The record-union., 1897-11-09
WHY CUBA REJECTS 1T.

The Cuban Government has announced
that it will not accept the autonomous
form of government proposed for Cuba
by Spain as an adjustment Of the war
issues.
It Will be interesting to know the rea-
sons for this refusal, that we may judge
whether the Cubans are justified in
their refusal, and whether Spain has
made a fair offer to the insurgents.
These reasons have been made known
by Tomas Estrada Palma. the Cuban
Delegate to the United States. He has
not been received by our Government,
of course, but he makes his presence
and official character known very fire.
quently His last utterance includes
the reasons TO which we refer.
BY autonomy Americans understand
a form of government such as that en-
joyed by Canada In the Spanish Of
fer the Viceroy sent out by Spain is to
have full power of veto of Cuban leg
islation. Under the Canadian system
the Governor General vetoes no act Of
the Dominion Parliament except it con-
ficts with ali imperial treaty. or is in
contravention Of a special imperial law.
In Canada the Governor-General acts
with the advice of Privy Council,
which is Canadian, and really a polit-
ical committee responsible to the ma
jority in Parliament No such provis-
ion is made in the case Of Cuba.
In Canada the Governor General en-
joys no immunity. He is subject 10
actions civil and criminal, as are other
Canadians. He appoints the Judges Of
the courts. but they must be members
of the Canadian bar; they hold Office
during good behavior and are response
BILE TO the local Parliament alone. which
has all the practice laws Of the courts
in it's hands Parliament may establish
special courts Of appeal. and special
tribunals to try all questions arisin g
out of elections. Nothing like this is
proposed by Spain.
In the case Of Cuba, Spain proposes
to allow her to fix the taxes and GUS
toms dues, but they must be framed in
the interests of the metropolis. While
Canada is free to regulate trade and
can raise and borrow money as it
pleases. supervise the public debt. con-
troll the coinage of the Dominion, oper-
ate it's own Postoffices, grant patents, es-
tablish copyright laws, and in all things
act as an independent nation, Spain
proposes that in Cuba the army and
the navy shall be Spanish or under
Spanish control, but in Canada the To-
cal Government controls all military
matters, supervises the schools of mill
tary instruction, regulates all matters
OF Notifications and of gunboats, arms,
armories, stores, etc, and has her own
police.
But Spain proposes to name and con-
troll the Cuban police force. Cuba is
to have control Of the Departments of
Agriculture. Public Works and Mining
and Education. But. says Palma, what
are these with Spain in control of all
military matters and the police and
militia?
Spain makes no provision for the pub
lie debt of Cuba, which is now S40o,
000.000 The interest on this debt is
so enormous that nothing would, un-
der the Government proposed, be left
for any of the departments referred
TO. The suffrage granted would, adds
Palma, be enjoyed only by the sup
porters Of Spain. because Cubans car
accomplish nothing under 1t, and
hence Cubans would have no free
representation in the Legislature
which would be dominated by Spain
since she would have the army, navy
and police under her thumb.
The upper courts are TO be controlled
solely by Spain. and this alone is sufii-
Gent 10 excite Cuban aninosity. Ca
madam autonomy was freely granted
and voluntarily. while that proposed by
Spain is the result Of necessity, Is
wrung from the crown by war against
IT. If the Cubans lay down their arms
under the autonomy promised by Spain
their sons viii never again be recog-
nized in the militia, which viii be made