The record-union., 1897-10-19
uch Is the Conclusion of the Business EIe-
ment of the Island.
Conservative Spanish Believe There
Is but One Hope for Permanent
Peace, and That Is Annexation
to the United States, This Gov
ernment Alone Being Able to
Guarantee the Protection of
Life and Property.

MATANZAS (Cuba), via Key West,
Oct. 1S.-The business element here, in
Havana and elsewhere, seems to have
arrived at the conclusion that the
Government may end the war on the
basis of autonomy to Cuba, and there
are not enough loyalists among the
autonomists to hold public office. At
least that is the claim the conservative
Spaniards make In addition, the lat
ter express the belief that autonomists,
even if they were placed in power,
would not be able to preserve peace
and protect life and property from the
lawless elements.
In view of this condition of affairs,
a number of important merchants and
sugar planters of Spanish origin, in
conjunction with several Cubans of
Pami, have been holding secret meet
ings and corresponding with people in
various parts of the islands, with the
object of aseertaining the views of the
commercial and planting community in
Pinar de- Rio, Havana, Matanzas and
Santa Clara provinces, as to the future
for Cuba most likely to further their
interests and those of the island in
general. 1t is said that the majority
" liz AtPlACS VIII OG ldNOidDle u dI-
nexation Of Cuba to the United States.
as the Washington Government alone,
apparently, 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 appealed to
is for annexation committee will be
sent to the United States with in
ctYr ir,e
clearly before the business men of
prominence in the United States. and
ask the latter to unite with the busi-
ness men Of Cuba in a petition to the
Washington Government asking the
United States, in view of the failure of
the conservatives, to suppress the in
surrectlon by force of arms, and point
ing out the impossibility of the Liberals
ending the war by establishing an au-
tonomous form of government, to bring
about tne annexation of Cuba to the
United States.
The plan of Senior Sagasta, the new
Spanish Premier, to give autonomy to
Cuoa, far from giving satisfaction here,
has greatly increased the feeling of
dlscontent. The autonomist party, it
is pointed out, exists only in name. the
eeSSIteLi i4ieiJOI1ly OL the duIOnOIQ1SCS be-
ing in the insurgent ranks. and. with
the exception of possibly Senior Mon
tero and a few other autononists. the
members of that party are in sympathy
with the insurgents Consequently. If
will be seen the Spanish Government
is finding great difficulty in obtaining
even the suggestion of names of au-
Economists to fill the 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 inf1u-
entail Spaniards hate them, and the
adoption of such policy would pos
sibly mean rioting and even worse. Be
sides, the masses of the resident Span
lards are strongly anti-autonomists
and there is little or no prospect of
making them change their minds.
Recognizing the difficulty of the task
before Senior Sagasta, it is not aston
lshing that the business community in
Cupa is exchanging views ON the sub
Ject of annexation to the United States
SIMPLY as general uprising of the
Spanish element is feared if the Span-
lsh Government persists in pushing
its autonomist policy, business men be-
step toward independence in Cuba. and
the feeling of the commercial classes
being that annexation to the United
States, with the consequent safeguards
10 life and property, is far preferable
to the establishment of a new renuhIic
in Cuba.
1t is said that a number of MESA ees
were exchanged between General Wev.
Ter and members of the Sagasta. Cahi-
net during the latter's first dave IN
Office. The recent release of a LARGO
number of political prisoners from the
dlfferent Spanish settlements was dne
TO the disgust IN certain Spanish circles
mere at the extreme severity exercised
toward them, but it is not believed
tnat the Spanish Government intends
10 declare general amnesty.