Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-10-05
POLICY OF SAGAsTA.
Wherein Il Will Differ as to Cuba
from That Of the Late Can.
ovas del Castillo.
AUTONOMY OFFERED wnLBEREAL

While That Arranged for by the Conserve
tives Gave . Mansclcd Sort Of Home
Rule-Hint That the Change Of Policy in
Spain Has Probably Averted Trouble
with Us-Gomez and Palma To BE Reck.
oned with In Q Settlement
Washington, Oct. 5.-One result Of
the formation Of a Sagasta cabinet
in Spain, 1t is believed, will be the
granting Of amnesty to most if not all
of the American prisoners held in Cuba,
and the pardon Of many Cubans con-
demned to Imprisonment in the island
Of Ceuta. Pending the completion of
the Sagasta cabinet there has been no
official intimation that such action
would be taken, but 1t is said to be a
natural and necessary part of the new
Spanish policy involving the withdrawal
of General Weyler and the adoption of
more conciliatory plans. The Competi-
tor prisoners, it is expected, will be re-
leased early, and Miss Cisneros ALSO
Concerning pending claims. such as that
in the case OF DR.. Ruiz, it is said that a
commission probably will be proposed
to deal with all claims arising during
the rebellion. and there are intimations
that steps toward the creation Of such a
commission are now under way.
Were Thinking of Row with Spain.
Although there is continued reticence
at the state department concerning
Spanish-Cuban affairs it is understood
that the government has been informed
that Spain will offer autonomy to Cuba
similar to that enjoyed by Canada, and
in administration circles the prevalent
opinion seems to be that If full
measure of real autonomy is offered it
should be accepted by the Cubans. The
incoming Of the Sagasta cabinet is well
coined by the administration, which sew
eral weeks ago was apprehensive of a
possible early disturbance Of our friend
ly relations with Spain. The statement
attributed to the new premier that he
would favor the largest measure of au-
tonomy has directed attention to the
past efforts toward autonomy.
Conservative Home Rule . Fraud.
Those offered by the Conservative cab
met and made known to the United
States through the Spanish minister,
Dupuy de LONE, contemplated a council
of administration elected in part by the
Cubans. which was to have an advisory
power in shaping the affairs of the ISL
and. This plan has taken the form of a
lengthy decree, which has been already
gazetted. although it has never been
put into effect in Cuba owing to the
disturbed conditions. The objection
found to this plan was that while it
was in name autonomy it did not give
real home rule, as the Cuban council
was not tc be a legislative body with final
powers Of making laws, but merely an
advisory council. In contrast with this,
1t is said. the Liberal plan of autonomy
AS desired by the. Autonomist party
Of Cuba-contemplates a colonial par
lament or legislature, with final powers
of law-making. save the usual power of
veto preserved in all forms Of constitu-
tiOnal government.
Capote and Palma DO Not Agree.
This would be on the lines of the
home rule operating in Australia and
Canada. and the latter countries were
cited as examples of complete autonomy
by the Spanish statesmen, CASTELAR,,
when autonomy was first suggested for
the island. Such ameasure of autonomy,
it Is said, would commend much sup
port in Cuba among the substantial ele-
ments there, including the Autonomist
party. In this connection it is under
stood that the newly chosen president
of the insurgents. Mendez Capote, is a
man Of conservative tendencies, and
during visit to Washington some
months ago is said to have expressed
views favorable to a close Of hostilities
on some fair basis of compromise. At
the same time the junta in this country
and Gomez in Cuba are represented as
utterly opposed to ar-'-i~g except alb
solute independent, - 'n.s condition