The record-union., 1897-01-02

to east. Generals Hernandez, VelaSco,
Obregan, Bernal, Ruiz, Fuentes and
Segura were now in the center of the
hills. Perhaps General Arolas was
also there. Once the Rubi Hills were
fortified, a severe blow might be di-
rected against the rebels under Ducas-
sis.
An odd feature of the above interview
is that General Weyler, while declaring
that Pinar del Rio is practically free of
insurgents. finds it necessary to have
the Rubi Hills fortified before he will
attempt to strike a blow at the rebels
under Duoassis.
SPAUN'S PROMISED REFORMS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-Senor de
LONE, the Spanish Minister, furnishes
the United Associated Presses the tol-
lowing copy of a telegram from Forelgn
Minister Tetuan at Madrid:
I'm the Council of Ministers. presided
over to-day by her majesty, the Queen
Regent, a royal decree was signed,
which applies to the island of Porto
Rico, of the laws of reforms voted in the
Cortes on the 18th of March, 1895. The
preamble to this decree is of the great
est DtCduoC VI IiiC otc@eN
ments it contains regarding Cuba. 1t
begins by explaining the reasons why
the reforms are applied there and why
this has not been done before. Amongst
other paragraphs it contains the fol-
lowing, which, owing to their import
ance, I copy in their entirety:
''In the actual circumstances the Gov
ernment considers that the proper time
has arrived for giving to the world
ample proof of its firm resolve to fulfill
the engagements voluntarily contracted
by the nation, by implanting and carry
ing into effect in Porto Rico. The reform
system enlarged and extended will be
applied in due time to Cuba
In unfolding the basis of the reforms,
with the scrupulous care which the COM
pick nature of the case and its many and
varied problems demand, the under
signed Minister has been inspired with
a sense of necessity of ample admins
trative decentralization, and has pro-
ceeded to the utmost limit which the
actual law allows. without diminution
of the inherent sovereignty of the ma
ton. At the same time, true to the
solemn promise made before Parliament
by its President, the Government pro-
poses to give a more ample scope to the
reforms when as a herald of peace the
happy moment arrives for the definite
application of reforms to both the
Antilles.
'As soon as possible her majestys
Government will hasten to apply to
Cuba not only the reforms which form
the groundwork of the law applied to-
day to Port Rico, but also will extend to
both provinces the reforms which have
been offered, with the view of confer
ring upon both Antilles an admins
trative and economic personality of a
local character which shall facilitate
the complete intervention of the coun-
try in its own affairs, maintaining at
the same time intact the right of SOW
ereignty and the conditions necessary to
the maintenance of that right, as was
stated in the words her majesty deigned
to addres to the Cortes, by the advice of
her responsible Government upon the
opening of Parliament.
These amplified reforms can be part
ly put into practice by means of the
power possessed by the Executive Gov
ernment, and partly will require the
sanction of Parliament. The Govern
ment is confident that it will not en-
counter insurmountable obstacles in its
action in this sense, looking to the pa
triotic uniformity of opinion respecting
the fundamental ideas which underlie
the application of the reforms
Briefly, the law of reforms voted by
the Cortes and sanctioned by the crown
which is to-day to be applied to Porto
Rico will form the foundation stone or
the new regime, but an additional de-
cree an account of which will be given
to the Cortes, will amplify to
such extent these reforms that
a genuine home administration will
be constituted in our Antilles IN the
first instance for Cuba, but to be ex-
tended to Porto Rico as soon and at tine
same time as it may be possible to ap-
ply to the former island.
"TETUAN,
minister of Foreign Affairs"
RESTS WITH CLEVELAND ALONE
NEW YORK. Jan. 1.-Senator Wmte
of California is at the Waldorf. In
talking about Cuba to reporter oeaIor
White said:
mo matter how much the citizens
of this great country may desire elther
IN recognize the independence of Cuba
or the belligerent rights of the cuban
insurgents, Congress is poWeflesS 10
further their desires, as the right OF
recognition Of belligerency of independ-
ence rests solely with the Executive
branch of the Government. The sole
right to act has been the prerogative
of the Executive since the foundation
of this Government, and has been ac-
knowledged by all leading authorities.
| 1t is not at all hkely that the conten-
tions of Senator Morgan of Alabama
| or any of the advocates of the Cam
eron resolution will hold good when ex-
pcsed to full discussion Both houses
Of Congress are cropping in the dark.
| The Executive alone holds the key to
the situation, because another preroga-
! tive gives the President the right to
withhold all information in regard to
| diplomatic affairs if the Executive be-
| lieves it to be in the best interests OF
1