Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-14

any contingency. the appointed Spaniards
could always legislate as they pleased The
inviolability of the representatives is not
extended to any one who will be an author
of articles, books or pamphlets which will
invoke or invite military sedition, attack
me governor a general ,s;s r. national sover-
condemned forever to be an autonomous
colony and we will be worse off than be-
fore. According to the decisions of the
supreme court of Spain, IT. 3 not against
the law to advocate separatist IDEAS as
icng as force was not used, but this decree
prevents any possible attempt on the part
of Cubans in the future TO obtain indepen-
dence by evolution. That is why the Gu
bans are determined to gain 1t by revolu-
ton.
THE law further provides that the Cuban
chambers can only address themselves to
the crown through the governor general,
and in all cases where the latter considers
national interests injured or prejudiced by
the action of the chambers, he can refer
the case to Spain and postpone any further
discussion Of 1t until the Spanish govern
ment shall decide upon It. The chambers
can only legislate by sufferance of Spain
and then only on matters Of no vital inn
portance and which do not involve large
appropriations Of money CIR affairs Of state
war. navy, the Cuban debt, police. the ad-
ministration of justice or the church.
The President Misled.
1T is not true, as President Mckinley
has been made to believe. according to his
statement in his message, that the cham
bers have unlimited power except as to
these following matters, which are found in
title of the decree 1t is herein provided,
not that it can Organize courts of Justice
with native judges from members of the
local bar as the President says, but article
"a says that it can propose measures to the
central government which is very differ
ent from organizing. Further on the gov
iC pj ha
all the functionaries of the courts which
the minister of the colories does today. 1t
is only a change from a Spanish tweedlc-
dunn to Spanish tweededee. Neither Is
It true. as President Mckinley says that
without Limitations of any kind, it (the
Cuban pariamenD can frame the budget
as to expenditures and revenues, for tho
national cortes of Spain will be the author
ity which will determine the amount which
Cuba will pay, leaving Cuba to look for the
means of payment. Moreover, neither of
the two chambers can pass upon the local
budget without having voted finally upon
the Cuban share of the expenses of the
Spanish sovereignty. In article sc is limi-
tation enough, as it says: To the Spanish
cCrtes belongs the determination of what
shall be considered by their nature neces-
sary expenses of the sovereignty and the
Spanish cortes will determine every three
years its amount and the necessary assets
to cover it, always reserving to itself TO
alter this provision.
There is an attempt to hoodwink the
Cubans on the question of commercial
treaties by providing that the central gov
eminent will be aided by special delegates
authorized by the colonial government to
draft such treaties with other countries.
but these treaties must always be referred
to the Spanish cortes for final approval,
and in every case Spanish products must
have the advantage of differential duty.
1t will be readily seen how little chance
Cubans will have to open their markets
to the United States, which is the natural
outlet for Cuban products.
The Governor Generals Power
1.-THE whole gist of Spain's intentions re-
garding Cuba can be seen in the authority
which still remains in the governor gen.
eral." said Senior Quesada, land embraces
the subordnation of all the authorities of
the island; give him the right to suspend
all guarantees; to apply the law of public
order. which Is only another name for
martial law and the exercise of the veto.
for it is he who must sanction and publish
all the DEGREES of the insular parliament;
and. as the governor general will always be
d Spaniard it can be well seen how much
Spain means by her boasted reform.
VIII Never be Accepted.
Nothing has been said yet in regard to
the army which Spain is to keep in Cuba,
or of the disarming of the Spanish volun-
teers, or the creation of native militia, as
in other autonomous colonies.
ut is idle to disguise, these reforms which
are st!n born. Not one Cuban leader has
accepted them, and ozone will" declared
Quesada. 1.-The cables FROM. Cuba confirm
our assertion that only with independence
can peace be obtained in the island. all the
hopes of the Spanish to the contrary not
Withstanding. The papers yesterday
morning contain dispatch from Havana,
saying: The business concerns of the city
are much discouraged by the actual sitGa-
ton. They do not now look forward TO
speedy end of the revolution. All say that
they have abandoned the hope that the
insurgents will surrender or accept the con-
ditions Of autonomy
The near future of which President
Mckinley speaks in his message is already
at hand" said Senior Quesada in conclu-
sion, 'and Spain, with Carlist agitation
at home, the threats of Gen. Weyler, her
treasury and her credit both exhausted
with nothing but skeleton of an army in
Cuba, having played her last card, must
soon give TIC the Cubans that for winch
they have SO CALAMITY fought for the last
three years. unaided and alone, and for
which they have deservedly conquered,
their absolute independence"