The Portland daily press., 1897-10-27
OPPOSED TO AUTONOMY.
Policy Will Be Vigorously Fought
in Havana.
CONSERVATIVES HELD MEETING
INTHAT CITY MONDAY.

Cnanlmously Agre0u mat farby snould
Ener geticalIy Oppose Plans of sagasta-
Speeches by Different Leaders-An-
other Meeting Called for December.
Havana, October a6. The failure of the
autonomist policy of the new Spanish
cabinet seems more and more apparent
every day. Discussions are known to ex-
ist among the autonomist leaders and the
conservatives have pronounced themselves
strongly opposed to the granting of an
autonomist form of government to Cuba
and have, SO to.say, washed their hands
of the consequences which may follow If
the government at Madrid persists in
carrying out the plans of Premier Sagas-
ia.
The conservatives last night held a
meeting In this city, lasting four hours, dur
ing which several speeches were made in
opposition to the policy of autonomy for
Cuba, and it was unanimously agreed
that the conservative party should ener.
getically oppose autonomy and the policy
of the Sagasta cabinet in this direction.
The conservatives also criticized their
president, the Marquis Apezteguia, who
Is now in Madrid, for his astronomical
declarations.
Senior Francisco de los Santos Guzman.
a leading conservative and deputy, pro-
tested strongly against the new policy of
the Spanish government, CHASING it as
political suicide" The speaker warm
ly criticized the Madrid government be-
cause it had not availed itself of the
genuine and historical representation
of the autonomist party which remained
loyal to Spain during the war, in spite
of the insults from the rebel juntas of
New York and Paris asserting that
the government was availing itself of
the services of reformists who had sud-
denly transformed themselves into au-
Economists, instancing the appointment as
general treasurer of Senior Estanislao de
Antonio, who was secretary general dur
ing the administration of General Calleja
in Cuba, and during whose term of office
the country had been greatly agitated
with reforms" or a campaign IN that
direction Continuing, the speaker said
the conservatives were greatly annoyed
at this policy as they considered it a
marked approval upon the part of the
government of the policy of general
Calleja and deliberate snub to the con-
servatives. But, the speaker concluded
with adding that in spite of this, they
4ausO dSOopU. UuS IutiuSS u Tue ROVefQ-
ment
Senior Francisco de los Santos Guzman
then presented for adoption a message
from those pre- sent at the meeting to the
conservative president, the Marquis
Apezteguia, which was unanimously
dopted. This MESSAGE set forth that the
general assembly unanimously agreed
with the Union constitutional party and
not with the autonomist party, objecting
to the latter being entrusted with power
here or in Spain and respectfully declin-
ing to accept the responsibility for the
results which might follow the establish
Inent Of the new policy, while expressing
willingness to respect and obey what
ever the national government may decide
and expressing disapproval with 'all
rebellious efforts" to canvass Spain
against the astronomical system of gov
ernment.
In conclusion the meeting agreed to
summon a mass meeting of the conserya-
lives for December 90 next in order that
the future attitude of their party may be
definitely decided upon.