The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-27

NEW YORK. Feb 26.-In the turmoil
over the Maine disaster internal Cuban
policies are forgotten. says the Havana
correspondent of the Tribune" New
eItheless, recent movements promise TO
be as momentous to Spain as the loss Of
the American vessel. II an unexpected
discovery should change the present
opinion OF the naval experts that tina
ship was blown up, and thereby assure
continuance of the friendly relations
With the United States, the domestic
problems would not be changed.
Captain-General Blanco's embarraSs-'
ments are appalling. Leaving Ameri-
can Intervention, whether peaceful or
otherwise, out of mind. the explanation
of the failure of autonomy would soon
! take the form of an official confession.
The best commentary on the dead
ened state of Spanish authority in Cuba
is found in the absolute Indifference
shown toward the proposal of the radi-
! cal autonOmists. The meaning of their
proposition to open negotiations with
( the insurgents on a new basis is under
stood III Madrid, where it is fully dis
cussed. If the shadow of an overwhelrn-
ing sorrow We're not over the American
people. it would be discussed intelh-
gently in the United States. Yet here
IN Havana the departure barely causes
passing comment.
If the insurgents were willing to con-
tent themselves with anything except
complete separation from Spain, they
would find in those concessions proposed
by the radical autonomists basis OF
peace. They would not lay down their
arms until the Spanish Cortes had for
rally confirmed all the propositions.
They could probably so further, and de-
mand that Spain be satisfied with the
flag alone as the emblem of her SOW
ereignty, and that they take possession
of the fortresses and maintain an army
and navy of their own.
Whether they would be willing to pay
even $l00000,0e1 of the debt might be
doubtful. Whether the Sagasta Minis
try could persuade the Spanish people
into yielding so much in order TO MAIN
tain the shadow of sovereignty in Cuba
must be judged in Spain and not here.
But it is known that the insurgents Will
accept no terms not based on actual in
dependence.
That Mr.. Gown. a member of the
Cabinet, should have been a leading
spirit in the proposition is in its way
of the intransigeantes TO autonomy. and
adds to their bitterness against the
Government which makes Gown part
of itself They have never forgiven him
for calling them birds of passage and
they are now convinced that his first
aim is the destruction of Spanish SOW
eieignty as the first step toward full
PREPARATION.
1,
the movement as insincere. yet a fatal
weakness is the confession in advance
that the insurgents are not expected 20
entertain propositions made to thern-
The radicals do not expect that actual
negotiations can be opened With this
feeling, possibly. there is no cause for
wonder at the absolute Indifference of
the Havana public to the politics of the
scheme. If further concessions would
result in an arm stice between Spain
and the insurgents, TINS blighted island
would be blessed. Many thousands OF
inha bitants, who are otherwise doomed
to death by starvation, would be saved
Something would be preserved in the
ruins of the agriculture OF the coun-
try. In spite of the immense area OF
charred cane fields. large amount Of
sugar could be grown and marketed.
Since he became satisfied there was
not enough commerce left in Cuba to
form a basis of a treaty between Spain
and the United States. Gomez has been
more liberal Several big plantations.
which have been III suspense and have
paid the insurgent tax, viii be allowed
u grind. The promise is now OF a SUI
gar crop somewhat in excess of last
year. With an interval OF peace, it
would be largely in excess.
An armistice would insure a fair crop
along with further reeuperation OF the
Industrial resources Of the island. I'm
fortunately Spain does not know how
to reach a direct proposition OF this
kind. Should the present menace be-
tween her and the United States he
changed into friendly relations. a proof
of that friendship might be shown by
asking President McKinley's admins
tration to arrange an armistice with
the insurgents.