New-York tribune., 1898-01-28
TOO SOON FOR TREATIES.
SUGGESTIONS OF THE CUBAN GOVERN
MENT PREMATURE
AUTONOMY IN THE ISLAND LABORs UNDER A
HEAVY HANDIcAP-TnE NAMES TIME
LY VISIT TO HAVANA.
lnY TELEGKArn To THE rRIBUNEl

LY VISIT TO HAVANA.
rpY TELEGRAPH To TIE rRIBuHEl
Havana, via Port Tampa Fla. Jan. 27-Some
acts Of the Colonial Government and Of General
Blanco rest under the disadvantage Of being
either too early or too late The United States
on It's part. seems to have the good fortune Of
acting at the right time. The sending Of the
warship Maine we'll timed. The effect will
be beneficial when further chapters in the
American policy come to be disclosed.
On Its side many persons think the Auton-
omist Cabinet is premature with It's propositions
for commercial treaties and dilatory with its
measures for mpantlng the colonial system,
such as the elections. A reciprocity treaty with
the United States has been the sincere aspira-
tion OF the men now prominent in the Govern
ment. They believed the breaking OF the old
treaty by the Wilson bill one OF the causes
that led to the nsurrecton. and their states
manship is good enough to remove the possible
cause OF future insurrection Before treaty
could be negotiated and ratified by the courts
Of Spain. as the DEGREES OF autonomy provided.
many months must elapse. If peace were in
sight. the treaty would be a good step with
which to supplement It, Unfortunately the con-
ditiOns Of trade not favorable to a basis on
which to negotiate commercial treaties. Cane
fields are yet burning in some parts Of the ISL
with cannon shot the mills that try TO grind.
The production OF sugar for this season, up TO
date is $4,000 tons. The hope is held that by
the middle Of April, when the season for grind
ing ends. the total production will reach last
years figures, which were 212,00c tons A com
bination Of favorable circumstances Will be
necessary TO secure this result.
The delay in the elections is not rightly
chargeable to the Autonomist Cabinet. Nomi
nally. the machinery is in Its hands. and the
electoral census is taken under its direction. but
the military situation in the island and the eXi-
gencies of home politics would have made the
elections in February doubtful experiment,
fraught with grave consequences. They have
been postponed conveniently until April with
the excuse that the census lists cannot be prop
ery revised before that time The responsibility
was assumed by General Blanco without requir-
ing the Autonomist Cabinet to share It. The
Radical Intransigentes have been led to believe
that, if they take part in the election. they can
control as easily in April in February. and
turn Messrs Gavez. Montoro and Gown out OF
the Cabinet. They have not decided to
take part. Moreover, the elections are viewed
more with reference to the United States than
with regard to international affairs. II is the
hope that any tendency toward Intervention
Will be checked so long as autonomy is a pro-
visiOnal system that requires action at the
polls to affirm and thoroughly establish II. If
two or three months delay can be gained In
this manner, when that respite nears tn end
the expectation IS that other means VIII be
found for convincing the United States that
further period should he given before il can
claim justihabc grounds for intervention.
The neXplicabe phenomenon 10 persons In
cuba is the optimism reported from Madrid.
That the early conclusion Of peace is probable
nothing happening here shows, yet that beIief
Is said to have taken firm hold on the Minis
tcrs well the masses. The Sagasta Min
istry knows the full purpose Of General Blancos
visit TO the Eastern province. which is more
than is known here. That he should start out
with buOyant hopes and communicate his eX
pectations 10 Madrid is natural. Martinez Cam
pos and General Weyler at periods not remote
did the same thing. but they returned to Havana
and were occupied for some time thereafter
with excuses and explanations, General Banco
is likely to secure results OF a certain kind In
Santiago. 1t Is believed that some Of the
Spanish troops who deserted a year ago and
went over to the insurgents may accept the
portion which has been offered. and which saves
them frOm the penalty OF desertion. There may
be further presentations. including chiefs Of
some prominence but that the vitas Of the in
surrection can be reached in this way is not
believed. If one bases his opinion Of what may
happen on what has happened in the past. The
public here has not gwen the Importance to in
surSent presentations that they receive in
Madrid. and II declines TO rejoice over reported
victories in the field until they can be con-
frmed. 1t is sceptical about war news. because
experience has made it so.
success In Puerto Principe Province last week
when the seat Of the Government Of the Cuban
Republic was officially reported destroyed
by the troops Havana is analyzing the later re-
ports and finds in them confession that Gen |
eral Castellancs was worsted The later ac-
tivity Of the insurgents in attacking Spanish !
forts and in blowing up trains which were car |
rying troops, seems to confirm this view. The |
insurgents yet control the Eastern Provinces. |
General Blanco's mission is OF delicate di- |
plomacy, rather than taking the field TO conduct |
military operations in person. 1t must not, !
therefore. be judged solely from military point |
of view But the reports Of II may be relied |
upon to create deeper impression in Spain !
than in Cuba.
Everything relating to the Maine Is managed |
with circumspectiOn. While protection to Ameri- |
cans is fully assured by its presence in the |
harbOr. no proVOcatiOn is given 10 the sensitive |
Havana population. The profuse explanations !
from Madrid Of the friendly motive which |
caused the visit OF the warship taken with |
many grains OF salt The people OF Havana |
have their own opinions that point They |
seem TO think that later developments may fol- |
low Whether their opinion is well founded
no anti-American demonstration IS probable. |
The Maine herself Is the best precauton against
such demonstration
DEMANDS IMPRISONMENT FOR WEYLER.
THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR WANTS HIM SEN
TENcED FOR TWO MONTHS.
Madrid. Jan 27.-The Public Prosecutor de-
mands sentence upon Lieutenant-General
Weyler Of two months imprisonment.