The record-union., 1897-12-08
Expresses His Views Regarding the
Situation in Cuba.
Crlticlses President McKinIey's Policy Toward
the Island.
Asserts That the Decree of Autono-
mony by the Queen Regent,
Unsupported by the Cortes, Is
Illegal, and Will Result in No
Good to the Cubans.

MOBILE (Ala), Dec. Tex Minister
TO Spain, Hon. Hannis Taylor, gives out
the following:
The Associated Press has requested
me to express my views as to that part
of the Presidents message which re-
1ates to the Cuban question. Putting
aside the irrelevant matter by which
it is encumbered, the substance Of the
only recommendation made by the Ex-
ecutfve to Congress upon this subject
is that this Government cannot venture
to do anything TO put an end to the in
human strife, which, during the last
three years, has reduced the island al
most to a desert, because there is a
prospect of a settlement between the
combatants upon the basis of a So
called plan of autonomy lately put
forth by the Sagasta Ministry.
Il believe Congress should firmly and
scornfully reject such policy of irres-
olution and non-action, because the as
sumption upon which it is founded is
an empty Illusion The vital question
at issue has not been touched by the
revolutionary effort of Sagasta to end
the war by ms of a craftily incom-
constitutional guarantee whatever. All
who are familiar with the Spanish law
know that a valid grant Of an autono-
nous colonial system that involves not
only the repeal of all existing laws on
that subject, but also the transfer OF
the control of a large part of the ma
tional revenues of Spain to colonial
Legislature, cannot be made except by
an Act passed by both Houses Of the
Cortes. and approved by the Queen Re-
gent. The effort just made to secure
that result by a mere royal decree, un-
supported by parliamentary action, has,
therefore, been justly denied by Rome
70 Robledo. late Minister of Justice. as
a purely revolutionary proceeding in de-
fiance of the Constitution.
I'm one particular the Cabinets at
Washington and Madrid are in identi-
cally the same situation. Both are
striving with all their might either to
defy or cfrcumvent the national Will as
embodied in their respective Legisla-
lures.
but even if the Sagasta plan pos
sessed constitutional validity, a careful
inspection of its artful terms must re-
veal the fact that like the pretentious
sham put forth by Canovas. it contains
two cardinal provisos that would enable
the home Government to reduce the
whole scheme at any moment to zero.
The autocrat of Cuba has ever been
the Governor General. and the present
plan contemplates his continuance as
such, with full power to crush by veto
any and every act of the colonial Leg
islature
It have attempted to demonstrate
elsewhere that the primary cause o. the
endless conflict is economic, and that
difficulty can never be removed until
Cuba is Independent, or possessed of an
insular Parliament that can regulate
absolutely her own affairs
AT the end of three years of whole
sale destruction, provoked by Spain
through unprecedented political and
economic oppression. that has brought
death and famine to hundreds of thou
sands, the Spanish crown at last con-
fesses that the Cubans are right, and
their wrongs should now be redressed
by generous and genuine Government
of home rule When the proffered
scheme is examined it is found to be not
only indefinite and illegal, but abso-
two vital points at issuance. Such
proposal has been eXtorted by the re-
suits of struggle that has so com
pletely broken the military and finan-
cial power of Spain that a conquest OF
the island is now hopeless. After ex-
pending 30000O.000 of dollars. and az
ter sending over the sea 5000 SOL
diers, Spain has a fighting force in the
island of less than 10000, while the
revolutionary army, now in possession
of the greater part Of the country,
numbers about 5000.
1T is generally understood that de-
liberate conspiracy to thwart the viii
of the nation is to be carried out
through an appeal to the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, who Is ex-
pected to so manipulate its rules as TO
prevent the passage of the pending bel
ligerencv resolution, which the Senate
has already approved. The House of
Representatives is either 10 be muz-
zled. or called on to declare that this
revolutionary Government which has
virtually crushed the power OF SPAN
IN Cuba. has no such de facto existence
as will authorize a recognition Of war
between the contending parties"
HAVANA PRESS COMMENT.
HAVANA. Dec. 7.-"El Diario de la
Marina" commenting upon President
McKinley's message to Congress, says:
1T contains impressive declarations
calculated TO strengthen, were that
necessary, the Spanish cause in the
Island of Cuba. II will dishearten the
Separatists. Facts are always the
most energetic and decisive arguments,
and the facts in the Presidential mes
sage cannot be any less satisfactory to
the Spaniards than % the American
Legislature.
According to the solemn statements
of the American Chief Magistrate to
the American Congress, there is no
reason that will justify American IN
tervention in the Cuban question. This
undoubted fact is confirmed by the
Executive Of the American Union.
In view of the absolute sovereignty
of Spain over Cuba, and of the alb
sence of such conditions as would en-
title the insurgents TO claim recocni-
tion rs belligerents facts acknowledged
in he Presidents message. as was to
be expected. because reason. Justice
and right required. we protest with all
our energy against declarations aiming