The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-08
Cuban REPRESENTATIVES,
Comment on the Presidents Message,
Tn,nL Time Has Arrived Tor ths later
luton Of the United States.

,sn,lon Of the United States.
NEW YORK. Dec. TT, Estrada
palma. representative of the Cuban
nroyslonaI government in the United
states commenting upon President
vcKinleys message, according to the
Uerald says; II did not expect any
r,commendation to Congress for lmme-
doto action. but the President has left
congress to decide the time within
oblSh an enduring peace must he es-
,a6lIshed In Cuba and lntlmates the nee
serslty OF haste by the use in this con-
,,rtIon Of the words in the near fu-
tnrpl He further says that in case of
the failure OF Spain to pacify the island
Win the scheme of autonomy, Amerl-
can interests, humanity and civilization
NH demand forclble intervention. As
Can,aln General Blanoo himself admits
nat the Cubans in arms will not accept
autonomy, the time the President
speaks Of has arrived.
III will be noticed that the President
does not even suggest the acceptance of
autonomy by the Cubans, and 1t is evil
Tsrt he would not have written the last
paragraph in the terms he did II he be-
ileyed that autonomy would bring peace
70 Cuba"
merchant OF this city, but at present
Connected with the Cuban delegation,
and n brother of Senior Eliseo Glberga,
the Cuban senator, said to a reporter:
THE granting OF autonomy to Cuba
nv Spain proCaims to the world the JUS
tire Of the Cuban rebellion and the right
the Cubans had to appeal to arms, since
orly through force would Spain have
been compelled TO grant TO Cuba what
Is hut a mere semblance of home rule.
But II Is now too late even for the most
annie form Of autonomy, which Is not
what Spain Is ready to concede, SPANS
autonomy will be such In name only
and for the exclusive use of the resi-
dents Of the ports and of the few inte-
rlor towns held by the Spaniards. The
Cuban patriots now In arms, who are
the only ones to decide, VIII never ac-
cept autonomy: they have declared 1t
time and again; they are fighting for
absolute Independence and the offer of
autonomy they consider plain avowal
by Spain that her cause Is lostA
"At the beginning of the war, when
Marshal Martinez Campos suggested
reforms for Cuba, prominent Madrid
newspaper replied TO him, volcing pub
lie opinion. that they would send to
cuba rot reforms but guns General
Weyler was sent soon after to Cuba
10 carry out the policy then in vogue.
Now, when all Spaniards see Spain's
cause is lrrevocably lost, as she has no
money and no credit. no more men to
send 10 cuba and is threatened with u
Carlist war at home, besides that
waged against her in the Philippines,
they are exceedingly anxious for the
Cubans to accept autonomy. Why did
they refuse II before? Because they
considered themselves strong and in
vincble. Why do they offer 1t now?
Because they are convinced of their
defeat. This Is a signal victory for the
Cuban army, since through force Spain
comedies at present what she formerly
refused TO grant Willingly.
"Spaln desires to end the war In Cuba
quickly, but she can only do so by ac-
krowledging the independence of the
island Never before was Cuba so
strong as she is now. Spain has never
been so weak since the war began. 1t
Is ridiculous to ask the Cubans to give
up when victory, final and decisive, is
about to crown their efforts"