The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-24
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THE REFORM SCHEME.
How II Ia Regarded by the AutOno-
mists of Cuba.

|
| Washington, d. C., February ga suf-
ficicnt time has now elapsed since the
publication OF tho Cuban reform scheme to
| justify the Spanish legation In Washing
| ton in making an estimate OF the feelings
Of the Cuban people toward the project.
| To this end the legation officials have
| collected the opinions of the most proni-
| nent mon in Cuban politics outside OF the
| insurgent camps and has given particular
heed to the words Of the aut0nomist lead
| ers. In summarizing these various views
| the legation officials say there can be no
| doubt but that the reform projects meet
with general but not with executive APP
proval. There IL some opposition. and
this comes not from the autonomistA. who
are working for home rule. but the ultra
Spanish In cuba. They say that they arc
not satisfied with tho large concessions
made to the home rulers and prefer to
adhere 10 the old form OF government This
reactionary element finds Its counterpart
in Spain. where the manufacturers, pro-
tectionists and monopolists have petitioned
the government In opposition to the
economic features OF the reform act which
gives to Cuba the right to act directly In
the customs, tarIn and reciprocity treaties
and 80 tends to direct trade between the
island and foreign countries.
But on the whole. according TO tho le-
strongly toward the new project One
prominent autonomist leader writes that
to him the reform plan contains the es-
sential element Of self government In
degree to place Cuba superior to the con-
ditions which obtain In the French An
TILES or even In the English possession Of
the Leeward and Windward Islands. and
these consider themselves literally gov
erned. The reform project requires little
alteration to make the system resemblc
the Canadian and Australian systems.
and as the premier has limited at further
extension, there Is apparently no bar to
further progress. This correspondent feels
that the reforms remove all reasonable
pretext for the continuance OF the d4as-
tation OF the country by the insurgents.
He believes that the real difficulty IL the
present failure Of people In the rural dis
tricts to understand the reforms. 'The
fanatics, Adventures and ambitious col
ored men who desire nothing compatible
with civilization must be deprived OF the
protection or indirect help OF the United
States.
As an indication Of the general feeling
among autonomists. the legation points 10
the following cablegram sent by the ex-
eoutive committee Of the party In Havana
to Premier Canovas in Madrid:
Executive committee OF the reformist
party resolved upon learning the basis
Of reforms. TO congratulate you on the
high motives they reveal. satisfying as
they do legitimate aspirations OF tho
country which expects the sincere con-
currence OF all the loyal elements In their
carrying out and application as promised
by you to the representatives Of the re-
formist party In order to assure the prin-
cipie OF much desired peace
Jose A. Delcuto and Rafale Montoro. two
autonomist leaders. are quoted as COM
mending the reforms as extensive In loyal
fultillment Of the promises from the throne
and from Canovas.
Rabcli. the resormist leader. speaks Of