The herald., 1898-12-04
for Philadelphia defers this until next
wall
The Ex-Autonomists

NEW YORK, Dec 3.-With the resigna-
ton of the autonomist cabinet following
Captain General Blanco's retirement ends
a short yet interesting chapter of history,
says Havana correspondent OF the In
bune. The cabinet represented SPAN tardy
land despairing effort to save her vanishing
sovereignty in the Antilles. Some OF its
members will remain in the island and ac-
cept the new conditions. Others, 1t is re-
ported, will end their lives in Spain, though
they are Cuban born. They would not be
| in full sympathy with the future govern
ment. whether it be an independent one
| or whether annexation to the United States
| follows.
This autonomist cabinet was appointed
in December last, and took office January
| |, 1898 Its membership was as follows:
President, without portfolio, Jose Maria
Galvez.
Secretary of the Treasury, Rafael Mon
toro.
Secretary of Justice and Government, An
tonic GOWN
Secretary of Public Instruction, Francis
co Zayas.
Secretary of Public Works, Eduardo
DALI
Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce,
Laureano Rodriguez.
The events of eleven months need not
be told in detail to show that the last three
departments were not burdened with func-
tions. They were practically non existent.
This cabinet was made up Of what was
known as historic and radical autonomists,
with a "reforlnsta" or moderate supporter
of Spain sovereigntyed in between them.
The hope was that the radical members
would be able to exercise persuasive in
luence on the insurgents. 1t proved falla-
cious one. GOWN was the leading radical
in the cabinet. He had been an aggressive
supporter of autonomy from the beginning
of that movement and the Spanish Conser-
vatives had frequently charged that he was
out he did not join it, but his principles and
his sympathes were so we'll known that he
came under the ban of Weylers suspicion.
Unable to identify himself on the one hand
with the insurrection, and, one the other,
unwilling to indorse the policy of the Span
ish government in suppressing it, he went
into volunteer exile in the United States.
He settled with his family at Atlanta, Ga,
and remained there until the regime OF
autonomy was established under Blanco.
Then he accepted the place in the autonom-
ist cabinet and exerted hiself heroically to
seek its acceptance by the Cuban people.
Gown is man of executive force, and
while his positive character made enemies
for him, it also gave him strength. lie
has been the most aggressive member of the
cabinet
Rafael Montoro was the leader of the
historic autonomsts. His friends claimed
for him the honor of founding the army.
He was better known in Spain than any
other of the Cuban representatives. He was
all author Of considerable note and was we'll
known as such in the United States. He ac-
cepted the reforms of Canovas as a step to-
ward colonial home rule. His talents were
great, but he had lost the confidence OF his
own people. Though the ablest and most
conspicuous member of the cabinet, his
influence has not been marked. He is be-
lever in the Latin race, and it is said of him
that he prefers spending the remainder of his
| life in Spain to watching its contact and
possible conflict with Anglo-Saxon civiliza-
ton in Cuba.
Galvez was also one of the historic au
tonomists. He was eminent as lawyer and
a. an orator. He has been credited with de-
claring that he would rather see Cuba sink
under the sea than that is should be Ameri,
canized. But his friends interpreted thi.
as campaign talk" He was never a violent
supporter Of Spanish sovereignty and would
have been willing to watch its gradual dis
appearance into Cuban Independence He
will probably remain in the island.