The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1897-11-06
spain's Day for Debating
Terms Has Flown.
PEACE OTHERWISE IMPOSSIBLE
Former AutonOmists Now Concede> This
-Hannis Taylor Out for Ameri=
can Mediation.

New YORK, Nov. 5.-The Herald says
it is too late to talk autonomy. Cuba is
lost to Spain. Only independence for
the island will put an end to the struggle
now devastating the colony and running
Spain. That is what eight leading
Cubane, all of whom formerly favored
autonomy, told Senior Jose Canaleja at
the Fifth Avenue hotel. These Cubans
did not represent the junta, for the juDta
will discuss autonomy with no one, but
the conference is the more remarkable
in Its results, because the men who
talked so firmly against any proposition
except independence were formerly
leading autonomists, who in view OF the
recent developments say that even were
they to listen to such proposal, the in
surgents in the field would simply scowl
at it as an evidence not of Spain's good
faith, but of her weakness and willing
ness to promise concessions rather than
prosecute hopeless war.
Colonel Canaleja was formerly MEM
ber of the Spanish cabinet. He comes
to sound American feeling, and to in
form himself by personal observation OF
the state of affairs in Cuba. Before his
conference with the Cubans, Senior Can
alicia was unable to obtain an exchange
of views with Estrada Palma, president
of the Cuban junta.
"Tell him. said General Palma, to
an emissary who sought to arrange an
interview, "that when L was president
of the republic of Cuba, 1 assisted in
making law which is in force today,
and by which any member of the govern
ment who listens to the proposition
from Spain short of absolute independ.
ence, is regarded as traitor"
The meeting at the Fifth Avenue was
in reality an incidental one. Senol
Canaleja did not then, and has not since
his arrival, posed as representing the
Spanish government, but it is known
that his prominence in Spain makes his
mission likely to bear fruit when he goes
home. The Cuban Representatives
appointed Senor Varona as spokesman
Senior Canaleja remarked that he
could not understand why, if the CubanE
had really been in earnest in asking fol
autonomy, they now refused to accept it
Senior Varona cited the history of Cubs
since, 1873, and declared that will
victory at hand, the patriots scorned th'
Spanish proposals.
Senor Canaleja expressed regret tha
their attitude was 60 uncompromising
saying that it was impossible for SpaiI
to yield, and that therefore the war mus
necessarily continue. Spain, he added
had all the resources necessary to prose
cute the war, an assertion which th
Cubans received with doubt. He saiC
he could not see why, if autonomy would
give to the Cubans all the advantages o
independence without its draw backs
they should prefer to continue the war
There was some talk as to whethe
some of the Cubans named for import
ant posts by the new premier were mel
likely to Undue the insurgents with tn
idea that Spain really intended to dea
fairly by the colony. Senior Heredi
Escabrera, OF the Cuban party, sal
these men were of such character tha
the insurgents would be irrItated rathe
than soothed by their elevation.
The Cubans continued talking dow
phrase after phrase of the autonom
question, and expressed the belief tha