New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-05
NOT READY FOR AUTONOMY.
rURAN SITUATION RETRIEVED
THE NEW POLICY MEETING WITH COLD
RECEPTION AT FIRST.

JNG-BI.ANCO SETS ABOUT HIS iH""
TUE EXPECTATION OF NO INrERFERENcE
FROM wAsHINGTON--LITTLE YET DUNE
FOR THE SUFFERING REcoNchN
TRADos TIME NEEDED ~
DEMONSTRATE THE SUCCESS
OR FAILURE OF sAGAs-
TAs PROGRAMME
rc,., CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRibONh'I
rI.roro Doc president Mckinney! ~
cage has been anticipated to the e~'e"' '"I'
Madrid Cabinets policy or au'oho'''
mt into effect In the connoeh' 'e .,.
action will be taken Dy the 'h'eu '' ,
will ,nterfer, with the programme ''"pP
nv Premier Sagasta. WHAT go
.rd Americans is smothered IL IL coii'''ie
a.. .ha volunteers and the Conservatives WV"
+h. probability Of no action In "ashlheto'i u.
.u O fair trial has been given. Cap'anh-"e"e,"
Rlanco is free to go forward WIN '"e 'o'
upbuilding Of devastated Cuba
rne nrob,ems which confront him are purely
souest,c They relate to Spaniards and Cuoans'
~ no meets with grave hindrances on the
threshold they do not come lroin
The assumption is general in Havana that 'he
x.,onal Administration and Congress VIII DE
T., occord ca far as to wait till after the ho"-
aovs before moving either toward intervention
- rocogni,ion In this interval General niai-
os oe;cal encourage recognizes that SaSas'a
r,rst accomplsh something with when 10 sat
isfy sentiment in Spain. "e!'''
and the Carlists are both to he chechi'a'eu ~
evidence that the new colonial poh'F Is man
ting progress in Cuba Autonomy Is TO JuS''i!
itself bv drawing the support OF All ''"S'e'
70 II After that Is TO come the gradua weak
ening of the insurrection by the scheme OF con-
ciliation or by other means.
THE FIRST RESPONSES NOT CORDIAL"
The clenrness with which these conditions are
recognized is evidence that Spain has at last
a Ministry which is capable of dealing win
Cuha on the basis Of enlightened self-interest
Whether the perception of this truth has come
too late the events of a few months. possibly
Of q few weeks will determine. The immedi-
ate work for the Captain General is the creating
OF a homogeneous colonial party of home RUE
The ground has not been prepared for IT, Inc
Arst responses II not antagonistic. have not
been hearty and sympathetic. The sentiment
shown varies from indifferent sceptcism 10 pas
sive opposition. War and famine, the paralysis
OF trade and commerce. have not yet brought all
parties to the point where they forget past dit-
ferences and welcome the new policy in the hope
Of lasting solution of the Ills that nave
plagued the Antilles. This may come later A
regretful truth must be stated in saying that
II did not come Immediately and helpfully In
the beginning.
General Blanco has summoned to Ills aid all
the political forces that might be blended into
a single organization capable Of upholding and
carrying into effect the principles of autonomy.
The historic Autononists. as they call them
selves arc not many. The mass of that party
bod Of
army. Masso, who recently chosen Presi-
dent of the Cuban Republic by the delegates
who met In the field. an historic Autono-
mist He went out with Spanish flag on which
autonomy inscribed as the aim and purpose
Of the revolution. Other historic Autonomists
remained In Havana and deplored the resort to
arms. or else removed to the United States. In
three years II has thus come about that 'he
Autonomsts have become a vanishing nufnen-
cal factor. Their dispute among themselves as
10 who is entitled to b. called historic has no
practical bearing on the situation. The Captain
General has been able to find enough OF them TO
fill important civil posts including Mr.. Bruzon.
who has been named as Governor Of the Prov
ince OF Havana. If some Of the officials enter
upon their duties unwillingly. their acceptance
Of Office is proof os their disnterestedness Their
talents and their patriotism enforce respect,
following with them. The Reforrnistas who have
been the opportunists Of Cuban politics. accept
the programme of autonomy with some hearth
ness and bring numerical strength TO it, Under
Canovas they accepted the reforms proposed
urged lberality In Cuban ad nnstration with
out going the full length Of home rule, and IN
dorsed Weyler's military scheme OF crushing the
insurrection before putting the reforms into ef-
feet The Sagasta programme is Ike oppor-
tunity for them. and the majority embrace 1t
without conditions. They are ready to accept
responsbty and the Board or Directors. or
which Marquis de Rabell is chairman has ofi-
cially indorsed autonomy. as did the Reformista
delegates In Madrid.
ATTITUDE OF THE CONSERVATIVES.
The attitude Of the Conservatives as party
will not he settled till the meeting on December
20 There will be held what In the United States
would be called a National Convention. for IT
will be the official gathering Of the Conserva-
tives and will speak with the voice OF party
authority. The reception Of Marquis Apezte-
gua Is not criterion OF what may be done
Sehor Guzmaris attacks are full or personal
rancor and find many sympathizers among the
Conservatives. yet Apezteguia is resourcefuI Snh
the battle is hardly opened Whatever attitude
the Conservatives officially take. Banco will be
doie 10 nnd prominent member OF the pai l.!
10 take a place In the Cabinet along with the Au-
tonomistas and Reformistas. who are to advise
'he Captan-tieneral in the affairs Of Cuba
Ihe ultra-Conservatives make little show oil
Openly nghting autonomy. With a repressive
Government in force so far as personal and
pohticai opinion goes they could not afford to
invite an open conflict But their passive hos
unity Is deadly They do not criticise the
proposition for settling the war debt before they
know what 1t Is. They only suggest the diff
fcuities which will arise when the attempt to
epualize II Is made. They do not threaten Ia
disband the volunteers II the latter are deprived
OF the suffrage. because the organization consti-
tutes an armed force They simply point out that
Spain under such circumstances should not ask
the volunteers to help maintain her sovereignty