The evening times., 1898-08-13
CUBANs FOR ANNEXATION
Believed to Prefer It TO an In
dependent Republic.
PRESIDENT MASO FAYORS IT
General tones Reported to Have
Come to the Same Conclusion, as
Well as Many of the Best Citf-
sens-General Garcia, However,
Will Oppose . Union.

President Maso. Of the provisional Gu
ban government. Is in favor of annexa-
uon to the United States: SO is Vice
President Capote and so too are nearly
all members of the cabinet.
| The recent visit of the vice president to
Washington was of far greater impor-
| tance than appeared on the surface at
the time. Up to the date of his advent
| the Administration was more or less wor-
| ried over the future Just what TO do
with the Cuban republic after American
arms had expelled the spaniards, was a
hard question and one that must inevi-
tably arise
The attitude of the Cuban civil govern
ment has done much In advance to SIM
plify the situation. President Maso
plainly indicted in a message to the
Washington Government that he believed
the interest of Cubans lie in political
| union with America.
.'The vast majority of our people Of
Cuba are agriculturists." he wrote,
land they have no desire to hold Office.
To be left alone to the cultivation of the
soil and the enjoyment of their home
life is all they ask
There is no little doubt, according to
Information that is authentic IL not Off
cial. that while the commission is engag-
ed in fixing the terms of evacuation a
strong petition will be circulated praying
Congress to make Cuba a member of the
sisterhoOd of States instead of an inde-
pendent nation. THE outcome OF this"
said gentleman who is a student of the
situation and who is very close to the
President will be a plebecite Once left
to a vote of the people annexation Is as
sured."
There is not the slightest doubt that
statehood Is a part of Cuba's destiny
declared a member of Congress about the
time of Capote's visit to Washington.
The gentleman knew what is not yet
generally known. that the better class
of people in Cuba, including many revo-
lutionists, are afraid of military dicia-
torship or despotism after the war is
over. and that they regard absorption by
the great republic to the north as their
only refuge from years Of strife and
civil disco-d.
The property owners. the professional
men and the educated classes generally
whether they were loyal to the mother
country or not. look forward anxiously
to a restoration of peace and concord
They wish to rebuild their fortunes and
to feel secure in their individual rights.
Gen GoreZ favors a republic but the
President does not believe he would
cause the slightest trouble should his
people decide for statehood Garcia is
not considered as a very influential fac
tor. He has made good record during
the war, but lie has neither the social
standing nor the military prestige of
Gomez. Besides. he has no money In
deed. some of the Cubans themselves be-
| lieve that If a republic should be created
he would almost Immediately quarrel
with the authorities. and take to the
bush. Be that as it may, with the
American flag planted on the island,
pending a settlement of the terms Of
evacuation. the people. it is believed
will at least be given a chance to eN-
press their own sentiments on the sub
ject.
In this connection it may hs said. on
the highest official authority. that the
Administration has not the slightest I'M
easiness concerning the course of the
patriots when they hear that the war has
closed. They will respect President Nc
kiniey's proclamation as much as will
the American soldiers themselves. OF
this the President was assured person-
ally by Senor Capote and. through Mr.
Reno. American commissioner. by Gen.
Gomez.
AS soon as couriers can reach the Gu
ban camps hostilties will cease
''All talk to the contrary is nonsense"
said member of the Presidents official
household Yesterday