San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-04-28
SENIOR MORETTs VIEWS.
Thinks Spain Should Introduce Reforms
in Cuba at Once.

patch to the Herald from Madrid
says: Senior Morett Prandergsst
in an interview said:
81 have been a thorough liberal
and always fought for Cuban liber-
! ties. When l was minister for the
colonies in 1880 introduced two
laws OF which 1 am very proud.
One for the abolition of slavery,
which is still called in Spain the
Morett law, and the other enacting
constitution for Puerto Rico,
which was unanimously approved
and which was in effect self gov
eminent. This constitution was
put aside when the liberal party
went out. Of power. / also gave
free trade to Puerto Rico.
81 did not give the same to Cuba
as the island was in state of in
surrection. L am thoroughly in
favor Of the application OF liberty
to Cuba on three points. l do not
want autonomy" for the meaning
which that word conveys is too
vague. Everybody can interpret
and understand autonomy as he
himself chooses. prefer to define
early reforms l consider necessary.
"First-Reconomic reform. l
mean by this free trade, the guar
antee of all foreign capital en-
ployed in Cuba, the application Of
a large portion OF the Cuban rev.
enue to the public works OF the
island, and unity or similarity OF
the banking system employed, eX-
tending to Cuba the advantage of
the national credit.
Second-Administ reform.
The formation Of anticipation
with proper independence, to be
submitted to the referendum, and
some kind of provincial body to be
called, let US say, the "diputacion,"
with proper faculties and powers
to administer all local measures.
"Third-Politicsl reform. This
is to be the last to be applied and
as a consequence only of a distinct
understanding between the penin-
sula and insular peoples with re-
gard to the two previous points,
and only after the complete paciti.
cation of the island. The form that
this will take will be subject for
future discussion and arrangements
between the two peoples before
being submitted to the cortes.
There are two methods, either inn
perial federation of the present
system OF sending deputies to the
Spanish parliament. The selec.
ton of one of these will depend
upon the state OF mind at the time
being Of the Cuban and Spanish
statesmen"
Senior Morrett was asked If in his
opinion these reforms could be eff
fected Immediately in Cuba and II
he thought there. would be any
difficulty in doing so.
eyes," replied he, economic and
administrative reforms could be
effected at once, but not political
reform. To my mind the existing
war would offer no obstacles. Diff
culties might arise from egotism
or from personal interests, but do
not attach any Importance to these.
They could be easily overcome.
My idea would be to propose them
on the assembling of the cortes
and they could be approved in
fortnight"
Ought Puerto Rico to get re.
forms without regard to Cuba"
"Most certainly, and l cannot
understand why the government
which has field in which to dis
play their intentions should not
have granted them already"
"Does not your excellency agree
with Senior Sagasta that the Span
ish people as a rule would resent
friendly overtures from the United
States?"
81 do thoroughly agree with
him. Spanish pride will not allow
interference from the United
States. This is due chiefly to the
language employed in the senate
and house Of representatives. "My
individual impression Is that the
United States should cooperate
with Spain to suppress the insur-
rection in Cuba, not in order to
oblige Spain, but in the cause OF
civilization and in the interests Of
the United States common
wealth."