The record-union., 1897-12-10
Any Such Attempt by the United States
Would be Resisted.
Home Rule for Cuba, Sovereignty
to Spain and Reciprocity With
the United States the Pro.
gramme as Defined by the Au-
Economists to Insure Tranquility
and Prosperity in the Island.

MADRID, Dec. 9.-At a Cabinet
council to-day, the Queen Regent pre-
siding, Premier Senior Sagasta outlined
the opinion of the European press re-
garding President McKinley's message,
the majority of which were favorable
to Spain.
He further declared that in the event
of the United States attempting to in
tervene in Cuba, it would find the Gov
ernment prepared to defend the rights
and honor Of Spain. AS to the military
operations in Cuba, the Premier in
formed the Cabinet that the results OBJ
tanned We're satisfactory The Premier
also said he did not attach much i'm
portance to the attitude of certain
Senator's
The 'Imparcial'' says to-day that it
takes it for granted that the Govern
ment will make preparations to meet
the Intervention threatened by Presi-
dent Mckinley, adding: IF the new
loan for the reorganization of the navy
is 11oated, it is sure to succeed. The
responsibility of the Government is
enormous, if it fails to profit by the
opportunity offered to place the country
in a position to defend its interests
L
that the Government 'is making prep
arations to meet the intervention"
General Weyler is quoted from Bar
celona as saying he considered Presi-
dent Mckinley hostilityto be the most
glorious compliment which could be
paid him, when coming from Spain's
enemy" The General further remark
ed that he would make a statement in
the Cortes in order to defend his policy.
CUBAN PROGRAMME DEFINED.
NEW YORK, Dec. 9.-Home rule for
Cuba: for Spain, sovereignty; for the
United States, reciprocity. The pro-
gramme is defined. If carried out it
might insure years of tranquility and
prosperity in the Antilles, says the cor
respondent of the Tribune" in Ha-
vana.
Until the first point is settled the last
one is necessarily inchoate It does not
form part of the public discussion of
autonomy. Only the few thoughtful
men who are looking beyond the poll
tics OF to-day make it a cardinal fea-
ture in the Cuban policy of the future
Except for the fall in sugar it is con-
tended by thoughtful men the abuses
of Spanish colonial misgovernment in
the island would have been endured
until corrected. In prosperity the
weight of corrupt and oppressive ad-
ministration did not seem to bear so
heavily. In adversely it became un-
bearable. With concessions from Spain.
which promised to give Cuba its own
Government, the economic conditions
again become prominent, and CONNER
cial relations with the United States
are the basis of all the plans for i'm
provement.
A vide gulf must first be bridged
with autonomy before force can be
given to these ideas. The gulf may
never be spanned, because support at
either end by Spanish partisans and
Cuban revolutionists is wanting: vet
the suggestion of reciprocity is signif-
cant of the future relations of the
island to the United States. The Gu
bans. who declare the revolution nust
go on until independence is won, have
theories of their own. One of these
is that broader and more stable reci-
procity will be secured to the United
States if it treats with the Cuban re-
public instead of with a colony of
Spain. That is their answer.
1t should not be understood that tbe
representatives of the Spanish Cabinet
in Cuba are concerning themselves with
these matters of economy. 1t is the
men of theories who are doing that.
Captain-General Blanco has too much
immediate work to look so far ahead.
To undo what Weyler has done in NAL
administration is huge task in itself.
something OF this labor has been ac-
complished in administrative offices
but this has little bearing on the main
question. The places are filled by men
who are in sympathy with the Gov
ernment, and who viii Loyalty help to
carry cut its plans. These are details
More important is the reapproachment
of the political parties The Madrid
correspondents of the Havana Journals
describe the Sagasta Ministry in the
enjoyment of its honeymoon.
INDEPENDENCE OR DEATH.
NEW YORK, Dec 9.-A proclarna
tion signed by the Cuban military and
civil leaders in Havana Province nro-
testing against the autonomy offered
by Spain, was recently issued as re-
ported by the correspondent of the AS
sociated Press. The proclamation in
full follows:
"Cubans: After all her efforts to s1,b-
due us by force Of arms have prove4 in
vain, Spain offers autonomy to the en-
ban people. She expects TO ind,,ce nc
to submit anew to her rule under nre-
tended terms of peace.
SPANS pretension is useless The
time Is already past to think of such
compromises and transaction. Opposea
TO them in an insurmountable manner
are the dignity and manifest DESTINY of
our country the outrages inflicted
upon our families: the torrents of Gu
ban blood that have been shed: the
lives of so many innocent human ba-
ings who have succumbed to oppres
sion: the sacred memory of our heroes
who have died in defense of their na-
tive soil, and all other sorts of sacri-
fees we have made in behalf of our in.
dependence. To obtain this we have
again taken up arms, and we are de-
termined TO continue unhesitatingly in
the task of redeeming our country until
we attain the success which is near ar
hand. We shall not finch in our eff
fort, nor is it possible that we be for