The record-union., 1898-12-04
CUBAN AUTONOMIST CABINET.
ITS RETIREMENT ENDS A CHAP
TER IN HISTORY.
Represented Spain's Tardy and De-
spairing Effort to Save Her
Sovereignty in the Antilles.

NEW YORK, Dec. 3.-With the res
ignation of the autonomist Cabinet,
following Captain General Blanco's re-
tirement, ends a short, yet interesting,
chapter of history, says Havana cor
respondent Of the Tribune" This
Cabinet represented Spain's tardy and
despairing effort to save her vanish
ing sovereignty in the Antilles. Some
of it's members will remain in the ISL
and and accept the new conditions.
Others, it is reported, wilfaend their
lives in Spain, though they are Cuban
born. They would not be in full SYM
pathy with the future government,
whether it be an independent one. or
whether annexation to the United
States follows:
This autonomist Cabinet was appoint
ed in December last and took office
January /, 1895. It's membership was as
follows: President (without portfolio),
Jose Maria Galvez; Secretary of the
Treasury, Rafael Montero; Secretary
of Justice and Government, Antonio
Gown; Secretary Of Public instruction,
Francis Co Zayas; Secretary of Public
Works, Eduordo DALI; Secretary of
Agriculture and Commerce, Laureano
Rodriguez.
This Cabinet was made up Of what
was known as historic and radical au-
Economists, with "reformista" or mod
crate supporter of Spanish sovereignty
sandwiched in between them. The hope
was that the radical members would
be able to exercise a persuasive influ-
ence on insurgents. 1t proved a falla-
ciouS one.
GOWN was the leading radical in the
Cabinet. He had been an aggressive
supporter of autonomy from the begin
ming of that movepent, and the Span
ish Conservatives had frequently
charged that he was a separatist. When
the insurrection broke out he did not
join it, but his principles and his SYM
pathies were SO well known that he
came under the ban of Weyler's sus-
picion. Unable to identify himself on
the one hand with the insurrection, and
on the other hand, unwilling to indorse
the policy of the Spanish Government
in suppressing it, he went into volun-
tary exile in the United States. He
settled with his family at Atlanta, Ga,
and remained there until the regime of
autonomy was established under
Blanco. Then he accepted the place in
| the autonomist Cabinet, and exerted
himself heroically to secure its accept
ance by the Cuban people. Gown is a
man of executive force, and while his
positive character made enemies for
him, it also gave him strength He has
| been the most aggressive member Of
! the Cabinet
| Rafael Montero was the leader of the
historic autonomists His friends claim
| ed for him the honor of founding the
party. He was better known in Spain
| than any other of the Cuban public
| lists. His writings had made for him an
European reputa ton, and he was not
unknown in the United States. In
| Cuba. he was appreciated as man of
letters, publicist and an orator. But
he was not bold leader He feared
the consequences of the insurrection,
and said bitter things about it. He ac-
cepted the reforms of Canovas as a step
toward colonial home rule. His talents
were great, but he had lost the conf
dence of his own people. Though the
ablest and most conspicuous member of
the Cabinet, his influence has not been
marked. He is a believer in the Latin
race, and it is said of him that he pre-
/ IeTS SpeHulHS the IeHidiiiuci VI ITS LIE
/ in Spain to watching it's contact and
possible conflict with Anglo-Saxon CIV
| ilization in Cuba.
Galvez was also one Of the historic
autonomists He was eminent as a
lawyer and as an orator. He has been
credited with declaring that he would
rather see Cuba sink under the sea
i than that it should be Americanized.
| But his friends interpreted this as
Campaign talk" He was never a vio-
| lent. supporter of Spanish sovereignty,
| and would have been willing to watch
| its gradual disappearance into Cuban
independence He will probably remain
in the island
wanted-A skillful dentist to fill the
teeth Of q gale.