The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-27
SPANS POWER DEAD
Absolute Indifference Shown to
Plans of Loyal Cubans.
THE LAST PROPOSITIONS
COVER ALMOST COMPLETE INDE-
PENDENCE.
The Only Emblem of Sovereignty
Which Spain Would Retain, Her
Flag Over the Island; Yet All
These Concessions Insurgents Re
iect-Plans For Arnistice.

Havana. Feb. 26.-The best common
tary on the deadened state of Spanish
authority in Cuba is found in the alb
sclute Indifference shown toward the
proposals of the radical autonomists.
The meaning OF their proposition to
oren negotiations with the insurgents
or a new basis is understood in Madrid
where it is fully discussed. II the
shadow of an overwhelming sorrow
were not over the American people, II
would be discussed intelligently in the
United States.
Yet here in Havana the departure
barely causes passing comment. IL the
insurgents were willing TO cohten'
themselves with anything except COM
plete separation from Spain, they
would find in these concessions pro-
Dcsed nv the radical autOnOmiStS a
basis of peace. They would not lay
down their arms until the Spanish cor
ties had formally confirmed all the prop
ositions They could probably go Iur-
Their. and demand that Spain be satis-
fed with the flag alone as the emblem
of her sovereignty, and that they take
possession of their fortresses ana malh-
tain an army and navy of their own
Whether they would be willing 10
nav even S1OO. OOO, 900 of the debt might
be doubtful. Whether the Spanish MIN
istrv could persuade the Spanish peo-
ple to accept. must be judged in Spain
and rot here.
WILL ACCEPT NO TERMS.
But it is known that the insurgents
will accent no terms not based on act
ual INDEPENDENCE. That Mr.. Gown,
member Of the cabinet, should nave
been a leading spirit in the propositions
is IN its way important, and increases
the hostility Ct the intransigeants TO
autonomy. and adds TO their bitterness
against the government winch makes
Gown part of itself. They have never
forgiven him for calling them birds OF
passage" and they are now convinced
that his aim is the destruction of Span
ish sovereignty as the first step toward
frlI separation. While Secretary Gown
adds TO his unpopularity among the in
transigeants, there is no ground for
supposing that he will gain favor with
the insurgents.
It may not be correct to characterize
the movement as insincere, yet fatal
weakness is the confession in advance
that the insurgents are not expected to
entertain the propositions made to
them. The radical autonomists do not
even expect that actual negotiations
can be opened.
ABSOLUTE INDIFFERENCE.
With this feeling possibly there is no
cause for wonder at the absolute in
difference of the Havana public TO the
politics of the scheme. The Cuban au-
Economists, by offering to surrender the
control of the Cuban government to
the insurgents. discharge the response
bility which the Madrid ministry has
placed on them of persuading the in
surgents out of existence. The proceed
ure would be incomprehensible any
where outside of this island. That it
does not meet with objections from the
Sagasta cabinet may properly be in
terpreted as meaning that the auton-
omy of a few months is no longer the
policy of the Spanish liberals.
ARMIsTICE.
If further concessions would result in
an armistice between Spain and the
insurgents. this benighted island would
be blessed. Many thousands OF the IN
habitants who are otherwise doomed to
death by starvation would be saved.
Something would be preserved in the
ruins of the agriculture of the country.
In spite of the immense area of
charred cane fields. a large amount OF
sugar could be ground and marketed.
Since he became satisfied there was noe
enough commerce ieIt III CuDd u loIii
the basis of a treaty of commerce be-
tween Spain and the United States,
Gomez has been more liberal Several
bic plantations which have been in sus-
pense. and have paid the insurgent tax.
viii be allowed to grind. The promise
is not of a sugar crop somewhat in eX-
cess of last year. With an interval of
peace it would be largely in excess.
An arlnistice would insure fair
crop along with a further recupera-
ton of the industrial resources OF the
island. Unfortunately Spain does not
know how to reach direct PROPOSE
ton of this kind. Should the present
menace between her and the United
States be changed into friendly rela-
lions a proof of that friendship might
be shown by asking President McKln-
ley's administration to arrange an arm
istice with the insurgents.