New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-06
POPULAR DISSERTATIONS.
AUTONOMY NOT INDEPENDENCE.
ENDORSEMENT OF RAMON o. wII.IIAMS's VIEWS
on CI-EA'S NEEDS.

ENDORSEMENT OF RAMON q. WIILiAMSS VIEWS
OK CUBA's NEEDS
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: As a sincere friend of Cuba. and also of the
United States Of America. am rejoiccd 10 see any
expression of temperate. thoughtful opinion upon
the vexed Cuban question: particularly as there mas
been much Wild reckless buster exhibited. bota
In and OF Congress. In regard 10 this subject
The solution Of this question - one OF supreme I'M
portance more 10 the United States than 10 Cuba
because from their relative magnitudes. the inter-
ests Of the United States outweigh those Of Cuba
No question Of great moment ever satisfac-
torily solved In the heat OF passion the more DIM
cult the question and the more pressing the sou-
tion the more need Of calm leveheaded action.
and 1t is difficult TO understand why many Of our
public men, and so many OF our daily papers. con-
ceive 1t to be their duty to infuse the NEST intem
perate. unbalanced spirit into the matter. which
would effectually preclude wise action based upon
sound judgment.
The communication in your issue Of to-day. quot
ing remark of my friend. Ramon o. Williams
late Consul General 10 Cuba. in favor Of autonomy
for Cuba. is. therefore. relief from the perfervid
rantings with which some Of your contemporaries
love fill their columns. AS long resident In
Havana. and from pretty wide acquaintance with
men Of all parties in Cuba. fully with your
correspondent that autonomy. and neither indie
pcndence nor annexation. is what Cuba wants. 1t
would take too long 10 enter into full exposition
OF the fundamental reasons for this opinion. but
apart from all theory. the following practical con-
sideratiors may be advanced:
First there are three parties whose interests are
at stake-Spain. Cuba and the United States;
ond all three are interested in a speedy ending Of
The present war; and. third. no satisfactory ter
mination is possible which is not reasonably ac-
ceptable to all As regards the United states. the
first and almost only concern is that the war shall
end promptly and in way that shall render pos
sible a resumption of commercial relations upon ad-
van.ageous terms. There is business worth $780,
00o.GJ year which this country can do with the
island of Cuba just soon "eace reiGns there
Our interest lies in opening up this business as
as possible SPANS interest lies in getting out
Of this awful scrape rapidly and as gracefully
as possible. Her pride rcvots at Slrrcndering the
island either by defeat or sale and her feelings and
consideration. Autonomy gives her way out Of
the difficulty, with the retention of considerable
portion of dignity and self-respect. As 10 Cuba,
the termina ton OF the must leave her IN some
sort of a stable condition, II she Is TO enjoy any
substantial benefit from tho insnrrecti0n II sew
era years Of war with Spain are to be followed by
eral OF internal strife and revolution, her
day of prosperity is far distant. and she and the
United States and not Spain. Will De the principal
sufferers
To the above remarks / may add that, while a
number of public men and newspaper editors
have no doubt whatever that independence Is
what Cuba needs, the Cubans themselves are by
no means certain and unanimous about II. Many
formed upon Cuban matters the above named:
are decidedly opposed TO independence, in view or
the experience of South American republics and In
favor of a liberal autonomy under Spain
trust that these few remarks. which are the out
come of a great deal Of thought on my part may
prove of interest to those OF your readers who
are students of the Cuban question. L. s. q.
Yonkcrs. ~ V, June l6, 1891.