The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-12-19
AUTONOMY A SHAM.
Sagasta's Decree May be Over
thrown by the Cortes.

Havana, dec. IS, via Key West.-Gen.
Blanco has declared that if within rea-
sonable time after the establishment of
autonomy in Cuba it is clearly seen that
it has no practical effect in the restora.
ton of peace, he will tenuer his resjcna.
ton to the central government, and re.
turn to Spain. The captain general and
the leaders of.the.autonomist and reform
list parties are very busy just now over
rAe decree of autonomy which has just
arrived from Spain.
1t is relieved that Simultaneously with
the publication of the decree the captain
general will issue proclamation invit-
ing the Insurgents to surrender in view
of the concessions male by Spain to the
island. How little confidence NAV be had
in this Lew autonomy is clear from the
following paragraphs of the introduction
to the decree signed by the prime minis.
ter. Senior 81 uAsta, and now ut the Office
of the captain general.
The government frankly confesses
that for the most successful result Of it's
plans it would be better to have this de
cree previously discussed in parliament
and Judged by public opinion .and- the
press, but j. is not it's fault. as it was not
the fault or the precedent government, if
the pressure of the hard circumstances
now existing compels it to do without
such valuable guarantee. But If the
party which is now in power did not hes
ltate when IN the opposition to support
the conservative part" and vote in favor
OF its decisions, now that circumstances
are more hard still and overburden us we
have right to hope that public opiu ion
VIII back us and that parliament will an
prove our conduct"
There is no possible MISUNDERSTANDING
these words. The autonomy now granted
to Cuba is merely an act of the liberal
party-of Senior Sagasta-not a law of
the Spanish nation. Parliament has still
right to amend it, and that the Sugasta
party is afraid of the on of the con-
servatives in the Cortes is proved by the
language of the prime minister in en-
Ieavoring to obligate the conservatives
by recalling that the liberals supported
them in the deer lees issued by Canovas
without previous parliamentary consent.
Senior Santas Guzman, we'll known
leader of The conservatives in Havana. is
of the opinion that the step can be taken
by che Sagasta government in passing
over the Cortes TO modify so radically The
constitution OF Cuba is too reckless to
have any enduring character. The same
views are entertained by all sensible Der.
sons here. AMI the autonomy decree, with
that stamp of feebleness set in it's very
Introduction by Senior Sagasta. has not
aroused much enthusiasm.
Trouble is feared in Havana from the
conservatives Many efforts have been
made by partisans of the new regime to
obtain an understanding between the
conservatives ..and the government. and
persuade the former to issue a manifesto
in hnit. 1l~g, =
ing autonomy 1t is said that the MARQUIS
OF Apez Teguia is ready to advise the is
suing of the manifesto, but the attitude
OF the large majority of his party is IN
compromising age inst the decree. 1t AL
depend on what the attitude of the con-
servatives in Spain shall he, and it is
well known that until now they have
been very mucl, influenced by the views
of Romero, Robledo and Weylcr.
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