Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-19

! Matanzas, Cuba, via Key West, Fla,
| October 1S.-The business element here
In Havana, and elsewhere seems to have
| arrived at the conclusion that the Mad
| rid government can not end the war
! on the basis Of autonomy to Cuba, as
| there are not enough Loyalists among
the Autonomists to hold public office.
At least that is the claim the conserva-
| tive Spanirds make. In addition, the
| latter express the belief that the Au
! Economists, even if they were placed in
! power would not be able to preserve
| peace and protect life and property
! from the tawless element. In view Of
| this condition of affairs, a number of
! important merchants and sugar plant
! ers, Of Spanish origin, in conjunction
with several Cubans of prominence,
| have been
! HOLDING SECRET MEETINGS
and corresponding with people in vari-
| Gus parts of the island with the object
| of ascertaining the views of the COM
mercial and planting community in Pr
| mar del Rio, Havana, MatanZas and
| Santa Clara provinces ae to the future
| for Cuba most likely to further their
! interests and those of the island in
| general 1t is expected that the major
| ity of the replies will be favorable to
| the annexation of Cuba to the United
| States, as the Washington government
| alone, apparently, is able to guarantee
| peace in Cuba and the protection of
| life and property AS soon as it is as
! certained that the sentiment of the per-
sons appealed to is in favor of anneXa-
! ton, a committee will be sent to the
| United States with instructions to lay
! the case of Cuba clearly before bust
ness men of prominence in the United
| States and
ASK THE LATTER TO UNITE
! with the business men of Cuba in a
petition to the Washington government
! asking the United States. in the event
of the failure of the Conservatives to
| suppress the instruction by force of
arms. and pointing out the impossible
| itv of the Liberals ending the war by
establishing an autonOmist form of
government. to bring about the annexa-
ton of Cuba to the United States.
The plan of Senior Sagasta the new
| Spanish premier. to give anatomy to
| Cuha, far from giving satisfaction
| here. has greatly increased the feeling
of discomfort. The autonOmist party,
it is pointed out exists only in name,
the actual majority of the autonomists
being in the insurgent ranks, and with
| the exception possibly of Senior Mon
toro and a few more prominent au-
| Economists, the mass of that party
ARE IN SYMPATHY
with the insurgents. Consequently it
will be seen the Spanish government,
which has consulted Senior MOntoro
|
| Guilty in obtaining even the suggestion
of names of autOnomists to fill Offices
under an autonOmist form of govern
ment. 1t would be imprudent, it is
| added, to give such Offices to the party
| known as the Reformists, as the more
| influential Spaniards hate them, and
| the adoption of such a policy would
possibly mean riot and even worse.
I Besides. the, masses of the resident
! Spaniards are strongly anti-autono-
miSts and there is little or no prospect
of making them change their minds.
I Recognizing the difficulty of the task
before Senior Sagasta, it is not aston
( ishing that the business community in
Cuba is exchanging views on the sub
ject of annexation to the United States,
especially as
A GENERA UPRISING
of the Spanish element is feared if the
Spanish government persists in push
ing its autonomist policy, business men
believing that autonomy is only first
step towards independence in Cuba,
and the feeling of the commercial
classes being that annexation to the
| United States and the consequent safe
guards to life and property Is lar pre-
ferable to the establishment of new
republic in Cuba.
The City Of Bayamo, one of the most
important in the province of Santiago
&c Cuba has been quietly abandoned
recently. its inhabitants moving, as a
rule, to Neguitas, tearing a repetition
at Bayamo OF the insurgent raid upon
Victoria de Las Tunis.
II is said here that some very warm
cable messages were exchanged be-
tween Gen Weyler and members of
the Sagasta cabinet during the first
days in Office of that ministry.
The recent release OF large numbers
of political prisoners from the diff
ferent Spanish penal settlements was
due to the disgust experienced in GER
tain Spanish circles here at the eX-
IRENE severity exercised towards them:
but it is not believed that the Spanish
government intends to grant general
amnesty.
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