Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-10-09
AUTONOMY FOR CUBA.
The Spanish Cabinet Decides Upon
That Important Step,
BUT WILL PROSECUTE THE WAR.

Havana Newspapers Generally Speak
| Eneouragingly of the New Premier
| and His Policy-An American Be-
lfeves Peace Would Not Be Lasting.
Madrid, Oct. AT a cabinet council
| last night the government decided to
grant autonomy to Cuba under the
suzerainty of Spain, and to continue
the campaign as long as may be neces-
sary. Senior Gallon, minister of foreign
affairs, explained to the cabinet the
position of the diplomatic negotiations
with the United States.
Premier Sagasta has received a
cable message from Captain General
Weyler, who offers his services to the
government, and says: ST shall not re-
sign"
Meantime the dispatches and news
paper opinions from Havana are eager
ly discussed in this city. The Ell Diario
de la Marina, the organ of the reform
party of Cuba, commenting on the new
Spanish cabinet, in its leading editorial
says:
'The fall of the headless and discon-
certed Conservative party means q
sunny day; it means radical trans
formation of method. Public opinion
has received the tidings with great sat-
isfaction as indicating the re-estab-
1ishment of peace. The list of the min
listers is a clear indication that the
platform of the new cabinet is pure and
logical autonomy for Cuba. We have
absolute confidence in prompt re-
establishment of peace. The rise in
Spanish securities in Europe shows
that the public in Spain and abroad has
great confidence in Senior Sagasta's
cabinet
The Union Constitutional, the organ
of the Conservative party, says:
THE change in the Spanish cabinet
is Of minor Importance, as all true
Spaniards must have the same patriot
ism in defending the high ideals of the
nation
FL Pals, the organ of the Autonomist
party, says it sympathizes with the
new cabinet for having declared in
favor of autonomy, and hopes Senior
Sagasta will make good in power the
promises he gave while in the oppo-
sition.
La Lucia says: "This is the last
chance in a game of the gravest i'm
portance for the future and for the
history of Spain and her colonies
The Conservatives generally express
themselves as satisfied by the exclusion
of former Ministers Gamazo and Maura
from the new cabinet, as after the
threats of Ell Diario de la Marina, that
if they refused to humbly bow to the
new cabinet it would be necessary to
point the cannons of Moro Castle on
lie city of Havana, they had feared
that, with Seniors GamaZo and Mauro
in power, the abuses of the days of
General Calleja would be repeated in
consequence of the imprudent utter
ances of Ell Diario.
Friends of the insurgent cause, while
not disguised with the new cabinet,
say they are not satisfied with an
autonomy which arrives after the ISL
and has been ruined and the insur-
gents have sacrificed many lives.
A well known American, who has long
resided in the island, expresses the
| opinion that real differences exist
among the resident Spaniards as to the
desirability of autonomy. He believes
1t will not prove satisfactory to the rad
zeal element among the Spaniards in
Cuba. After autonomy has been grant
ed and peace proclaimed he believes
the radical element will probably try
to promote another instruction. In
| that event the conservative element
and the producing body of the Spanish
population would at once demand an
| neXation to the United States. This
view is shared by many resident Span
| iards of prominence.
| The rumor that Marshal Martinez
| Campos would probably be reappointed
| to command in Cuba gave great salts
| faction to the native islanders, but
| the Spaniards openly expressed their
disapproval, as they consider that his
weakness was the original cause of the
| revolt. They hold Campos responsible
| for the extension of the instruction
| into western Cuba