Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-20

costa has shown ability in bringing the
IGsion from the realms of speculation to
the solid ground of fact. The organizat ton
is perfected for the course which is to be
taken when the official decree implanting
autonomy is received. The leaders have
been placed. What is now needed is for
them to go out among both Cubans and
Spaniards and find follow ers
The Conservative Party.
The position Of the conservative party
will be formally determined at it's conven-
ton next Monday. Most Of the delegates
have been chosen. They are guarded in
their utterances, but they apparently feel
they have a mission, and that mission is to
preserve Spanish sovereignty. Whether
they can do it under the forms of autono-
my is the problem They have heretofore
resolved the problem in the negative The
Marquis de Apezteguia, the president of
the party, thinks he has wrought miracle.
and that the conservatives can be brought
to something more than a mere acuui-
escence in autonomy. He hopes for a posi-
tive declaration of support The issue is
awaited with interest. The mass of con-
serVatives show little abatement of their
of open opposition. Among the Spantsh
commercial classes the feeling toward the
government is more tolerant They are
more inclined TO recognize autonomy as a
Sh'a.i'e poiliCdl CoIul tlOn winch 1t is use
less for them to oppose. They will give no
oIrect support. Their faith in the ultimate
failure of the system is unshaken. but thew
are willing that the government shall GO
anead with the experiment. If this feeling
spreads the ultra Spaniards may be kept
Nlthln bounds. The violence of feeling on
the part of many of them is extreme.
Ihey hope to make demonstration
which which VIII De re-echoed in Spain and will
cause the overthrow of the Sagasta min
istry. That would mean Weyler in power
again. If they displace Apezteguia from
the presidency of the party they will be
satisned' and that is what they are threat
enlng to do This would be a forcible repu-
diation of autonomy. 1t would be the
more forcible because the conservatives
Will be the only party which has held a
representative convention. The autono-
mstos had meeting of their central iunta
or committee and the various local juntas
ratified its action in indorsing and ac-
cepting the colonial policy of the liberal
government of Spain. The central junta
of the reformistos also formally indorsed
the autonomy. 1t did not have branch
committees enough to be of Importance
Though some of the European newspapers
complacently say the fusion of autonomists
and reformistos establishes autonomy and
ends the insurrection. the intransigentes
propose to show otherwise. They do not
need to show that the insurrection Is not
ended AS to colonial government, some
significance must be given to the action of
the Havana delegates to the conservative
party convention. They will be the most
numerous body In it. These Havana dele
gates have met and mathematical auton-
omy.
No Thought of Intervention.
This discussion Of internal politics is
going on with hardly a thought Of the
United states. The certainty that there
Will be no immediate Intervention has left
all parties free to determine their own af
fairs. The, resoluu tons before the
House foreign affairs committee are dis
cussed with a fair understanding Of com
Speaker Reed is repubIished and com
mended. He Is quoted as saying that since
Spain has changed her policy and Is now
acting toward Cuba with benignity the
United States has no decent excuse for
interference.' Spains "benignity'' in opera
ton would appeal to the Speakers sense
or humor. The country people who are
its victims have dull intellects. They are
too hungry to look upon the humorous side
of bengnity.
Another instance Of benignity in, opera
ton has just come to my notice. few
days ago while at -yGuines l was told they
were expecting the surrender of an i'm
portant local chief of the insurgents who
was known as 'Pitarre." Don Tomas Feb
ler Garcia, the autonomist alcalde. was
friend of the insursent chiefs family and
at farm near by and receive amnesty as
presentodo. Pitarre presented himself
A squad of Spanish soldiers were there tc
receive him. They killed Pitarre and car
ried the body into town and exhibited ii
to General Parrodo. The alcaide of Guines
will not try to persuade other insurgents
to surrender.
CHARLES NJ PEPPER