The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-22
ANNEXATION or CUBA
BUSINESS MEN OF THE ISLAND
FAVOR THIS COURSE

They Say A~stonony VIII Not Brisg the
Desired Rsiief-Hoidfog secret Messiass
With cubAns on h subject-Commisfee
tn be Sent to h Usstsd states Tn Lay the
Matter Before Oar Bushes. Mea Co Sc
cure Their Aid-Diricalties In tho way Of
Autonomy
M~antanzas. Cuba, October 1S-The
business element here. In Havana and
elsewhere seems TO have arrived at the
conclusion that the Madrid government
cannot end the war on the basis OF
autonomy to Cuba. as there are not
enough foyalists among the autono-
mists to hold public office. At least
that is the claim the conservative
Spaniards make. In addition. the lat
ter express the belief that the autono-
mists. even IL they We're placed in pow
er. would not be able to preserve peace
and protect life and property from the
lawiess elements. In view OF this con-
dition OF affairs, a number Of prominent
merchants and uga planters Of Span
ish origin, in conjunction with several
Cubans of prominence, have been hold
ing secret meetings and corresponding
with people in various parts OF the
island, with the object of ascertaining
the views Of the commercial and plant
ing communities in Pinar del Rio, Ha-
vana, Matanzas and Santa Clara prov
inces, as to the future for Cuba most
likely to further their interests and
those OF the island in general.
1t is expected that the majority of
the replies will be favorable to annex
alton of Cuba to the United States, as
parently, is able to guarantee peace in
Cuba and the protection of life and
property. AS soon as it is a~scertained
that the sentiment of the persons ap-
pealed to is in favor Of annexation a
committee will be sem to the United
states with instructions to lay the case
of Cuba clearly before business men of
prominence in the United States and
ask the latter to unite with the BUSH
ness men Of Cuba in a petition to the
Washington government, requesting
the United States, in view of the fail
ure of the conservatives to
he Instruction by force of arms, and
pointing out the impossibility of the
liberals ending the war and establish
ing an autonomous form Of govern
ment, 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
or discomfort. The autonomist party,
it is pointed out, exists only in name,
h actual majority of the autonomists
being in the insurgent ranks and, with
the exception possibly Of Senior Mon
torO and a few other prominent auton-
omists, the masses Of that party are in
sympathy with the insurgents. Conse-
Quently, it will be seen the Spanish
government, which has consulted Senior
Montoro on the subject, Is finding great
difficulty in obtaining even the sue
gestiOn Of names of autonomists to
form a government. It would be i'm
prudent, it is added, to give such Of
fees to the party known as the re-
formists, as the more influential Span
iards hate them, and the adoption of
such a policy would possibly mean riot
ing 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 aston
iShing that the business community of
Cuba is exchanging views on the sub
ject OF annexation to the United States,
especially as a general uprising of the
PANS element Is feared IL the span
ish government persists in pushing its
autonomist policy, business men be-
lieving that autonomy is only h first
step toward independence in Cuba, and
that 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.
Among the newspapers here there IL
considerable difference Of opinion as
to the policy which should be adopted
by Spain toward Cuba. The Diario de
la Marina, in an editorial just pub
lished, sustains the policy OF autono-
my n credits Senior Sagasta with in
augurating it, while advocating the re-
formist party to adopt 1t.