Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-10-20
WANT ANNEXATION.
Views of Conservative Spanish
Planters and Business Men
on the Island.

M1IduZdS. OuUd, Via MY w Gol, CNI'
1S.-The business element here. in Ha-
vana and elsewhere seems to have ar
rived at the conclusion that the Madrid
government cannot end the war Oh the
basis of autonomy to Cuba, as there are
not enough Loyalists among the autono-
mists to hold public office. At least that
is the claim the conservative Spanlards
make. In addition the latter express the
belief that the autonomists, even II they
were placed in power, would not be able
to preserve peace and protect life and
property from the lawlesS elements.
In view of this condition of affairs a
number of important merchants ana Su-
gar planters of Spanish origin, i'll CON
junction with several CubanS of proml-
hence have been holding secret meetings
and corresponding with people in various
parts of the island with the object of as
certaining the views of the commercial
and planting community in Pinar del
Rio, Havana, MatanZaS and Santa CARA
provinces as the future for Cuba most
likely to further their interests and those
of the island i'll general.
1t is expected that the majority OF the
replies will be favorable to annexation
of Cuba to the United States, as the
Washington government alone, apparent
~. is able to guarantee peace III Cuba
ana the protection of life and property.
AS soon as it is ascertained that the
sentiment of the persons appealed to in
favor of annexation, Il committee viii be
sent to the United States with instruc-
tons to lay the case of Cuba clearly
before the business men of prominence III
the United States and ask the latter to
unite with the business men of Cuba in
Il petition TO the Washington government
asking the United States, in view of the
failure of the Conservatives to suppress
fh. irt,Y n..fIn hU nf rms IN al
pointing out the impossibility of the Lib
rails ending the war by establishing an
autonomous form of government. 10
bring about the annexation of Cuba 10
the United States.
The plan of Senior Sagasta. the new
Spanish premier. to give autonomy to
Cuba. far from giving satisfaction here.
has greatly increased the feeling of dis
content. The autonomist party. it is
pointed out, exists only in name, the act
ual majority of the autonomiSts being in
the insurgent ranks, and with the eX-
ception possibly of Senior Montero and Il
few other prominent autonomists the
masses of that party are in sympathy
with the insurgents.
Consequently it viii be seen the Span
ish government. which has consulted
Senior Montero on the subject. is finding
great difficulty III obtaining even the sug-
gestion of names of autonomists to fill
Offices under an autonomist form of gov
eminent.
1t would be imprudent, it is added, to
give such Offices to the party known as
the reformists, as the more influential
Spaniards hate them and the adoption
of such a policy would possibly mean
rioting 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 astonish
ing that the business community in Cuba
is exchanging views on the subject of
annexation to the United States, especial
~ u general uprising of the Spanish
element is feared if the Spanish govern
ment persists III pushing its autonomist
policy. business men believing that au-
tonomy is only the first step towards in
dependence i'll Cuba and the feeling of
the commercial classes being that an
neXation to the United States and to the
consequent safeguards to life and prop
erty is far preferable to the establish
mpDt of q Now rom bIic in China