Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-23
Senior Quesada's Views on Spain's
Alleged Intentions.
ANNOUNCED FOR POLITICAL EFFECT
The Same Promises Have Been
Made and Broken Before.
A CONFESSION OF WEAKNESS

sentative Of the Cuban republic, chatted at
the Raleigh this morning with a Star re-
porter on the subject of the reforms which
it is announced will be established in Cuba
by the Spanish government. Senior Quesada
smiled significantly when his opinion was
asked on the subject of these reforms.
This talk of reform in Cuba on the part
of SPAIN" said he, lis being made for
various reasons, and particularly for its
effect in Spain itself and in Cuba, and in the
United States. Spain expects that it VIII
have the effect at home of drawing the at
tention of the people from the election
frauds to this more important question, and
because ii is expected to prevent the liberal
party and the republicans, the latter of
whom are willing to see the establishment
of ample home rule, from causing the mon
archy to be placed in a very uncomfort-
able situation by reason of the part they
will take in the coming debates in parlia-
ment. 1t shows also that the Spanish gov
eminent has at last heard the clamor of
the people for the war to end speedily, and
in such way that the Cubans will have
no occasion to complain.
Spain Needs Money.
Another re ason may be found in the fact
that Spain, by May l. will be confronted
with a practically exhausted treasury and
she thinks she will better be able to get
money if she can convince the people at
home and the bankers abroad that the re-
forms she .contemplates have the counter
ance of the United States government. 1t
is political move in every particular.
THE planting of these reforms, even il
they are thought of. will not be made i'm
mediately," continued Senior Quesada, be
cause Gen. Weyler has said that no reforms,
however small. will be established in Cuba
until the revolution is crushed. So you can
readily perceive the dilemma. If the re-
forms are established Spain will admit that
She has misgoVerned Cuba, and that the re-
bellion is too powerful to be crushed, and
Gen. Weyler will lose prestige in the island
and have to leave his command there
Intended to Have Effect Here.
1.-The intention of Spain to have effect
upon the United States by the promulga-
ton Of the announcement of the granting
of reforms is plainly evident" he continued
First she desires to forge ahead and pre-
vent the appearance of taking any sug-
gestion from this government or of submit
ting to intervention, which the Spanish
organs unanimously declare will never be
tolerated. In this way Spain can tell the
United States that she is willing to grant
Cuba liberties within reason and point to
the so-called reform. In this way, also
Spain thinks the United States would have
no grounds for mediation. Another effect
that Spain had in view in this matter is to
give an idea to Congress and to the Ameri-
can sympathiZers of the Cubans that the
latter or L part of them now in the reyo-
lulonary ranks, will lay down their arms
ana thus shake ihe confidence of the Ameri-
can people IN the steadfast determination of
the revolutionists to persist in this struggle
for freedom.
Aiming ut the Republic.
This subtle diplomatic move of SPANS,
however, is principally intended, 1 imagine
to disorgaEize the Cuban republic, the de-
sire being to keep the lukewarm from Civ
ing support to the revolutionists, and also
to appease the Spanish residents of the
island, who have become restless under
the continued destruction of their interests
and have been demanding heroic measures
on the part of Spain to obtain more pro-
lection Spain is aware that a few months
more of her preSert helplesshess in the is
land in this regard will drive these indiyid-
uals either to demand assistance from the
United States or to join the insurgents
outright"
rs there any possibility of the Cubans
accepting the reforms proposed by Spain?'
inquired the reporter.
Cubans Are Like Burnt Children
Senior Quesada Laughed heartily. Il do
not think" he said. with significant en-
phasis. that any Cuban would be willing
fourteen months fighting, there is an army
OF $1,000 men supporting republican form
Of government which controls three-auar-
tiers Of the Island of Cuba; when fresh
arms and ammunition arc being landed on
the island every week, and when the moral
support of the American people, formally
expressed by an overwhelming majority of
their Congress, has been freely extended to
us The Cubans had these same reforms
now pretended to be offered by Spain ex-
tended to them before the fighting began.
and it was the continued prostitution of
such promises they contained that I'M
furled the Cuban banner
Spain may say that she is going
to extend more and broader reforms,
but her long record of broken promises will
prevent any such representation being even
considered. The Cubans have lost all faith
in Spain, and there is no man among them
who would even dare to propose the &C
ceptance of terms looking to the ending of
the war Oh any other ground than that of
absolute Independence. All this talk of re-
forms on SPANS part is to gain time. The
rainy season is beginning in Cuba and
Spain knows she must temporize. The an
nouncement of her intention to extend re-