New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-12
BLANCO'S TASK A HARD ONE.
LINES OF ACTION THAT CONFRONT
SPANS REPRESENTATIVE IN Cuba.

LINES OF ACTION THAT CONFRONT
SPANS REPRESENTATIVE IN CUBA.
CROPPING IN THE DARK YET AS TO AUTONOMY
ONE STEP FORWARD IN KEMEDYINo THE
FINANCIAL ANARCHY CREATED
BY wEYLER
frnoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBONE'I
Havana. Cuba. Dec. S-Three lines OF act'oh
are now followed by the representatives OF
SPANS authority in Cuba. They are 10 inaueu-
rate the system Of autonomy. to remedy the
monetary anarchy and the distressing inous'''ai
conditions Of the island. and to END the lnsur-
rection by whatever means may DC most useiui'
While the execution Of the plans Is with the
Captain General. the sagacious direction Is from
the Sagasta Cabinet In Madrid
The last article in the programme may be
taken out OF immediate consideration. The re-
fusal Of the insurgents to be conciliate nto ac-
oen,,ne the new regime and the multiplied evil
dances that their ranks will not be thinned
nv desertion make 1t necessary to leave this
branch OF tile subject to an analysis OF military
onerations when the new campaign Is begun.
and military operations in Cuba are not rapid
enough 10 call for hasty discussion
vvrrCr Or THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The effect of President McKiniey's Message on
the existing conditions may now De s'uoieo WIN
more elaboration than was possible when tne
.yrons,s of Il was received oy cable. The IA
vorable impression the Message mace on the
palace which is the generic term FOR Cap
81, ca,aroI Rlenco and the officials with
whom he is surrounded. has not been nlooi-
eed They accept the attitude Of the Ma
,,onal Administration definite assur-
srca that no embarrassment Will come from
,be Tinted States in the initial and critical
stages Of the colonial system Back OF
this is a certain feeling Of resentment over the
Presidents declaration Of the right TO proceed
In q matter adequate TO tho contingency II
events in the not distant future demonstrate
whether or not 1, Is logical to hope for peace
Every Spaniard in Cuba whether OF the ofnciai
or of the commercial class. in his heart resents
the suggestion OF the United States having the
right to intervene in SPANS colonial anaIrs.
He thinks the government Of Cuba none OF the
American peoples business. His idea Is that
the interest of the National Administration is
confined to maintaining police patrol OF the
four thousand miles Of coast line in order to
prevent hNbustering The merchant tempers
this sentiment with reserve. for prudential rea-
sons. He feels that for the security Of his in
yestments In the Antilles it may yet be neces-
sary to look to Washington. The Spanish off,
cial moderates his feeling through motives OF
Diplomacy. Its unconscious outcropping in the
present situation has little significance The
not distant future" is interpreted at the Palace
as a period which will be ample to demonstrate
SPANS ability to pacify the island and I'M
plant in it the political system Of home rule.
It is not, therefore, the United States with
which the Palace and the supporters OF autono-
my are Immediately concerned. Their eyes are
yet turned to Spain. The understanding OF the
system which Is to be put into effect Is foggy
Through the mist the Captain General and the
leaders OF what Is to be the Government party
OF autonomy zee the outlines. the framework
as it were, Of the new colonial structure. What
they need Is the foundation upon which they
NAV build Sagacious in advice and direction as
IL the Sagasta Ministry, there Is weakness IN
annlying the remedy which has been prescribed
for Cuba Blanco needs measures which ne
may begin putting into operation. the CIVIL
oficers, from the Governors OF the provinces
down 10 the alcaldes. or mayors. OF the villages.
have been changed Weyler's parfisans and
favorites have been replaced by Autonomists
and Reformists This might mean a radlcai
change in policy. yet not necessarily; because
the coming Of every Captain-Generai Is marked
by numerous changes. So the Palace awaits
measures from Madrid and gropes In the dark
autonomy. The principles are apparently bet
ter understood IN Madrid and in Washington
than In Havana Minister de Lomes luminous
exnosition Of the system could not have come
from the officials or the political leaders In
Cuba who are charged with Its application to
the island.
While this uncertainty regarding political af-
fairs exists the Palace has taken decisive
means to improve the financial state. II Is
step toward remedyng the monetary anarchy
which has prevailed for more than year past
II carried out successfully, commerce and TRACE
will feel the benefit in the effort to remove one
sreat element of instability. The Captain -Gen-
eral has issued a decree giving official sanction
20 the quotation OF the billetes The billetes are
the deprecated paper currency known as
"WeyIer's Scrip" though General Weyler always
protested that the powers at Madrid were re-
.nonx,ble for the issue. The Spanish Bank OF
Havana by direction Of the Government emitted
S20OOOOOO Of this currency. on an ostensioie
gold reserve. Soon the gold gave way to Sill
YER but the public had no confidence IN eithei
this reserve In the actual amount OF th'
billetes that had been put in circulation. Ih'
usual Generalization followed The Government
dlscredited its own currency Billetes fell ahe
fell TIL they were current at less than ~ cen'
on the gold dollar All the despotc power OF I'M
Captain-General was not enough to force the'
circulation on the merchants and tradesme'
OF Havana. Their rebellion was passive one
Spectators and money changers thrved at IN
expense Of the poor people. who had to take IN
scrip at its changeable valuation. Weyier IL
sued "bando." or decree. forbidding. unoe
penalties the quotation of billetes IT was
X the United States Government had trieo u
prevent the quotation OF gold during the CIV
War. This condition has lasted with some mu
tations up to the present time. plan OF toa
vertng the billetes was formulated. but 1t IA
little effect. The range Of variation has b"e