The times., 1898-01-16
KINGS AMPLIFIED VIEWS.
Further Disc usses Cuba for The
Times Readers.


ed widespread attention, further ex-
island as follows:
/ The elements on the island are 50
/ very discordant that it is impossible 10
anticipate peace without the interFen-
! tion of the United States.
/ The conservatives, OF SpaniaTds. are
/ opposed to autonomy, and while a por-
ton of the party advocates organized
\ opposition 10 it's enforcement, others
/ think that passive policy should Be
adopted All OF these Spaniards are
/ opposed to the independence of the
| Island because, in their belief the Gu
bans are incapable Of seIf-zovernmanf.
These Spaniards prefer annexation 20
! the United States to the Independence
( OF the island. The great mass of Gu
/ Dans opposed 10 autonomy believe that
/ IL Is not genuine, and that it involves
IN every essential respect the subOrdi-
nate power Of Spain They think that
/ lt Is not home rule, and that il was Of
/ fered in order to deluda the Insurgents
INTO the abandonment of the war and
the acceptance of peace. They furthay.
I claim that il was offered to pIacate the
[ United States and prevent immediate
/ intervention on the part Of this Cow
ernment.
The i"gurgen-s oppose autonomy.
and state that they will rot conc sd.
any proposition from Spain except it be
based upon the absolute independence
of the island
Il am convinced that with these op-
posing elements in the island, it viii De
impossible 10 plant autonomy in Cuba.
1t is claimed by Bianco that autonomy
is now in successful operation and the
autonomist minister informs me that
tho nf 10
fully administered by them. but it is
evident that they are merely figure
heads. and that the power in Cuba is
Spains mailed hand.
Spain is masquerading behind these
autonomists and we are trying To
make ourselves believe that autonomy
is a generous gift of benefcent and
magnanimOus country. This self-de-
ceptiOn practiCed by public officials in
this country, may be the cause of seri-
Gus difficulties and serious blunders.
Autonomy was unable TO suppress
the little riot in Havana. or to collect
peseta for governmental expenses. or
to control a municipality or direct a
province. Ostensibly the people ara
governed by civil authority, but in
reality 1t is by military authority
Spain's authority in Cuba is restricted
TO the fortified cities and towns. and
TO small areas around which forts have
oeen built. The eastern provinces are
completely dominated by the insur-
gents, who roam unchecked in the
western provinces. Spain has pacifica-
ton only where she has troops
1t viii thus be seen that all efforts
thus far made to establish peace and
operate il by autonomy have proved
abOrtive. In the four provinces 1 Wis
ited, there is no change indicative of
marked permanent improvements.
thousands of recOncentradOs are starv-
ing and dying, and business is depress-
ed and enterprise checked. and work is
entirely suspended. Only within the
Qualifications is there any work
Men who have lands and planta-
tions behind fortified lines are denied
the privilege of working them. Occa-
sionally, if they Will agree to erect forts
and garrison them with soldiers. pay
ing to the government a sum of money
for the services rendered, permission is
granted to occupy these lands.
The statements heretofore made re-
specting Weyler's orders Of cOncentra-
ton are true He drove six hundred
thousand Cublns ntO tn . f0Ttifi q cities
and towns, and left them helpless and
impoverished TO die Of starvation. They
were not permitted to return for anv
purpose, and if found outside Of tha
Spanish lines were treated as public.
enemies Accordingly they have died
by thousands and tens of thousands.
and they are still dying from want and
exposure.
The failure of autonomy will mean
the overthrow of SaGasta. and. per
haps. the restoration of Wevler 10 rha
place now held by Gen. Blanco. How
ever. Cuba is a seething caldrOn. the
insurgents are strong and militant and
sangulne. The nOn-cOmbatants. who
are Cubans. are strong supporters of
the insurgents, and are giving them
moral and financial aid Spanish re
sources are nearly exhausted and I be-
lfeve that it will be impossible for Spain
TO reassert her dominion over the
island. She may be able to prOlong the
contest for another year. and starve a
few more people and produce further
suffering in the island. but it seems i'm
possible for her to subdue the revolu-
ton.
1T must be apparent. therefore. that
there will be no material change in the
island for some time unless this Gov
ernment intervenes. We have Ameri-
can citizens on the island. and yast
sums of capital invested there. Some
citizens have been killed. and the prop
erty of the most of them has been de-
stroyed, and their peace is constantly
disturbed In addition. they constant
~ nave 20 witness TINS great crime by
Spain against her subjects
Under all these circumstances. IN
desirable and perplexing as the results
may be to our government and people.
1t is the plain duty of this Government
to intervene for the purpose of estab-
fishing peace. protecting the lives and
property of American citizens. and end
ing sanguinary struggle which is dis
astrous TO the country and destroying
the people.
The outbreak at Havana shows the
seriousness of the situation and the I'M
stability of Spain's vaunted govern
ment in Cuba.
viii war result ultimately?
Undoubtedly Spain will regard any
intervention of this country as casus
belIi. and may declare war. but it is
apparent that in her present condition
she cannot subject us to any very great
danger. II would be unfortunate in
deed. to have any controversy with
Spain, but it is impossible longer TO en-
dure the intoIera bic condition prevail
ing in Cuba.
international law justifies some
formative act by this Government in
behalf of Cuba. We must terminate
this condition, no matter what the re-
suits may be. First restore peace to
Cuta, and then let the people determine
what form of government they desire.
Il do not think Spain desires war
with this country, but il may come as
result of intervention by our Govern
ment."
Publicity VIII Prevent Fraud.