The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-10-19
THE TIME IS RIPE
FOR ANNEXATION
Spanish Planters and Business
People of Cuba
THINK SERIOUSLY OF IT
Secret Meetings and Correspondence Look
ing to This End.
SPAIN UNABLE TO STOP THE WAR
And Strong Anti-Autonomist Feeling
Suggests the Movement.
THE SAFETY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY
Can Only BE Assured Through the Strong
Protecting Arm of Uncle Sam-City of
Bayamo Almost Deserted-Wey-
Ter Gets Little Saucy.
And Strong Anti-Autonomist Feeling
Suggests the Movement.
THE SAFETY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY

Mantanzas, Cuba, via Key West, Fla,
Oct. 18.-The business element here in
Havana and elsewhere, seem to have
arrived at th conclusion that the Ma
drd government cannot end the war on
the basis of autonomy to Cuba, as there
are not enough loyalists among the au-
Economists to hold public offices. AT least
that is the claim the conservative SPAN
ish make. On the other hand they ex-
press the belief that If the autonomists
were placed in power they would not
be able to preserve peace and project
life and property from the lawless ele-
ment. In view of these circumstances
number of influential planters and
business men of Spanish origin and
others of prominence have Been holding
secret meetings and corresponding with
people in various parts of the island with
the object of ascera-ining the view of the
commercial and planting community in
Pirar del Rio, Havana, Mantanzas and
Santa Clara provinces as to the future
for Cuba most likely to further their in
terests and those of the island in gen.
elal.
1t is expected that the majority Of tlle
replies will be favorable to the annexa-
ton of Cuba ito the United States as the
Washington government alone, appar-
emily, is able to guarantee peace in Cuba
and the protection of life and property.
AS soon as 1T is ascertained that the
sentiment of the persons appealed to
is in favor of annexation committee
will be sent to the United States with
instructions to lay the case of Cuba
clearly before business men of promf-
nence in the United States and ask the
latter to unite with the business men of
Cuba in a petition to the Washington
government requesting the United States
in view of the failure of the conserva-
tives to suppress the insurrection by
force of arms, and pointing out the I'M
possibility of the liberals ending the
war and establishing an autonomous
form of government, to bring about the
annexation of Cuba to the United States
The plan of Senor Sagasta, the new
Spanish premier, no give autonomy to
Cuba far from giving sa abstraction here
has greatly increased the feeling OF dis
content. The autonomist party, it is
pointed out, exists only in lrame, the
actual majority of the au .onomists being
in the insurgent ranks and with the ex-
ception. possibly, of Senor Montoro and
few more prominent autonomists, the
masses of that party are in sympathy
with the insurrectin.
Consequs ntly, it will be seen, the Span
ish government, which has consulted
Senor Montoro ON the subject, is finding
great difficulty in obtaining even the
suggestion of name of autonomists to I'LL
offices under an autonomist form of gov
ernment. 1t will b* imprudent it is
added, to give such offices to the party
known as the reformists as the more in
fuential Spaniards hate them and the
adoption of such a policy would possibly
mean r.oting and even worse. Besides
the masses of the resident Spaniards
are strongly antl-autonomist and there is
little o.. no prospect of making them
change their minds.
Recognizing ths difficulty of the task
before Senor Sagasta it is not astonish-
ing that the business community in
Cuba is exchanging views on the SUBJ
Ject of annexation to the United States,
especially as a general uprising Of the
Spanish elements is feared if the Span
ish government persists in pushing its
autonomist policy, business men bbliev-
ing that autonomy is only the first stsp
towards independence In Cuba, and the
feeling of the commercial classes being
that annexation to the United States
and the cons squent safeguard to life and