New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-14
CrB4N AUTONOMY.
concerns.

The most significant utterance FOR long Tine
on the Cuban question Is that OF Mr.. Quesada'
the secretary OF the Cuban Legation at wash
ington II correctly reported. he says: III
would seem that. If Spain should grant or oHer
'Cuba genuine autonomy. measure or nome
rule which, while preserving the sovereignty
''of Spain. would satisfy all rational require
"ments Of her subjects. there should he no just
treason why the paciticatiOn OF the island might
mot be effected OH that basis. such result
would appear 10 be in the true interest or all
concerned" True. he has little expectation
that any such offer will be made. But he goes
on 10 argue in detail the desrability of It's
being made by Spain and Of It's being accepted
hv Cuba. ia Il tone strongly contrasting WITH
the no compromise" prOestatCns which have
SO GENERALLY and so emphatically been made by
the partisans Of Cuba. How far he speaks FOR
Mr. Cisneros, General Gomez and the rest or
the militant party in Cuba. Is matter OF con
lecture. but ii may logically I've assumed. since
he is their accredited representative. that his
views coincide with theirs.
Whether Spain will make such an offer. even
at the suggestion of the United states. is an
other question. concerning which there Is much
doubt, Certainly. a scheme OF genuine au-
tonomy" would be very different from anything
she has hitherto proposed for the Island. Two
years ago she offered the ADarZ'Ha Home
Rule" law. II provided for the government OF
Cuba by IL Council of Administration Of thirty
members of whom fifteen We're 10 be appointed
by the Crown and fifteen elected by the people
Now seeing that. under the electoral law. the
franchise I'm Cuba is almost monopolizrd by the
Spanish carpet -baggcrs such council would
| surely he as much 4 creature OF the Madrd
Government as The present administration. Bul
not content with having half 'hc Council APP
| pointed al Madrid and making sure Of n ma
ority Of the elective half. the COries decreed
that the GOvernort;eneral. appointed by the
Crown. should preside over The Council. should
| have the casting vote In case of tie. should
have full veto power over all IFS ac's. anu
| should have the autocratic power of summarily
| suspcnding any Of the members. not exceeding
one-half Of them. for any length OF time. Nor
was that all. but. after all those precautions
against legislation offensive 10 SPAIN il was
| d.creed thai no act of the Council should be
valid until il had been approved by The Corles.
| Xo wonder that Cuba answered the offer Of
! thai law with war for independence
! Span must learn. if she is 10 pacify and re-
| tam cuba the lesson which England learned
| slx-score years ago. and the application of
which has been the secret of the subsequent
growth and strength Of Englands colonial en-
pirc That H.. that colony must be- governed
! for it's own good and not simply for the good
of the mother country. II England had treated
Canada and Australia and The Cape rs she once
treated New England. or AS Spain has all along
treated Cuba they would have revoltcd long
ago If Spain had treated Cuba as England
has treated Canada. that island would to-day
be AS contentcd and as loyal TO her ns Canada
is 10 England. II may not even now be- too
| late 10 learn the lesson and 10 apply II. Mr..
Oucsadns words Indicate that II IL not too late.
II 80, In such u change Of policy Spain would