The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-28
PLAN OF AUTONOMY.
sAGAsTA MINISTRY OUTLINES IT'S
IDEA of CUBAN REFORMS.
The Wa~ Must he settled Once for
All Upon the Basis of
Independence.

New York, October ga dispatch from
Madrid to the Herald says: Senior Mercy
Prendergast, the new colonial minister has
outlined for the Herald bis plan Tor Cuban
reforms as follows:
THE autonomy which the cabinet OF Sc
sor Ssgasta proposes TO besiow upon the
Islands OF Cuba and Porto Rico in fulfill
ment Of the engagement contracted In the
manifesto of June "a, is special autonomy
founded on the aspirations adopted IN the
platform OF the Antiliian autonomists ana
not indentical with the other colonial con-
situations. 1t is clear that In its principal
the future constitutions OF Cuba AMI Porto
Rico agree with those colonial constitu-
lions that start from self-government as
the capital idea--self- legislation RESPONSE
BILE to the government. and the supremacy
Of the governor. who. either under that
name or that of viceroy. shall represent the
mother country ard who shall choose the
ministers who shall be the executive In
that colony.
SlstTIuE lTOW Ine uUONt BtSft lUe
project OF the Spanish government contains
the first partition OF those matters and
concerns that belong 10 tho colonial par
Lament and to the imperial parliament
that Ia, 70 The national cortcs. snEhs parti-
ton Is founded upon tt careful discriinina-
ton between what interests the islands
have themselves IN a local sense aiid what
is OF national Importance, The project In
operation Will interpret In the most genes :
Gus manner the phrase, locals interests
since It VIII not only grant to the colon,sts
complete control Of all that relates to ed
ucation. charity, public works interinsulnr
navigation, agricultural industry. mines,
etc. but 1t also intrusts to representatives
OF the local self-government the right OF
drawing up their customs tariff without
ranged"
With the metropolis to cooperate In
their respective mercantile and commercial
interests. the above functions will he per-
formed by an insuiar chamber totally cleo
toral in nature, without restrictions as ia
subsequent division into two similar cham
and the senate.
Members Of this parliament shall be
elected by the same suffrage system as that
which regulates the elections in the PENN.
sula. The same electoral body shall cleo
deputies to the Spanish cortes, who are ts
represent Cuba in the imperial parliament.
once this assembly has been constituted
tns governor general. as the representa- !.
tive q the central power, shall choose the
ministers, who nre to be the executive body
RESPONSIBLE e the insular parliament. thus
Elementary government and endowjnr !,
with that degree OF responsibility chnrac.
teris'ic OF every colony administered IN
the principles OF self government.
me ministers shall be responsible IN
the colonial parliament, and every M, =,
the governor general, an the reproseniei,,e
y the executive power. In all that touches
=. Sne local government, shall be treated II
M these ministerial functions reseryed
70 the metropolis. are. first those that In
hafeiy concern International relations. sec
onn military and naval matters. .hlrd mr.
ganization OF the law courts In CONFORMITY
Win tfetr laws regulating the offices i,
magistrates; and. fourth, those dspositlo,.
that. under the patronolo, establish rer,,lns
lions between the church and s.sts.
~ the same time the new constitution
shall grant to the Cuban people the use 1,
ana the protection offered hy tho civil snl
pontical rights sanctioned BY the Snanist
constitution In such manner that they ami,
OBTAIN IN all Its integrity IN the COLONIES
whi!e. besides. there shall be esishilshcS
e. N the United States, necessary disno
esttnns TO prevent the colonial pnrI,r man,
from any attempt to lcssen. closing or A.
INIT the rights IT citiyenshlp that ara 20
forth Ia the national constitution
New York, October 27.--Tomps Estraa,
Fssma. the Cuban delegate 10 the unite1
ststes, when asked his opinion Of the On.
pan reforms proposed BY the spanieh min
Mtsy said: As the representative Of III.
Cuban provisional government, am IN !
position to state most en,phatically tha,
NJ crbans In arms will enter into ~
conpromise with Spain. cubans are fght.
m for absolute Independence and they win
entertsin no peap propoaais from thu
Bpenieh governnAent based on anythins
but ABSOLUTE Independence.
The Cuban patriots are firmly aetsr.
niped to carry "a ths struggle until the,,
1e4puae h Accomplished.
..l,l WI listen 70 no proposition ac-
EIsastne Spsin's sovereignty over
" ~ epe,tt.s ~ men fully willing Il
eqlf NSaq. 4 49, ~. ~ their
I 3 Qll>nzs NIL n6yos -
~ nnatfty hpN snplS. y I