Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-12
LAST OF AUTONOMY
Continued from First Page.)

| rule to Cuba. It's powers in connection
| with the authority vested in the governor
general, are sufficient to nullify the policy
which the chamber of representatives and
| the cabinet might want to follow. The
| councillors named by the crown are to
| hold their positions for life. The term of
the elective ones is to be five years. Thai
single provision of a life tenure may be the
subject of future discussion. The system
has not yet developed enough to make it
or present interest. The same statement
may be made with reference to the GUS
toms duties, treaties of commerce and the
distribution of the war debt between
Spain and Cuba. Students of parliament
tary government saw in these matters pos
sibilities of friction and irritating causes
which might in the end again bring the
peninsula and the island into collision.
The causes of friction are there vet but
nobody seems concerned with them. be-
cause nobody seems to be looking ahead
SO far. In a fortnight 1 have not heard
half a dozen persons in talking about au-
,,., speak of this phase of the system.
They are not thinking of it.
The understanding of autonomy in ef-
1ect IN other than the executive branches
OF admlr Etration is quite vague The
spanish constitution, by decree was ex-
tehGed 70 the Antilles. That was meant
10 lay the foundation for colonial home
RUE and place Cuba on the same plane
With Spain itself. I had heard of the pro-
vision IN SPANS laws which gave the
i }o,I me rlsht to decide according to the
law and MS own conscience" Some hours
OF iaborlous study had confused nv mind
as to what the judicial processes In Cuba
would be under autonomy and the guar
antees OF the Spanish constitution. An
eminent lawyer of Havana was sought out
ana enlightenment asked. He refused to
take the inquiry seriously
You want to know all about it?" he
saiu- wen. come and see me in a cou-
pie of Years. BY that time l may know
myself. There is no hurry"
another member of the bar was more
cohstderate. He explained that the de-
81 ss,o would make possible some reforms
IN legal procedure and would avoid vexa-
tiouS appeals to Madrid, IF autonomy
ever prevailed" He excused himself from
gong INTO details, because he had not
Stuuied the changes decreed carefully ana
ne did not know any of his fellow-practi-
TONERS who had analysed them They all
1eit they had plenty of time for that pur-
Pose DeIo'e their practice would be affect
cedure to autonomy The Havana LAWYERS
are giving themselves little concern over it
Function Beyond It's Powers.
Recurring again to the autonomist cab.
met 1t has been called on by Madrid to
exercise one function that is beyond its
powers. That is, to bring the insurgents
rack IRON the field. The inability of the
historic autonomist leaders to create a DO
ltlcal party l have explained in previous
letters. Their patriotism and their high
personal character have not been sufficient
to draw to them large following AS in
d1viduals. Galvez Montaro Rodriguez and
Zayas have sought to persuade the insur-
gents that autonomy will in reality be the
government of Cuba by Cubans and
for Cuba. AS cabinet they can
do no more. Their official position spreads
10 magnetic influence to the insurgent
camps. The little authority they exercise
Is along the lines of Cancellation. The civil
governors of the provinces who are uncer-
tain whether they are acting under the
cabinet or under the governor general in
their confusion sometimes apply to the cab
met. They are encouraged by it to proceed
with mild measures, and are supported in
their controversies with the military au-
thoritlos. The revolutionists have been
made to feel that what there is of autono-
mist government will never acquiesce in
return to Weylers barbarous Methods of
warfare. That does not induce them to
lay down their arms and the cabinet views
with uncasiness the expectation in Spain
that it should find means for ending the in
surrection Gen. Blanco and the troops
must do that. Where the army pacities
me country and clears the path the auton-
nrist cabinet will follow with the meas
ures of civil administration. Its place Is
with the rear corps rather than with the
vanguard
While the government considers autono-
my implanted no change Is seen in public
sentiment. Havana is possibly less torpid
than L was a few weeks ago, but 1t re-
mains placid. In some of the larger towns
| have found local committees of the au-
economist party which had succeeded IN
awakening signs of life, but even here 1t
V as impossible to keep Up the animation
The turning out of old officials and the put
ting in of new ones was usually the cause
OF the temporary awakening 1t was the
tangible evidence that an old system was
being supplanted by a fresh one, or at
least that the powers of administration had
n la
impression has not been noticed. Partisans
who want office are criticisins the abinet
because 1t keeps so many Spanish employ
es. Nobody else cares. Autonomy as a
fact OF government may develop automat-
itally without the people knowing they are
under new regime. They show no pres
ent consciousness of it. Other subjects in
tereSt them more. The rum0rs of Consul
General Lee going to the field with General
R!anco Ito witness the military operations
excite immediate attention. They all know
hat that would mean. Its possibility is
eagerly discussed. The night this rumor
get abroad the cafes showed an animation
the like of which has not been witnessed
since the visit of MaZZanti. the celebrated
bull fighter. several weeks ago. Reports
from Gomezs camp that he and his GEN
erals are still willing to pay Spain for
agreeing to let go are credited and the
basis OF the proposition is analyZed as
though II We're under definite consideration
The probability of the insurgents in Calixto
Garcia's command taking Manzanillo, and
driving the troops entirely out of Santiago
province. is dissected in the light of Cen
tlal Pandos unsuccessful campaign there
he military operations form a live tonic
But IN all the range of the gossip of the
cafes and the more substantial talk of the
business exchanges little is heard of the
regime of autonomy. | have tried to tell
what there is of it in operation The tale
is soon told. The dim shadow of coming
events may make it unnecessary to COM
plete the story
CHARLES NJ PEPPER