San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-02-09
CUBAN REFORMS.
THEY ARE RAISING sHEOL OVER
IN SPAIN.
Nobody Can Agree But Everybody Has an
Opinion to Express Evident That
Weyler Must Go.

An unprecedented sensation has
been caused in Spain by the publica-
ton Of the reform DEGREES.
The adroit declaration of Premier
CanOvas' preamble has awakened the
great majority of the Spanish people
to the gravity of the situation, and
the necessity of fulfilling the promises
contained in the royal speech, the
ministerial statement and the reform
law Of 1895, as well as the expidency
OF settling the contest in Cuba i'll har-
mOny with public sentiment in Amer
lea and in Europe as well.
The preamble also shows the i'm
possibility of pacifying the West Indies
without home rule, and the hopeless
ness of winning over all the insurgents
even at that, as Senior Canovas adj
mitS that the present struggle is
war for independence.
Critics OF the government pdlicy
publicly assert that they would have
preferred complete autonomy and that
the reform policy issue is to bring on
more conflicts.
Though Senior SagaSta has COUNSEL
ed the Liberals to refrain from throw
ing obstacles in the governments
way. the party organs severely crfti,
else the DEGREES, insinuating that the
liberals would go further if called TO
Office.
Most of the newspapers. notably.
the HeraldO, the Impartial. the Cartist
and the Republican papers, try to stir
up the people.
The impression is general that the
policy cannot succeed unless Gen.
Weyler is recalled from Cuba.
Senior Arbazuza, the author of the
reform law of 1895, which Premier
CanOvaS proposes to amalgamate with
his own program. said in an inter-
view:
"SenOr Ceanovas' has adopted
many of my ideas and also those Of
Senior Maurad. But he has developed
them in a radical manner in the essen
tial features of his program and in n
very conservative manner in other
points.
Undoubtedly Senior CanOvaS'Scheme
has geed features. but everything de-
ponds upon how the scheme is car
ried out and by whom. Gen. WeyleTs
removal ought to be the first step.
That would prepare the way for a
fair trial of the new policy when the
state OF the colony would permit it.
Under these reforms it is easy to
see that the Constitutional party in
Cuba would be master of the Situa-
ton unless the electoral law is modi-
fed"
1t is hardly possible TO guess the
effect on Cuba of the publication OF
the reforms, coupled with the post
pOnement of their execution. Persons
most competent to judge do not be-
lieve the war will end soon. The Au-
economist reprOves warmly denOunce
the DEGREES.
They object to the clauses giving
to the governor general of the colo
MES the right of the executive and
the cortes the final decision upon tar
IFS. treaties and all other really i'm
pOrtant legislation.
They think the gravest difficulty
would arise over the inevita BILE Ques-
ton Of allowing the Spanish COrtes
eventually to saddle upon Cuba the
debt contracted for the war expenses.
when probably the whole revenue
from taxation on the island for MANY
years will not meet the interest of the
sinking fund alone.
The AutOnOmiStS do not believe the
publication of the reforms will end
the war or even promote pacification
unless Gen. Weyler il superseded
soon by Marshall Campos. BIanco or
Lopez DOminguez and the repression
policy is reversed with a view to re-
establishing confidence, healing tho
wounds OF war and allowing exiles to
return, thereby persuading the insur-
gents and their American sympathiz-
ers that Spain is in earnest.
strangely enough the published re-
forms were most unfavorably receiy-
ed by the majority of the Conserve
tiyes in the West Indies, senator. and
deputies. Yet they knew that Pre-.
mler Canovas had consulted and oh.
tanned the approval Of Romero Robel-
10, Aptzeguia and others, and at their
suggestion inserted at the last hour
restrictive clauses to strengthen the
hands of the governor general, the
colonial minister, the cabinet and the |
Cortes in almost all important mat |
ters, especially in political. commercial
and financial affairs, Several of the |
most influential find fault with the |
excessive powers" granted to the
council of administra ton and prOphesy |
that the slightest electoral reform
would be sure to give the AutOnOmistS
and Separatists control of the insular
provincial and municipal councils.
They say the colonial assembly
would he certain to clash with the