Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-25

itary policy. Autonomy was beyond the
range of his convictions, but he decided to
accept the new conditions. The queen re-
gent fitted him out with fresh dignity as a
grandee of Spain. and he came home to the
task of keeping in check the unruiy con-
servatyes, the introusigentes. At the
palace the day after Apezteguia's inter-
view with Captain-General Blanco, 1 was
told, in half confidence. that the marques
had undertaken a work of great promise to
the government. He proposed 10 make the
conservative party more autcnomist than
the autonomists themselves. 1t was to
make the new regimen it's own policy.
The conservatives primaries were held,
extending through fortnight. In the va
rious districts the local committees met and
selected ''vocaIes'' delegates to the con-
vention. They do not know what a caucus
is in Cuba. but the managers understand
the Importance of controlling the primary
from within.
Delegates were selected from all the dis
tricts in the island. which are not in the
power of the insurgents. Little public agi-
tation was felt, though the Marques of
Pinar del Rio and Senior Guzman, president
IF The Spanish Club of Havana, were exert
ing themselves against Apezteguia's plans.
In some places rivalry was shown in the
At the meetings of the local juntas some
times speeches were made full of fervor in
defense of Spanish sovereignty, yet without
definite declarations of policy. In the United
States Tire conservative primaries would
have been called tame, except possibly
those held in Havana, at which autonomy
was given anathema.
Platform of Apezteguia.
on the Sunday before the convention the
platform of President Apezteguia and the
Iunta direction, or central committee, was
published The marques had given up the
'dea OF making the union constitutional
.'drtE more autonnsh than the antonomists
themselves. The worst he hoped for now
Wis 10 prevent open reputation of the sys-
EN- and to secure a passive acouiescence
n experiment. The address exhorted the
conservatives if they were not ready to
snare the glory of the new regimen by ac-
i've participation in it, at least not to be-
toihe responsible for the shipwreck of
Spain's nationality which might come from,
the failure of the policy.
The delegates who began TO arri,. from,
the country did not receive the platform
Tavoraby. They limited a purpose of mall.
ing one of their own. Apezteguin and his
heu'eHants proved active wire puliers.
Ihey sought to use persuasive reasoning
anu qulet tfe opposition in advance Their
HHuehce might be compared TO that exer-
-" ny : number of eminent men who on
ne we Vi nalionai convention in Chicago
ia the year 1896 thought they We're going
% persuade il not to auopt a certain eours,s
me conservative convention met on The.
evening Of The 10Th. 1t had no contestjng
Ielesatlons, no occasion for "pointin, VII
2rlue or viewing with regret" and no
horn!nations to make. So much of the nm
-eItath'1 that gives life to similar pro-
ee'hhSs IN the United States was lacking
ne purpose of this assembly constitu
lonal was simply to say whether II would
'ccept autonomy. Nobody who wanted 10
ak was choked off. This may be the rea-
[9n why the session lasted till sunrise
DlScurso. speech, was called for from
me admirers of various delegates and met
win response. Some of them ..tenia ia
paidpra' mad the floor several times
siost OF the orators were abogados. or law
!efS. though some We're doctors and Jour-
Haiists Whatever else may have been
lacking IN this convention of the conserya-
i've party. no limit was put on the free
dom of debate.
The discus sion was spiced with person.
antics which Were sometimes blunt some
umes vested in irony or sarcasm The
speeches all exhalted patriotism of the
most ferNent kind and breathed ,Indyinp
devotion to Spain's sovereignty A hone
iul sign or the future was that most of
the delegates who advocated moderation
and acquiescence in autonomy were youno
-neh But they were so few in numbers
Apeztesuia Defends Himself
The convention had hardly opened when
Marques de Apezteguia was asked for an
account of his stewardship as president NJ
me party He was charged while in Spain
with betraying its principles. To some of
me charges. as would be said in the states.
Ap;'zi"Suia 'disdaimed to reply" But his
poicy OF keeping the party from arraying
ltseit IN open opposition to giving autonomy
trial he defended manfully.
lie was supported by some delegates who
We're men OF character, but they were
clearly in the minority. Several times
4pezteSuias partisans proposed IA vote of
thanks TO him, bit the noes came with
such force that the question was not put
IN the discussion some hard things were
said about the United States and President
AckinleyS statement that 1t had the right
10 Intervene in the affairs of Cuba. The
c<ito:y was fierce, earnest and q great
deal OF spontaneous eloquence was spilled
After several hours it became apparent
tFat Apezteguia could not commit the con-
vention to any OF the declarations acout-
escing in autonomy that had been forrnu-
lated.
Then he and his followers took the wise
decision to keep in the front and appear to
iead the forces that were pushing them
along Conferences were held with Senior
Huzman. who Was against some PROPOSE
tons favored by the intransigentes and for
others which they supported.
Apeztequia made his last speech at 8
O'Clock in the morning. The platform had
been contracted with little regard for his
wishes. 1t consisted of resolutions ahso-
lutely rejecting autonomy and committing
ne party TO a 'retraimiento' tempo
rary withdrawal from public affairs. The
latter proposition had 2 provision which
eft the junta directura central COM
lnittee TO say how long ii should stay drawn
within ats shell, for the committee was EN-
powered TO determine whether it should
take Fart in the elections.
The resolutions We're adopted by accla-
nation, and congratulations were cabled
20 Gen. Weyler in Spain This action is the
hest index of the sentiments which DOM
mated the majority of the delegates. Apex
-eouia and his associates on the central
committee having been sufficiently discip-
lined and the position of the party made
known, they were unanimously reelected.
Ap5ztequia congratulated his friends that
harmony had prevailed. The failure TO
comnit ,he conservatives to autonomy may
.avr no immediate results, but it's ultimate
Influence will be bad. The public apparent
" took less interest in the outcome of this
political convention than in The grand