The sun., 1897-11-05
CUBA MUST HAVE LIBERTY.
NO COMPROMISE ON AUToNoMT
Possible VOW.

Proustncnt Cubans Here Give senor Canniejas
Their Views OF tho Situation at Chance
Conrerence--Arter Hearing That the Span
tsh Delegate says war Must Continuc.
A conference was held on Wednesday
evening between Senior Canalejas. the Spanish
statesman who arrived in New York few
days ago, and several Cuban leaders. 1t was
q chance meeting. DR.. Enrique jose Varo-
na, editor Of Pdtrid, tho Cuban organ here,
and former Deputy to the Spanish Cortes;
eehor Raimundo Cabrera. and DR.. Diego
Tamayo former members of tho Autonomist
Executive COMMITTEES; Sehor Nicol6s Herodia, q
leading lawyer OF Matanzas and former member
Of tho Autonomist Provincial Committee, and
Or. Gabriel Camps, wealthy lawyer and sugar
planter ma: Schors Carlos Parraga, Manuel A.
Recio do Morales, former member OF the Execu-
tive Committee of the Rotormst party. and
sehor Folk Yznsga. in Madison square a little
after o'clock. They oil went into tho cafe
at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Shortly afterward
ex.Ministcr Canalcjas also On cred the cafe and
took a table not far from tho Cubans. Senior
IEnaga who was acquainted with tho Spanish
politician, rose and snlutod him. Greetings were
exchanged between tho two and n formal intro
duction followed. Senior Iznaga then said
that Senior Canalejas had como to America
to study the Cuban problem, and hat 1t might
bs advantageous for both parties that Senior
varona and tho other gentlemen there should
give him thor views as to the actual feeling of
the secessionists at tho present moment, and
the other Cubans having answered that they
would willingly give Sehor Canalojas such In
formation as he might desire. tho Spaninrd said.
1t astonishes me that tho very Cubans who
formerly advocated autonomy should reject 1t
now that Spain is ready to grant it. cannot
understand this"
Sehor varona replied:
"Spain had splendid opportunity to mako
Cuba Spanish. She did not profit by 1t. refer
to the period just after peace was restored In
February, 1873. Tho moro enlightened Gu
bans undertook then most difficult task.
They attempted to persuade the Cuban
masses that liberties could be obtained
through peaceful means. and also to persuade
Spain that II such liberties were not granted
maineS @ deaf leaf to "' the leadines "c Of cubas
most illustrious sons. Those who advo-
The Cuban people got tired of waiting. They
had looked upon autonomy AS compromise; 1t
accept i It. War broke out much blood has been ZEN
shed, our properties have been destroyed. Is 1t
possible that we should now accept as a remedy
that which was only preventivof Surely not
dence Of the island arc determined to maintain
ways nS 'ss have NISs the support ' q thousands
to see that the army of liberation is we'll pro-
vided with everything that is necessary. Idonbt
revolution will ever take the initiative to accept
autonomy at this late hour. much less to advise
senor Cabrera said ~ was one of the found
ers OF the Autonomist party. AS long as the
party took inspiration from tho Cuban scnti.
with it; but toward 1898, when the party's
leaders, Montoro and few others-forgot that
1t must be essentially Gu ban, the people aban-
doned it and turned m the their eyes toward Mart.
fed with autonomy the Cubans in the field be-
come irrtated when they hear about it: Why
been fighting simply SO that the Government.
VIII ch always refused to employ Cubans in tho
ss
ensmissi .s They consider IL an h Outrage upon
region @ E6ish , sSsy ri always SC cursed; Ss =, sn,,
Wish tSss Cuba misht So Independent.
Spain viii BE- much eroeter when she recognizes
the hs of to be s sS, SD 9f
continue to BE- Spanish. There is nothing
strange IN this. My leader in politics. Senior ri
YET SSHa himself e for
Senior Canaiejas listened attentively to what
really regret to see that you are SO uncom.
promising. can as ure you that Sagasta is sim
and that he Intends that the measure shall be
most radical. 1t is mist AXE to say that the ex-
omy. This difficulty could be settled easily.
Spain has ample resources. and she is willing to
share the burden.
II am unable to understand how you re-
ject regime which you once advocated
and which practically gives you all
the advantages of independence It is
really to be regretted. in the interest of both
Spain and Cuba. that such should be the feeling
that prevails among you.
WAR must then continue. Spain has the
means to maintain it. No Spanish Government
will ever consent to the evacuation of Cuba"
That closed the conference.