The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-12-29
is NOW IN CUBA
Charles MI. Pepper Study.
ing Cuban Autonomy.
He Finds that Blanco Like VIEWER
Is Having Scant Sue
cess.

1t will perhaps be remembered that
Mr.. Charles NJ. Pepper, the newspaper
correspondent who spent some weeks
in Hawaii in July and August, had at
that time just returned from Cuba. He
had accompanied special commissioner
Calhoun who had been sent by the
President to investigate alleged afro
cities to American citizens. Mr. Pepper
has again gone to Cuba, as his knowl-
edge of the country and the situation
gained on his previous trip made him
all the more valuable for such mis-
sion.
Mr.. Pepper has written the Wash
ington Star from Havana ON the sub
ject Of Cuban autonomy So far as
he has been able to learn autonomist
support is more a fiction than a real
ity. He says that the "autonomista
party" was once a respectable organ
ization. The shell remains. The kerr
mel is gone. The name does not con-
jure the autonomists who have joined
the insurgents back from the field
THE first step in SPANS autonomis-
tic program was not taken with the
unanimous support of those who went
by the name. Though only the SEM
blance of political organization, the
autonOmists split the shadow of them
selves and are divided into radicals
and conservatives. 1t is something like
the fractional division of fraction.
Marquis MOntaro, who is recovering
from a severe illness, became the head
of the conservatives. Years ago Mr..
Montaro had influence with his people.
That influence ceased the day he came
out in favor of the reforms of Canovas
and got his title. If any of it had re-
NAMED, his action in signing the tes-
timonial to Weyler on the butchers
departure would have destroyed what
| was left. Blanco seems to have had po-
+. litical instinct of the right sort in
knowing whom not to select for carry
| ing out the policy of the Sagasta min
| iStry. The division among the autOno-
mistS is not in itself important. The
| .reformistos,' who in former years had
advocated liberal reforms without dis
| tinctive home rule, fill in the breach
and by upholding the new order get
their share of the patronage. Their
| Fluctuations to Sagasta and Moret on
having given Cuba a government by
| Cubans and for Cubans are sincere, fol-
the reformists expect to be part of that
| government.
/ "While none of the leaders who have
been placed in positions by Blanco
have been in the field, most of them
have relatives and friends that are out
! in the brush. How far their persuasion
may go with these to lay down arms
| cannot be determined at once. 1t does
not yet give promise of great results
Some of these autonomist leaders will
exert themselves only on the surface.
| Mr.. Pepper says that the results o.
General Blanco's plan of cancellation
are not encouraging. "The reported
surrenders are also deceptive. The in
surgents are taking advantage OF thu
invitations of Gen. BlancO to RESUME
their allegiance by having their sick
for whom they are unable to care, Civ
themselves up. The same thing wa.
done under Weyler, who also issuet
prOCIdmdtlOuS Vi tHlS hiuu. NAoi oo'oi
the presentados, or persons who Civ
themselves up, do not always stay pre-
sented. Often the men go out in tn
field again, though these men are no
numerous enough to make seriou
difference on either side. In goin
through the official reports | have bee
able to find no change from the Weyle
regime. The presentados are still CHIEF
Nv made up of women and children. G
of men without arms. They are worth
less as an index of pacifcation or az
ceptance of autonomy. The insurgen'
so regard them"