Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-04-03
SPAIN IS READY 70 GIVE UP.
Gen, Blancos Movements Indicate APP
preaching Abandonment of Cuba.
Autonomists Giving Up Their Pre-
tense of Government is Ready to
Collapse The Volunteers Are
Howling for War, But the Better
Informed People Of Havana
Know the Folly of Such Course.

NdOW tAAO l. oAAy Vi OoSA1 ee OOoAoCs
New York, April 2.-Spain's official
representatives i'll Cuba are preparing
to let go. Nothing has, as yet, been
done to prepare the public for this
state of things, says the Havana COR
respondent of the Tribune Blanco
and the palace officials hope for final
effort to secure the Endorsement of the
United States for a scheme of nominal
sovereignty. The insurgents will not
accept that plan even with the indorse-
ment of the United States.
With the certain knowledge that
nothing short Of independence will pre-
vail, the chief interest is in. the best
way of reaching that end. A message
can be got to Gomez and an answer
received in six days. The confidential
talk in Spanish circles is Of yielding
control by means of an indemnity,
though the amount is placed much
higher than will ever be paid.
The most pronounced evidence that
Spain is yielding comes from the au-
economist cabinet. The designations of
all the members may come at any day.
Good reasons exist for the statement
that Montoro, the secretary of the
justice, have already resigned, though
their designations may be verbal. De-
malls of this fact should be taken eau
tiously. Montore is a representative
of the historic autonomists, who think
the original
CONCESSIONS OF AUTONOMY
was enough. AS head of the treasury
he has been informed that Spain will
hereafter expect the autonomist gov
eminent to provide funds for carrying
on the war That is enough to secure
his resignation, for the task is an i'm
possible one. Gown on his part as
chief of the radical faction undertook
to accept "amplified autonomy" That
is failure, and Gown is of no further
use to the Sagasta ministry except as
a scapegoat. The appearances are that
the entire autonomist cabinet will be
used as a scapegoat for the Spanish
public.
Gen Blancos "bando,' which per-
mits the reconcentrados to go back
to the country without restraint, is
valueless as practical measure. 1t
might have done some good in Novem-
Der. Now when women and children
constitute very great majority of the
reconcentrados, it has no real bear
ing on conditions. At first the ban
do" was thought to be a diplomatic
move to checkmate President Mckln-
leys policy of forcibly succoring the
reconcentrados if necessary That may
have been one purpose, yet the lssu-
ance of the tbando" is a confession
that the insurrection cannot be put
down by SPANS arms. The return OF
the people in large numbers to their
homes would give the revolution in
creased strength.
No effort has yet been made by the
authorities to moderate the war sentl-
ment of the Spanish classes in Ha-
vana The papers publish attacks on
Americans with the pretense of show
ing how formidable is the Spanish
squadron The majority Of the popu-
lation still thinks that war with the
United States is an early probability.
Peace negotiations will have to be
unfolded to them gradually. These
negotiations do not quench the ardor
of the Spanish war party in Cuba.
This is, possibly, the least of the en-
barrassments of the home
GOVERNMENT IN MADRID,
however. It's representatives here let
the martial feeling develop itself with
out check. They even encourage the
idea that Spain could safely venture
on a war with the United States, be-
cause European powers would sup
port her.
A small element among the Spanish
merchants and planters knows the
folly of this talk, but this element
cannot come out openly and antago-
nize the war party The aim of the
planters and merchants who have lost
confidence in Spain's ability to main
tain her way in the island is either an
Instead of growing stronger they be-
come weaker in the presence OF the
crisis between the two countries, when
every Spaniard who is not ready to
undertake hostilities is looked upon
with distrust Their influence for
peace cannot be counted on as either
a check or guide to the popular move
ment. It is lost in the fervor of the
army officers, the volunteers and the
populace. Some of the autonomist
leaders, too go with the tide. They
are more bitter against the United
States than are the intransigienteS.
They hold it responsible for the failure
of autonomy, which by force OF cir
cumstances becomes their own failure.
However, autonomists either as lead
ers or as followers, are not numerous
enough to make their sentiments
factor of Importance They can Meth
er carry a policy which they favor to
success. nor prevent the successful ex-
ecution of policy to which they are
opposed. The functions of the auton-
omist government in the domestic con-
Germs of the islands have been weak.
In international affairs it is cipher
The Spanish classes do not need ed
ucation regarding the condition Of the
revolution as do the people of Spain
They know that the insurgents will
never sue for peace: that the only
hone for the peninsular government
lies in determination. Possibly be-
cause of their superior knowledge the