The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-08-11

have been thrown out to the porthward
and have forced a surrender of all these
scattered detachments Of Spanish troops.
Now, however, the Cubans under Gomez
apparently have determined to forestall
the American commanders in this move
ment, and 1t is reported have occupied
several small towns evacuated by the
Spanish. and are pressing at the doors OF
Holguin. The matter has given some con-
cern TO our military commanders as this
Cuban effort, if successful. may result IN
soon bringing our Government to pass
where is must find itself obliged to recog-
nige the Government set up by Gomez IN
his march. or come to an open issue with
the insurgents and forbid them from con-
ducting further operations except wnere
sanctioned by the managers of our own
campaign
AS is the case at Manila, SO 1t IS pc
lieved at Holguin, the Spanish command
er would much prefer to surrender II
oh,igad 10 surrender at all, to the United
States authorities and not to the Cupans'
There are political reasons why the
Spanish Government should impress this
course upon its military commanders
seeking as it has done to induce the Unit
ed States to assume sovereignty over
c,,ha instead of erecting Cuban Gov
ernment. Therefore this condition at Hol-
guin if known to Blanco, may induce
him to take steps to surrender the place
to any authorized American officer
It is intimated that the surrenders on
this basis would not cease at Holguln ana
tha rnnor was afloat today that Havana
itself has surrendered, but this failed OF
confirmation at all points where such
news naturally would find its way II
these conditions are known to the Spanish
Government at Madrid the fact may have
an important bearing in fastening the
action of the Sagasta Ministry upon the
pending proposition from the United
states Government.
Plans for the temporary government
of Cuba and the territory which will be
acquired from Spain as a result OF the
war. are now under serious consideration
by the President and the members OF the
Cabinet Porto Rico. as an actual ac-
oulsition to the territory of the United
States. will be placed in charge OF
military governor, who will exercise
supervisory control of all Of the functions
of government. under the direction OF the
President, until Congress shall determine
upon a permanent form Of government
for the island.
Upon Congress alone will devolve the re-
sponsibility and duty of determining the
character Of the political relations which
Porto Rico shall permanently bear TO the
United States There are reasons lot
the belief that the President himself fav-
ors a colonial form of government. and
that this view is shared by members or
the Cabinet Canada is cited as having
model colonial government which is sat-
isfactory alike to a majority of its peo-
ple and to the mother country.
The President under the constitution
and laws, has no authority to go beyond
this preliminary or temporary stage In
fhe establishment of any system of gov
mental control, and although 1t is al
together probable that in his message to
Congress on the subject he will exercise
his constitutional privilege of making rec
concentrations.
This system however, 1t is believed, can
be put into operation only after the lapse
of a considerable period of time, and
after the people have demonstrated salts
factorfly their ability to govern them
selves intelligently in all local matters
Upon the evacuation of Cuba it is be-
lSeved to be the intention of the President
10 essa blish for the whole island tenn
nor AIRY military government similar to
that \now in operation at Santiago.
VIII en- order has been fully restored
and the people have settled down to their
peacefuf occupations. 1t is believed to be
the view sof the President that a conven-
tion of representatives of the people
should be called to vote upon the ques-
ton of a fbrm of government for the ISL
and. The vresence of the army of the
limited states would be a guarantee that
every citizen who would subscribe to an
oath binding himself to support whatever
form of government should be agreed up
on. should have the unquestioned right
to vote for whomsoever he pleased to
represent him at this convention.
The action OF the body, however, would
t.axe 10 he slibtnitted to the United States