hours each day except Sundays ana actu-
al holidays.