Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-18
WANT CUBA ANNEXED
Merchants and Planters on the Island
Oppose Autonomy.
NOBODY TO CARRY IT OUT
They Fear independence Would
Mean Anarchy and Ruin.
VIE W S OF THE PRE- S s

October 1S--The business element here. in
Havana and elsewhere. seems to have ar
rived at the conclusion that the Madrid
government cannot end the war on the
basis of autonomy to Cuba, as there are
not enough loyalists among the dutono-
rists to hold public office At least that is
the claim the conservative Spaniards make.
IL addition. the latter express the belief
that the autonomists. even if they Were
placed in power, would not be aDie to pre-
serve peace and protect life and property
from the lawless elements. In view of this
condition of affairs, number of prominent
merchants and sugar planters of Spanish
origin. in conjunction with several Cubans
Of prominence, have been holding secret
meetings and corresponding with people in
various parts of the island, with the OBJ
ject of ascertaining the views of the COM
mercial and planting community in Pinar
del Rio, Havana, Matanzas and Santa
Clara provinces, as to the future for Cuba
most likely to further their interests and
those of the island in general.
VIII Favor Annexation.
1t is expected that the majority OF the
replies will be favorable to annexation OF
Cuba to the United States as the Wash
ington government alone, apparently, is
able TO guarantee peace in Cuba and the
protection of life and property. AS soon
it is ascertained that the sentiment of
the persons appealed to is in favor of an
nexation. a committee will be sent to the
United States with instructions 10 lay the
case of Cuba clearly before business men
of prominence in the United States and ask
the latter TO unite with the business men of
Cuba in petition to the Washington gov
ernmeat asking the United States, in view
of the failure of the conservatives to sup
press the insurrection by force of arms,
and pointing out the impossihility of the
liberals ending the war and aboiishing an
autonomous form of government, to bring
about the annexation of Cuba to the United
States
The plan of Senor Sagdsta. the new Span
ism pre- nier. tC give autonomy TO Cuba, far
from giving satisfaction here, has greatly
increased the feeling of discomfort. The
autoncmist party. it is pointed out. exists
only in name. the actual majority of the
au:Ononists teing in the insurgent ranks.
ana, with the exception possibly of Seror
Montoro and a few other prominent auton-
omists. the masses of thai party in
sympathy with the insurgents.
Consequently it will be seen, the Span
ish government. which has consulted Senor
MCntoro on the subject, is finding great
difficulty i'll obtaining even the suggestion
of canes of autonomists to fill offices m
der an autonCnist form Of government. 1t
would be imDrudent. 1t is added. TO give
SuGE oInceS To the party krOWn as the re-
formists. as the more influential Spaniards
hate them, ard the adoption of such a
policy would possibly mean rioting and
even worse. Besides, the masses of the
resident SpaniardS are strongly anti-auton-
omists. and there is little or no prospect
OF making them change their minds.
Fear Cuban Independence.
Recognizing the difficulty of the task
before Senor Sagasta. it is not astonishing
that the business community in Cuba is ex-
charging views the subject of annexa-
tio1 to the United States. especially as a
general uprising Cf the Spanish elements
is feared if the Spanish government per-
sists in pushing its autononlist policy, busi-
ness men believing that autonomy is only
the first step toward independence in Cuba
ynd the feeling of the commercial classes
being that annexation 10 the United States
and the consequent safeguards TO life and
property is far preferable to the establish
meat of new republic in Cuba.
Among the newspapers here there is con-
siderable difference of opinion as to the
policy which shculS be adopted by Spiin
toward Cuba The Diario de Ia Marina
In an editorial just published, sustained the
poicF OF autonomy and credited Senor
Sagasta with inaugurating it, while advo-
eating the reformist party to adopt it.
HI Pals. organ of the autonomist party
in reply held that the autonom;st PARTY
favored by Senor SaSasta was what the
autonoEists in Cuba had been advocating
Tor the last nineteen years. and therefore
the premier could not be credited with
having inauguratcd IT, At the same tins,
FL Pals intimated that Senor Sagasta aas
really only following the policy adopted by
the late premier, ConOyas del Castillo and
that the Cubans were therefore indebted
TO Castillo rather than Sagasta in this mt
ter.
Views of La Lucha.
La Lucha. in editorial headed .'Au-
no
TO party had more right to inaugurate au-
tonomy than the autonomists themselves.
who had advocated and defended the policy
OF autonomy fc- the past nineteen yesrs
and who had remained firm to their con-
Victions in spite of everything preferriag
complete disappearance to supporting the
insurgents If the latter triu,aphed. At the
same time, La Lucha protested against the
Ieformists being allowed to take hand
in the autonomist government of Cuba in
sisting that the loyal autonomisls and con-
servatives should alone have this honor
adding:
In Cuba II ere exist in reality onlv two
parties. the autonomists and the conserva-
tVes- The latter, who represent the wealth
OF the country more than they repre-sent a
poiiticai party. and who also represent the
sovereignty of SPAIN will assist the Snan
isn government in every way TO pacify the
Island and are desirous of enabling the
government IL Madrid to proclaim to the
"oT.d that the sovereignty of Spain in Gu
ba does rot depend on bayonets alone. but
upon the 3W,Oo Spanish residents of Gu
ba who represent the wealth of that island
They are also desirous of being able to point
10 the fact that the autonomists are able
10 govern the island. ard that Spain's army
ana navy are only auxiliaries to that gov
ernm mt Tor the purpose of preserving or
aer and maintaining the tranquility OF the
island" - ~
BayamO Is Abandoned
The city of Bayamo. one of the most i'm
portant in the province of Santiago de
Cuba, has been quietly abandoned recent
ly. its inhabitants moving as a rule. TO
NeS'Iitas, fearing a repetition at Bayamo
of the insurgent raid upon Victoria de Las
Tuuas.
1t is said here that some very warm
cable messages were exchanged between
General Weyler and members of the Sa-
gasta cabinet during the FIRST days in Of
hce of that ministry.
The recent release OF large numbers of
pofitical prisoners from the different Span
Ism penal settlements was due to the DIS
gust experienced IN certain Spanish cir
cies here at the extreme severity exercised
toward them: but IL is not believed that
the spanish government intends to grant
general amnesty