New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-02
SIGNS OF THE END IN CUBA
SPANS REPRESENTATIVE PREPARING
TO ABANDON THE ISLAND.
TWO AUTONOMIsT MINISTER'S BELIEVED 10
HAVE Observation-Disclosures "BANDo" RE
LEASING THE REcoNcENTRADos
COMES TOO LATE.

Havana, March 81. via Key West, Aprn L.
SPANS official representatives. in Cuba are pre-
pairing TO let go. Nothing has. as yet been done
TO prepare the public for the same thing Moth
ing is known Of the nature Of the propositions
which Minister Woodford is said to have cabed
Washington ~ accepted" by the Sagasta MIN
istry. but the actions Of Blanco and the Palace
officials indicate that they lead 20 an abandon
ment Of the island. However before this is done
they hope for final effort TO secure the ndorse-
ment Of the United States for scheme OF NOM
iral sovereignty. The insurgents will not &C.
oept that plan even with the Endorsement OF the
United States
With the certain knowledge that nothing short
Of independence will prevail, the chief interest
Is in the methodAof reaching that end. mes
sage can be got to Gomez and answer re-
ceved in six days. The confidential talk In
Spanish circles is now Of yielding control BY
means Of an Indemnity. though the amount u
placed much higher than will ever I've paid
AuToNoMrsT MINISTER'S RESIGN.
The most pronounced evidence that Spain -
Welding comes from the Autonomst CABINET
The negotiations of all the members may come
a, any day Good reasons exist for the state
nlent that Montoro, the Secretary u the Treas
ury and GOWN. the Secretary Of Justice. have
already resigned though their designations may
be verbal Denals Of this fact should be taken
cautiously Montoro is a repro sentative OF the
Historic Autonomis,s. who think the original
concession Of the Autonomy was enough. AZ
head Of the Treasury he has been Informed that
Spain will hereafter expect the Au,onomlst
Government to provide funds for carrying on
the war That is enough 10 cause his resigna-
ton. for the task is An impossible one GOWN.
on his part "a chief OF the Radical faction. un-
dertook the responsibility for persuadng the in
surgents TO accept "amplifed Autonomy" That
is a failure and Gown is Of no further use 70 the
sagasta Ministry except a scapegoat. The
appearances are that the entire Autonomist
Cabinet will be used as a scapegoat for the
spanish public.
General Blaucos "bando' issued to-day which
permits the reconcentrados to go back to the
country without restraint is valueless as a prac-
teal measure II might have done some good
I'm November Now when women and children
constitute a very great majority Of the recon-
centra6os il has real bearing on conditions
At first the "bando" was thought to be dip!o-
matte move 10 checkmatc President NchlnieyS
policy OF forcibly succoring the reconcentrados
/ II necessary. That may have been one purpose.
yet the issuance Of the "bando" Is a confession
that the instruction cannot be put down BY
SPANS arms The return Of the people in large
numbers to their homes would give the revolu-
ton increased strength.
WAR FEELING STILL RAMPANT.
No effort has yet been made by the authorities
to moderate the war sentiment OF the Spanish
classes in Havana. The papers publish attacks
on Americans with the pretence or showing now
formidable Is the Spanish squadron. The major
itv Of the population still thinks that war with
the United States is an early probability. Peace
associations will have 10 be unfodec TO them
gradually. These negotiations do not quencs
the ardOr OF the Spanish war party IN CUBA
This IS possibly the least Of the embarrassment
/ - the Home Government in Madrid. however.
It's representatives here let the martial feeling
develop itself without check. They even encour-
age the idea that Spain could safely venture on
a war with the United States because the huroH
pean Powers would support her.
A small element among the Spanish merchants
and planters knows the folly OF this talk. but
this element cannot come out openly and antag-
onize the war party. The aim Of the planters
and merchants who have lost confidence IN
Spatn's ability 70 maintain her way in the Island
is either an American protectorate or annexa-
ton Instead OF growing stronger they become
weaker in the presence OF the crisis between the
two countries. when every Spaniard VINO is not
ready 70 undertake hostties Is looked upon
with distrust Their influence for peace cannot
be counted on as either check or a guide 70 tho
popular movement. II is lost IN the ierFor OF
the army officers the volunteers and the popu-
lace Some OF the Autonomst leaders. TOO go
with the tide. They more bitter against
tho United States than are the intransigentes-
They hold II responsible for the failure OF Au-
,onornv. which by force Of circumstances De-
oor,es heir own failure. However Autonomlsts.
IL
,,,arous enough T. make their sentiments factor
= Importance. They can neither carry pohcy
vrbich they favor to success nor prevent the sue
oosst,, execution OF policy 20 which they are
onnosed The functions Of the Autonomist Gov
or,,,e,, IN the domestic concerns Of the island
ha,.o bsen weak In international affairs II IS
cipher.
SPANISH CLASSES NOT DECEIVED.
,rAo Spanish classes do not need education re-
carding the condition Of the revolution as 40
Tho nsonl4 ~ Spain They know that the insur-
ca,,s will never sue for peace. that the only
hone ~ the Peninsula lies in determination.
poss,hlv because u their superior knowledge
,bs Standards IT. Cuba are tranquil over the re-
or.s ~ attempted negotiations. They believe
oil efforts for an armlstice will fail because the
,,surrents will not accept unless X Is oased On
,,denondence That the Sagasta Cabinet Is pre-
naring TO No 60 late through the good Offices OF 'he
I.nited States for conceding the independence OK
cuba is incredible to these loyal and patr'ouo
supnorters Of the mother country inc course OK
Can,ain-General Banco and OF the authorities
has not been such TO prepare thei' tol SUN I,i
ten II this proves 70 be the case, they wiz
a., be easily or readily reconciled: they nad
rofbar talk II war with the United states Ihat
e. What they are doing while Madrid ana " ASH
ington are talking peace
CONFIDENCE OF FARMERS VOICED.