The Hawaiian gazette., 1897-12-31
} Us NOW IN CUBA IS FOR LAHAINA
Charles M. Pepper Study,
ing Cuban Autonomy.
he Finds that Blanco Like weSIer
Is Having Scant Sue
cess.

II viii perhaps be remembered that
Mr.. Charles NJ. Pepper. the newspaper
correspondent who spent some weeks
in Hawaii in july and August. had at
that time just returned from Cuba. He
had accompanied special commissioner
Calhoun who had been sent by the
President 10 investigate alleged afro
cities TO American citizens. Mr.. Pepper
has again gone to Cuba. as his knowl-
edge OF the country and the situation
gained on his previous trip made him
ali the more valuable for such a mis-
sion
Mr.. Pepper has written the Wash
ington Star from Havana on the sub
ject of Cuban autonomy. So far as
he has been able to learn autonomist
support is more a fiction than real
ity. He says that the "autonomista
party was once a respectable organ
ization. The shell remains. The ker-
mel is gone. The name does not con-
jure the autonomists who have joined
the insurgents back from the field.
The first step in SPANS autonomis-
tic program was not taken with the
unanimous support Of those who went
by the name Though only the sem
bIanee Of 4 political organization, the
autonomists split the shadow OF them
selves and are divided into radicals
and conservatives Ii is something like
the fractional division OF fraction.
Marquis Montaro. who is recovering
from severe illness. became the head
OF the conservatives. Years ago Mr..
Montaro had influence with his people
That influence ceased the day he came
out in favor Of the reforms OF CanoEas
and got his title. Ii any OF it had re-
manned. his action in signing the tes-
tim0uiaI 10 Weyler on the butchers
departure would have Destroyed what
was left Blanco seems TO have had po-
HtieaI instinct of the right sort in
knowing whom not to select for carry
ing out the policy of the Sagasta min
istry The division among the autOno-
mists IS not in itself important. The
-refOrmistos. who in former years had
advocated liberal reforms without dis
tinctive home rule, NIL in the breach
and By UNFOLDING the new order gel
their share OF the patronage Their
fluctuations 10 Sagasta and MOret on
having given Cuba q government by
Cubans and for Cubans are sincere, fol
The reformists expect to be part of thai
government
While none OF the leaders who have
been placed in positions by BlancC
have been in the field. most of then
have relatives and friends that are out
in the brush How far their persuasion
may go with these 10 lay down arms
cannot be determined at once 1t does
not yet give promise Of great results
Some of these sutOnOmist leaders viii
exert themselves only on the surface
Mr. Pepper says that the results OF
General BLaneo's plan OF Cancellation
are not encouraging The reported
surrenders are also deceptive. The IN
surgents are taking advantage of the
invitations OF Gen Blaneo 10 resume
their allegiance by having their sick
for whom they are unable TO care, give
themselves up The same thing was
done under Weyler, who also issued
procIamations OF this kind Moreover
the presentsdOs or persons who give
themselves up, do not always stay pre-
seuted Often the men go out in the
field again, though these men are not
numerous enough to make serious
difference on either side. In going
through the official reports have been
able 10 find no change from the Weyler
regime. The presentados are still chief
II made up Of women and children, or
Of men without arms They are worth
less az an index Of pacifcatiou or &C
ceptanee Of autonomy. The insurgents
so regard them"