The record-union., 1897-12-08
SPANS CUBAN PLAN.

If all else claimed for it is conceded,
the autonomous proposition of Spain
to Cuba will be rejected, because the
judicial system and the management
of The revenues are to be kept under
the thumb of Spain.
Without control of the courts, home
Government" say the Cubans, will be
farce. If we are not capable of ad
ministering a Judicial system above the
Jurisdiction of petty magistrates, we
are fit only to be slaves" they add
Spain in her new plan about to be
promulgated by CaptainGeneral Blan-
co, reserves the right in her own inter-
est to maintain a differential duty in
her favor, until her industries are re-
habilitated. When that is accomplish
ed, say the new Ministry, all tariff
matters Will be turned over to the Gu
bans
The point of objection is that this
promise is indefinite. 1t is left to Spain
to declare when, in some far distant
future, she no longer needs differential
protection. 1t may be fifty and it may
be q hundred years hence, and it may
be so far beyond the present as to be a
hollow promise of relief. Practically,
the Cubans are certain of nothing as
regards tariff regulation if they lay
down their arms upon the promise thus
made by Spain.
But this is not all. Spain proposes
that as to minor magistrates the
islanders shall have free sway, but as
content with what Spain sends over or
selects from among residents of Cuba
So that in the administration of JUS
tice what are practically foreign courts
are to be the administrators in Cuba
Still further objections are raised to
the so-called autonomous plan, that it
provides that the navy and the army
are TO be under the control of Spain.
Cuba is to have Legislature, it is true,
and to legislate concerning local af-
fairs, with the right Of absolute veto
reposed In the representative of the
crown resident in Cuba. This seems
| legislation thus hampered, Spain will
have the power to prevent the exercise
of real home Government.
Finally, while Cuba is to be given
representation in the national Cortes,
it VIII be so small as to be ineffective
Cuba comedies that she could not ex-
pect a majority in the Cortes, and does
not ask it, but she does wish to be
| independent of legislation in the ma
tional body, have power to set up a
! home Governor with a Cabinet and the
usual Ministries, and the right to main
! tain and discipline the militia, all
which is denied in the autonomous plan
now presented for Cuban acceptance.
We can understand very easily why
! the Cubans raise the objections to the
scheme that they do-they have twice
tried Spain on her promises of reform,
and in each case has found her TO be
untrustworthy. They have reasons in
plenty TO suspect that the new promises
Will not be better kept than the old
The sketch" tells of an unnamed but
vigorous literary critic who defends the
split inAnitive with great valor, claim
/ ing, despite the purists who abhor and
/ forbid the use Of and which," that the
/ split infnitive is essential to the vigor
/ of the national speech. That the best
! French writers do not scruple to use
/ ''et qui,' is cited IN support. The critic
| is right. Purists fail before usage
usage. in its full meaning. for custom
1 and usage are not necessarily synony-
nous. The English language would be
/ shoTn Of much of it's strength if the
/ hard and fast grammarians were to rule
I It, For instance. we would have in it
nothing of that element known as per-
missibie slang.
/