The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-05
AUTONOMY TO BE GIVEN CUBA.
a GOVERNMENT SIMILAR TO THAT
OF CANADA AND AUSTRALIA.

The Policy of the New Spanish Cabi-
net Is Decentralization Prison
crs Are to- he Released as Well as
Many Cubans Held on Political
Chnrges-AmOnG Them VIII he the
Fair Caban, Who Has Created
Such n Furor-WiI America Force
Cuba to Accept Autonomy For
Freedoms
Washington, Oct. 4.-One result OF the
formation of Sagasta cabinet in Spain,
1t is believed, will be the granting of am
nesty to most, if not all, of the American
prisoners held in Cuba, and the pardon of
many Cubans condemned to imprisonment
in the island of Ceta. Pending the COM
pletion of the Sagasta cabinet there has
been no official intimation that such action
would be taken, but it is said to be a nat
ural and necessary part of the new Span
ish policy involving the withdrawal of
Gen. Weyler and the adoption of more con-
clliatory plans. The Competitor prisoners,
1t is expected will be released early, and
Miss Cisneros also.
Concerning pending claims, such as that
in the case of DR.. Ruiz, 1t is said that a
commission probably will be proposed to
deal with all claims arising during the re-
bellion, and there are limitations that
steps toward the creation of such a com
mission are now under way.
Although there is continued reticence at
the state department concerning tho
Spanlsh-Cuban affairs, 1t 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 opin-
ion seems to be that, If a full measure of
real autonomy is offered, 1t should be ac-
cepted by the Cubans. The incoming of
the Sagasta cabinet Is welcomed by the
administration which several weeks ago
was apprehensive of a possible early dis
turbance of our friendly relations with
Spain.
The statements attributed to the new
premier that he would favor the largest
measure of autonomy has directed atten-
ton to the past efforts toward autonomy.
Those offered by the conservative cabinet
and made known to the United States
through the Spanish minister, Dupuy de
LONE, contemplate a council of admins
tration, elected in part by the Cubans,
shaping the affairs of the island. This
plan has taken the form of a lengthy de-
cree, which has been already gaZetted, al
though 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, Il
did not give real home rule, as the Cuban
council was not to be a legislative body
with final powers of making laws, but
merely an advisory council. In contrast
with this, it is said that the liberal plan of
autonomy, as decided by the autonomist
party of Cuba, contemplates a colonial
parliament or legislature with final pow
ers Of law making, save the usual power
of veto preserved in an forms of const-
tuhonal government. This would be on
the line Of the home rule operating in
Australia and Canada, and the latter
countries were cited as examples OF COM
plte autonomy by the Spanish statesman,
Castelar,, when autonomy was first sug-
gested for the island.
Such q measure of autonomy Ii is said
would command much support in cuba
among the substantial elements there, in
cludng the autonomist party. In this
connection, ID is understood that the new
ly chosen president Of the insurgents,
Mendez Capote, is a man of conservative
tendencies, and during visit to Washing
ton some months ago, Is said 70 have ex-
pressed views favorable to a close of hos
tlites on some fair basis of compromise.