Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-19
SITUATION IN CUBA.
BUSINESS ELEMENT BELIEVES AU-
TONOMy WILL NOT END WAR.
ANNEXATION TO THIS COUNTRY.
IL IL Regarded as Probable That
Such Action VIII lie Asked of
Uncle sam-sagasta's Policy Unsat-
fsfnctory.

MATANzAs, CUBA, via KEY WEST
| FLA. October 18.--The business elemen
| here. In Habana, and elsewhere, SEEM
| TO have arrived at the conclusion tina
! the Madrid Government cannot end tn
war ON the basis OF autonomy to Cuba
as there are not enough Loyallsts amonl
the Autonomists to hold public office
AT least. that is the claim the conser
! vative Span.ards make In addition, tn
latter express the belief that the Autono
mists, even II they were placed in power
would not be able to preserve the peace
ana protect life and property from tn,
lawless elements.
In view OF this condition Of affairs {
number OF prominent merchants anC
sugar-planters Of Spanish origin, in con
junction with several Cubans of promi
nence, have been holding secret meet
ings and corresponding with people in
various parts OF the island, with the OBJ
tect of ascertaining the views of the
planting and mercantile community in
Habana, Matanzas, and Santa Clara
IiONi4iNtS dS W the luluTe lOT CUBA most
likely TO further their interests and those
OF the island in general.
1t Is said that majority OF the REPLIES
Will be favorable to the annexation OF
Cuba TO the United States. as the Wash
ington Government alone, apparently, is
able to grant protection 10 life and pro-
perty. AS soon as it is ascertained that
the sentiment Of the persons appealed to
is In favor OF annexation, a committee
VIII be sent to the United States, with
instructions to lay the case of Cuba
clearly before the businessmen of promi-
nence In the United States, and ask the
latter to unite with the businessmen of
Cuba In petition to the Washington
Government. praying the United States
TO stop the insurrectiOn by force of arms.
and asking for the annexation of Cuba
to the United States.
SAGAsTA POLICY UNWELCOME.
The plan Of Senior Sagasta. the new
Spanish Premier, to give autonomy to
cuba. far from giving satisfaction. has
greatly Increased the feeling of discon-
tent. The Autonomist party exists only
In name, the actual majority OF the Auto
nomists being in the insurgent ranks.
and with the exception. possibly, Of Senior
Montoro and a few other prominent
Autonomists, the masses of that party
are In sympathy with the insurgents.
Consequently, 1t will be seen, the
Spanish Government, which has con-
suited Senior Montoro on the subject. is
ilndlng great difficulty in obtaining even
the suggestion OF names of Autonomists
10 MI the offices under an Autonomist
form of government.
1t would be imprudent, It is said. to
give such Offices to the party known as
the Reformists, as the more influential
Spanlards hate them, and the adoption
OF such a policy would possibly mean
rioting and even worse. Besides, the
masses of the resident Spaniards are
anti-autonomist, and there is
little or no prospect Of making them
change their minds.
Recognizing the difficulty OF the task
before Senior Sagasta, II is not astonish-
ing that the business community of Cuba
is exchanging views on the subject Of
to the United States, espe-
cially as general uprising of the Span
ish elements Is feared If the Spanish Gov
eminent persists I'm pushing it's autonO-
mist policy, businessmen believing that
autonomy is only the first step toward
in Cuba.
Among the newspapers here, there Is
difference of opinion as TO
The policy which should be adopted by
Spain.
PRESS OPINION.
The Diario de la Marina, in an editorial
ust published, sustained the policy of
autonomy. and credited Senior Sagasta
With iuaugUrating II, while advocating
hat the Reformist party should adopt It,
FL Pals, organ Of the Autonomist
,arty, in reply, held that the Autonomist
policy favored by Senior Sagasta was
What the Autonomlsts in Cuba had been
advocating for the last nineteen years,
nd, therefore, the Premier could not be
redited with having inaugurated IT, At |
he same time Ell Pals intimated that
senior Sagasta was really only following |
he policy adopted by the late Premier,
,onovas del Castillo. and that the Gu
ans were, therefore, indebted to Castillo |
ather than Sagasta I'm this matter.
La Lucha, in an editorial headed "Au- |
onomy for the Autonomists," claimed |
hat no party had more right TO inaugu-
ate autonomy than the AutonOmists |
themselves. who had advocated ana de-
ended the policy OF autonomy for the
asst nineteen years, and who had re-
named firm TO their convictions in spite
{ everything. preferring complete dis
ppearance 10 supporting the insurgents.
the latter triumphed. At the same
me, La Lucia protested against the
eformists being allowed to take hand
the Autonomist Government of Cuba
assisting that the loyal Autonomists and
should alone have this
onor. adding:
I'm Cuba there exists in reality only two
Autonomists and the Con-
srvatiYes. The latter, who represent the
ealth of the country more than they
present a political party, and who also
present the sovereignty of Spain, will
ssist the Spanish Government In every
ay to pacify the island, and are desi-
us of enabling the government at Ma
id to proclaim TO the world that the
vereignty OF Spain in Cuba does not de-
nd on bayonets alone. but upon the
700 Spanish residents OF Cuba who rep
sent the wealth of that island. They are
so DESTROYS of being able to point 10