The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-19
PLAN OF SENIOR SAGASTA.
1T HAS SERVED ONLY TO IN
CREASE DISCONTENT ON
THE ISLAND.
AUTONOMY OUT OF THE QUESTION
1t Will Please Neither the Cuban
Insurgents Nor the Spanish
ROyalists-Press Comment.

arrived at the conclusion that the
Madrid government cannot end the
war on the basis of autonomy, as there
are not enough loyalists among the Au-
Economists to hold public office. AT least
that is the claim the Conservative
Spaniards make. In addition, the lat
ter express the belief that the Autono-
1nists, even if they were placed in pow
es, would not be able to preserve peace
and protect life and property from the
lawlesS elements. In view of this con-
dition of affairs a number Of important
merchants and sugar planters of Span
ish origin, in conjunction with several
Cubans of prominence, have been ho-d-
ing secret meetings and corresponding
with people in various parts of the
island with the object of ascertaining 4
the views of the commercial and plant
ing community in Pinar del Rio, Ha-
vana, Matanzas and Santa Clara prov
inces as to the future for Cuba most
likely to further their interests and
those of the island in general. 1t is
expected that the majority of the re-
plies will be favorable to annexation Of
Cuba to the United States, as the
Washington government alone, appar-
emily, is able to guarantee peace in
Cuba and the protection, of life and
property. AS soon as it is ascertained
that the sentiment of the persons ap-
pealed to is in favor of annexation, a
committee will be sent to the United
States with instructions to lay the case
Of Cuba clearly before the business
e in, tI,n tod tot
and ask the latter to unite with the
business men of Cuba in petition to
the Washington government asking the
United States, in view of the failure of
the Conservatives to suppress the in
surrection by force of arms, and point
ing out the impossibility of the Liber-
ais ending the war by establishing an
autonomous form of government, to
bring about the annexation of Cuba to
the United States.
SAGASTA'S PLAN.
The plan of Senor Sagasta, the new
Spanish premier, to give autonomy to
Cuba, far from giving satisfaction hare,
has greatly increased the feeling of dis
content The Autonomist party it is
pointed out, exists only in name, the
actual majority Of the Autonomists be-
ing in the insurgent ranks and, with tn e
exception possibly of Senior Montero
and a few other prominent Autono
mists, the masses of that party are in
sympathy with the insurgents. Conse-
quently it will be seen that the Spanish
government, which has consulted Senor
Montero on the subject, is finding great
gestion of names of Autonomists to fill
offices under an Autonomist form of
government. 1t would be imprudent,
it is added, to give such offices to the
party known as the Reformists, as the
more influential Spaniards hate them
and the adoption of such policy would
possibly mean rioting and even worse.
Besides, the masses of the resident
Spaniards are strongly anti-Autono- |
mists and there is little or no prospect
OF making them change their minds. |
Recognizing the difficulty of the task
before Senor Sagasta, it is not aston
ishing that the business community in
Cuba is exchanging views on the sub
ject of annexation to the United States, |
especially as a general uprising of the |
Spanish elements is feared if the Span |
ish government persists in pushing it's |
Autonomist policy, business men be- |
lieving that autonomy is only the first |
step towards independence in Cuba, |
and the feeling of the commercial class |
es being that annexation to the United !
States and to the consequent safe !
guards to life and property is far pre- |
ferable to the establishment of a new |
republic in Cuba.
The city of Bayamo, one of the most |
important in the province of Santiago |
de Cuba, has been abandoned recently, |
it's inhabitants moving as a rule to |
Veguitas, fearing repetition at Baya- |
mo of the insurgent raid on Victoria |
de las Tunas. It is said here that some |
very warm cable messages were eX- |
changed between Gen. Weyler and |
members of the Sagasta cabinet during |
the first days in office of that ministry. |
The recent release of large numbers |
of political prisoners from different |
penal settlements was due to disgust |
experienced in certain Spanish circles |
here at the extreme severity exercised |
that the Spanish government intends |
to grant general amnesty.
PRESS COMMENT.
Among the newspapers here there is |
considerable difference of opinion as to |
the policy which should be adopted by |
Spain toward Cuba The Diario de la |
Marina in an editorial just published, |
sustained the policy of autonomy and |
credited Senor Sagasta with inaugural |
ing it, while advocating the Reformist |
party to adopt it.
Ell Pals, organ Of the Autonomist |
party, in reply held that the Autono- |
mist plan favored by Senor Sagasta |
was what the Autonomists in Cuba had |
been advocating for the last nineteen |
years and therefore the premier could |
not be credited with having inaugural |
ed it. At the same time Ell Pals init
mated that Senior Sagasta was really |
only following the policy adopted by |
the late Premier Canovas del Castillo,
and that the Cubans therefore were
more indebted to Castillo than Sagasta
in this matter.
La Lucha, in an editorial headed
Autonomy for the AutonOmists,
claimed that no party had more right
to inaugurate autonomy than the Au-
Economists themselves, who have adVo-
Gated and defended the policy of Au-
tonomy for nineteen years, and who
had remained firm to their convictions
in spite Of everything, preferring COM
plete disappearance to supporting the
insurgents if the latter triumphed. AT |
the same time La Lucha protested |
against the ReformiSts being allowed
to take a hand in the Autonomist gov
ernment of Cuba, insisting that the
local Autonomists and Conservatives
I'm Cuba there exist in reality only
+-,,o Dorfioc the Al1rop0miSfs and the |