The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-18
Among the Cubans to Secure
Annexation
BUSINESS INTERESTS
Are Behind the Movement and
Will Ask the Aid
Of the Business Men of the
United States
To Induce This Government to
Suppress the War.

Mantanzas, Cuba, via Key West.
Oct. 18.-The business element here. in
Havana and elsewhere seemed to ar
rive at the conclusion that the Madrid
government cannot end the war on the
basis of automiety for Cuba as there
are not enough loyalists among the
autonomists to hold public offices.
At least that is the claim the conser-
vative Spaniards make. In addition
the latter express the belief that the
autonOmiStS, even if they were placed
in power, would not be able to pre-
serve peace, and protect life, and prop
erty from the laWleSS elements. In
view of this condition of affairs q num-
Der of important merchants, sugar
planters of Spanish origin, in conjunc-
tion with several Cubans of prominence,
have been holding secret meetings, and
corresponding with people in various
parts of the island with the object of
ascertaining the views of the CONNER
ciaf, and planting community in Pinar
Del Rio, Havana, Matanzas, and Santa
Clara provinces, as to the future for
Cuba most likely to further their in
| terests and those of the island in gen.
eral.
Ft is expected that the majority of the
replies viii be favorable to annexation
of Cuba to the United States as the
Washington government, is able appar-
emily to guarantee peace in Cuba and
the protection Of life and property. AS
soon as it ascertained that the senti-
ment of the persons appealed to is
in favor of annexation, a committee
will be sent to the United States with
instructions to lay the case before the
business 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 govern
ment asking the United States in view
of the failure of the conservatives to
suppress the insurrectiOn by force of
arms and pointing out impossibility
of the liberals ending the war by es-
falNIiShincr q n ST of 90
ernment to bring about the annexation
of Cuba to the United States.
The plan of Senor Sagasta, the new
Spanish premier, to give autonomy to
Cuba, far from giving satisfaction here
has greatly increased the feeling OF
discomfort. The autonomists party it
is pointed out, exists only in name, the
actual majority of the autonomists be-
ing in the inSurgent ranks and with the
exception possibly of Senior MonterO
and a few other prominent autOnonists
the masses of that party are in sym
pathy with the insurgents. Consequent
" it will be seen the Spanish govern
ment, which has consulted Senor Mon
tero on the subject is finding great diff
fculty in obtaining even the suggestion
of names of autonOmists to fill the Off
ces under an autonomist form of
government.
1t would be imprudent. it is added TO
give such offices to the party known as
the Reformists, as the more influential
SpaniarES hate them and the adoption
of such policy would possibly mean
rioting and even worse. Besides, the
masses of the resident Spaniards are
strongly anti-autOnOmists and there is
little or no prospect of making them
change their minds
Recognizing the difficulty of the task
before Senior Sagasta it is not astonish-
ing that the business community in
Cuba is exchanging views on the sub
Ject OF annexation to the United
States especially as a general uprising
Of the Spanish element is feared if the
Spanish government persists in push
ing its autonomist policy, these men be
1ieving that autonomy is only the first
step towards independence in Cuba and
the feeling of the commercial classes
being that annexation to the United
States and the consequent safeguards
to life and property is far preferable to
the establishment Of a new republic in
Cuba