The evening times., 1898-09-10
HOPING FOR ANNEXATION
Business Men in Havana AK.
iOus to Be Americans.
VIEWS OF THEIR LEADERS
Discussions of Advantages That
by the Island Becoming a Member
OF This Cosntry-Few Favor an
Independent Government.

Havana convey many impressions con-
cerning the feeling of the citizens OF Gu
ba regarding peace. That is to say, the,
ideas of the natives who have been SO
long suffering by reason of the war with
Spain. Their trouble. if 1t can be so called.
is whether they are to be annexed to
America or are to be an independent ma
tion.
The long wait for the arrival of the
American commission has had its effect
on the nerves of the populace. already
keyed to the breaking point by three
months of blockade and hunger. The in
tensity of the strain is increased by a
rigid and ridiculous censorship that ex-
cludes all foreign newspapers and sup
presses even business kilograms that con-
tain even the slightest reference to the
peace negotiations.
As result Havana can only think and
feel and speak in whispers about the two
political possibilities that the future has
in store for Cuba. This fierce repressed
interest in the discussion makes itself felt
in several ways-in the vague, eager ques-
tions asked of all Americans, in the hints
in the editorials of La Lucha in the
OI lIlSH OH street cOTHeIS ana III
coffee-houses talking together in under
tone.
A union has been effected between what
are known as the radical autonomists and
the insurgent leaders. A platform has been
arranged and definite plan of action has
been agreed upon for urging the claims OF
absolute independence upon the American
commissioners
Views of the Radicals
The leaders of the radical autonomist
party are Eduardo Dolz and Elizo Giber-
ga. DoIz is a member of Bianco's au-
tonomist cabinet. Up to the time of the
signing of the protocol he was loud in shis
! protests of loyalty to Spain. Giberga IS
a Havana lawyer. for years prominent in
autonomist councils. These two men are
| in constant communication with the in
surgents and have personally visited du
ring the last few days nearly all the in
! surgents leaders in Havana province. In
speaking of the new party Mr.. DolZ said:
THE principles of our new movement
| for independence are but little urd T.
| stood We believe in independence-for
! the good of Cuba, mark you-not for the
| good of the insurgents or autonomists or
any other particular class or party. but
| the entire population of the island. with
out regard to their previous political
| opinions. We have the same mistrust OF
| the Insurgents disorderly methods that
| the annexation party have, but We believe
| that here in Havana and other cities of
| Cuba are men capable of governing, who
understand Cuba's national character and
needs far better than any American can
do.
| I'VE do not say this absolute independ-
| euce would be an immediate success We
must have a protectorate by the United
! States. but let that protectOrate be with
! drawn as soon as possible. The American
| Government virtually promised indepenG-
! ence to Cuba. Cubans of all shades of po-
| litical belief expect Independence. There
| is bound to be trouble if they are disap-
pointed. Insurgents who have been fight
| ing for three years for liberty Will GER
! tainly complain bitterly and perhaps re-
/ bel if the United States does not recog-
| niZe that republic for which they have
| been suffering and dying.
Most OF the insurgent leaders in Ha-
vana province with whom | have dis
cussed The subject are perfectly willing
| TO accept the principles of our party as
a basis OF official presentation OF our
| case to the commission. These leaders
admit that the choice of rulers of the new
| republic should be made from the who e
people and not merely from the men who
| have been fighting in the field
On the subject of annexation, Rafael
Ferndez de Castro, civil governor of this
city and province, who has been a very
popular man among the masses and who
is one of the wealthiest land owners in
the island expresses hopes that in the
conditions of peace the Legitimate inter
ests of Cuba will not be overlooked. He
thinks that it is among the foremost in
terests of America to guarantee security
and order throughout the isiand and fur
ther says:
II favor annexation in preference to a
| protectorate. because / do not believe my
people are qualified for self-government.
] love Cuba and its people too well and
nv interests in the island are too great
TO allow me to wish for anything but
what is best for it. | love my own
| children dearly, and my chief desire is
their happiness, but if | We're to remove
all restraint from them and treat them
/ as men and women | should not be con-
| sulting their interests, because they are
| not fit to be so treated And so it is with
! Cubans The happiest destiny of this ISL
! and would be annexation TO the United
/ States and | believe strong army of
occupation should be sent with that OBJ
| iect avowed from the first. Confidence
| will then AT once be established and pave
| the way for prosperity.
OILERS Have Similar Views.
| MARQUIS de Arguelles. colonel of the Ur-
bano battalion of volunteers, and presi-
dent of the Bank of Commerce and United
Railroad. said: THE condition and fate
of Cuba are of personal and vital interest
to me- ! am almost sixty-eight years old.
fifty-four of which have been spent in Gu
ba. yet during all these ffty-four years
the saddest sights | have ever witnessed
see around me now. But after all, my ex-
! perience is only that of thousands of other
| men in the island. For us now, there is
| nothing to do but submit; TO yield to the
stern realities of events. No. do not be-
lieve in protectorate for Cuba. Protec-
! torates have been successful in other coun-
! tries. but that does not prove that Cuba
would prosper under that form of govern
ment."
Col. Agueiles. being asked If he thought
| the industrial classes would accept annex
| alton as substitute for the sovereignty
! of Spain, said:
Il do not only believe II, but know it,
The best proof of this is the very Cuban
revolution, where all the wealth of the
not entirely from motives of patriotism
but because they recognized that their
! business interests were guaranteed by the
Spanish government far more than the
armed Independents who were fighting in