Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-13
Opinion in Havana on the Message Of
President Mckinley.
WHAT is A REASONABLE time"
Opinions Of Insurgents and the
Spanish Elements.
THE RICAN COLONY
Copyright. 1897, by Chas. NJ. Pepper)
HAVANA Cuba Da,o,nhar a 100

business of the United States and SPAIN -
the subject is better understood The bull
fight was over before the meeting of the
American Congress and the message of
President Mckinley. Consequently they
dld not have to enter a competition in
which the odds would have been all in ia
Vor or the bull fight as topic Of popular
interest. So this business of the United
states and Spain has fair field for analy-
SIS and discussion. Time has been given to
correct first impressions where they " ere
nasty or based ON meager information. The
1eellng OF the community is what might be
called settled. What it is today it will be
fortnight or perhaps even a month hence.
The Date Fixed.
An interrogation point would best sum-
riar'ze this state of mind. What is a rea-
scnable time? What the period in which
Spain should re-estab.ish peace and secure
the adoption of autonomy? What is the
near future? Probably the same questions
are being asked In the United States but
they have more significance in Cuba Their
meaning here implies distrust. If conf
dence in the ability of the government TO
pacjfy the island was strong these uues-
ticns would not be asked. The inquiry is
made and the answer given according to
the leanings of the inquirer. The planters
and merchants of Havana province who
some time ago dec.ded to wait till May
ard then, if Spain had not ce-established
her sovereignty, to ask u protectora.e of
the United States, have not put forward
tie time single day. Five months is the
limit of their loyalty to the mother coun-
try, and in the meantime it is a half heart
cd loyalty, for they not giving the new
colonial policy the fair trial which Presi-
dent Mckinley asks the American people to
give 1t. They profess to find encourage
nient for their notion of a protectorate in
the reference which the message makes to
the United States having interests in Cuba
which Will not permit the suggestion of
European interference. The brief and
vague synopsis cabled on this point is
doubtful straw for these Spaniards who
are annexationists to grasp at, but they
Will 90 So And May is their answer to
what is meant by reasonable time.
Feeling ut the Palace.
The visible representation of Spain's au-
thority in Cuba, the palace officials, place
the near future a year hence. While In
dividuals have changed with the change in
administration, the atmosphere of the
phere President McKinley's message is
looked upon as less menacing than was
Mr.. Clevelands year ago. The official
mind seems to run in a circular channel.
II Spain could keep the United States from
intervening during the last twelve months.
wien the American people were worked
up over Weyler's policy, the present Of
hcials think they may reasonably expect
non-intervention. when they are carrying
out a more humane policy. The elections
IN February, under autonomy, military
operations against the insurgents If they
continue TO hold out, the coming on of the
rairy season In May, when the movement
OF troops is impSacticable, and cessation
OF active movements till the dry season
again, Is the way Captain General Blanco
hopes to span the gap. Naturally he also
hopes there will be no gap to span, and
that the island will be pacified by spring,
yet ne has to consider the embarrassments
which may destroy this hope and call for
definite program.
Doubt Regarding Congress.
In this palace view of the time within
which Intervention may come there is
sometimes an infection of doubt-regarding
Congress. Mr.. Canalyas, the Madrid editor
present conditions in Cuba, hesitates to
held out the idea to the people of Spain
that they can look for early results, and
solicitously asks his American friends
whether they think Congress will be likely
to take action before May. l have been
asked the same question in different form
by palace officials. who are not familiar
with our parliamentary methods, yet who
hax inIn nG,,;to
some stage, dies natural death. 'Is it
not the short session, and is not your cortes
dissolved in May?" asked one of the otii-
c!als who came from Spain with Gen.
Blanco. Secretary General Congoste and
others understood the practice better, but
they all appear to feel that crisis will be
in session in May.
In the meantime the Havana newspapers
hold ont expectations of Congress being
kept in check through executive influence.
For instance, "Diario de Ia Marina" re-
publishes arprovingly, though with some
sly malice, what purports to be the utter
ance of a conservative New York news
paper. II is as follows:
"The President has told that he has de-
cided to use all his resources. including the
distribution of political favors with the
purpose or preventing the Cuban question
from reaching a critical stage in Congress
Some Of the leaders of the lingo element
Of last year have been already converted
by this method, and the President has re-
ceived assurances of q support much
stronger and more eff1cacious than any
President has had for many years. This
placating of the senators Is a work of
diplomacy. To placate some Of the sena-
tors Mr.. Mckinley has had the tact to
harmonize differences. Besides judicious
distribution of the patronage the President
has made various important concessions
on certain subjects in exchange for the
support which some senators will be able
to give him."
They kIsow how to use the patronage in
Cuba. also. The officials have been chang
ed, even to the administration of the gov
ernment lottery. yet this has not resulted
In building up party Of autonomy
"Diario" was simply trying to show that
there are restraining influences which NAV
keep Congress from running away with
itself. The palace does not consider that
the responsibility for that body is In Ha-
| vana. Congress. as viewed here, Is in the
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