The herald., 1897-12-10
AUTONOMY
FOR CUBA
To Be Put Into Operation
on Monday
IA REALLY PRETTY PROGRAM
WHICH THE REBELS UTTERLY
REPUDIATE
Havana Insurgent Leaders Make
Proclamation Re-echoing the
Cry Of Freedom or Death

SS~~O~~A
Associated Press Special Wire.
NEW YORK, Dec. "a special to the
Tribune from Washington says: Next
Monday is understood to be the day set
for the institution Of the provisional gov
ernment in Cuba under the autonomy
DEGREES of November 25th and 26th. The
State Department has been given to un-
derstand that General Blanco has ar
ranged to do this Immediately upon the
arrival Of the DEGREES in Havana, where
they are expected Saturday. or Sunday
at the latest. This is in accordance with
the closing section Of the decree of No
vember 25th. extending to the Antilles
the electoral laws of Spain. on q basis
Of universal suffrage, and providing a
new constitution for Porto Rico and
Cuba.
A PRETTY PROGRAM
NEW YORK. Dec. 9.-Home rule for
Cuba, for Spain, sovereignty: for the
United States. reciprocity. The pro-
gram Is defined. If carried out 1t might
insure years Of tranquility and prosper
ity to the Antilles. says the correspond
ent Of the Tribune in Havana.
Until the first point is settled, the last
one is necessarily inchoate. 1t does not
form any part Of the public discussion
Of autonomy. Only the few thoughtful
men who are looking beyond the politics
Of today make 1t cardinal feature in
the Cuban policy of the future. Except
| 90 AI,o 20 iv,c lc tod 1,Vy
thoughtful men the abuses of Spanish
colonial misgovernment in the island
would have been endured until correct
ed. In prosperity the weight of corrupt
and oppressive administration did not
seem to bear 80 heavily. In adversely
1t became unbearable. With conces-
sions from Spain which promise to give
Cuba its own government the economic
conditions again become prominent and
commercial relations with the United
States are the basis Of all the plans for
improvement.
A wide gulf must first be bridged with
autonomy before force can be given to
the idea. The gulf may be spanned, be-
cause support at either end by Spanish
partisans and Cuban revolutionists is
wanting; yet the suggestion of reciproc-
ity Is significant of the future relations
of the island to the United States. The
Cubans who declare the revolution must
go on until independence is won have
theories of their own. One of these is
that broader and more stable reciproc-
ity will be secured to the United States
II 1t treats with the Cuban republic in
stead of with colony Of Spain. That
Is their answer.
It should not be understood that the
representatives of the Spanish Cabinet
In Cuba are concerning themselves with
these matters Of economy. 1t is the
men Of theories who are doing that.
WILL MEET INTERVENTION
MADRID, Dec 9.-The impartial says
today that 1t takes for granted that the
government will make preparations to
meet the intervention threatened by
President Mckinley. adding: If the
new loan for the reorganization Of the
navy is fioated, 1t is sure to succeed.
The responsibility Of the government Is
enormous, If 1t fails to profit by the op-
portunity offered to place the country
in position to defend its interests"
Ell Globe confirms the reports that the
government lis making preparations to
meet the Intervention"
SULKY VOLUNTEERS
NEW YORK, Dec. 9.-In spite
of the calming effect of President Nc
Kinley's message, the attitude of tn;
Havana volunteers continues to Gauss
considerable anxiety to the government
says the Havana correspondent of the
Herald. During the last week there ha:
been a considerable number of regular
troops concentrated in the forts and bar.
racks, prepared to instantly suppress.
demonstration. The volunteers are II
a sullen mood. but their animosity. it /.
believed, Is directed rather at autonomy
than at Americans.
| Another grievance Of the volunteer;
is that General Blanco is desirous O.
utilizing the vast force of volunteers
idle in the field, or at least on garrison
duty. This the volunteers are strenu
ously opposed to, and 1t is believed the!
will proceed to any length rather thai
surrender the cherished privilege Of con
fining their military duties to occasiona
parades and guard duty at the palac
and bank.
That there is formidable latent op
position in the ranks Of the volunteer
to autonomy there can be no question
and it may take form at any moment.
In Sagua Ia Grande the intransige
antes, among whom the volunteers ar
included, are throwing every obstacl
In the way Of the establishment OF au
tonomy. They declare that If Spain can
| not protect them they desire American
rule, but that they will never submi
to be ruled by the Cubans. In this move
ment Carlist influences are apparent. a
the intransigeantes have declared thei
Intention of wearing . white Carlis
badge on their hats.
While in Havana no open opposition
has yet developed, General Blanco is con
siderably embarrassed by the failure o
the autonomists and reformlsts to ct
feet terms Of fusion, without which prog
reBs 10 considered Impossible. Much dis
satisfaction II expressed at the long
tedious delay Of the publication Of th
Z precise text Of the autonomy decree.