New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-18


/ oxcont that 7 knew some Of them we're ciasseo
ns Autonomists Most of my informah's "e'e
| business men who had side. and rarely eN-
pressed themselves. I had no means OF guess
! ing IN advance what their answers wouid De-
and was in most cases greatly surprised az
| their frankness.
SENTIMENT OF BUSINESS MEN.
"I inoulred in regard to autonomy OF men OF
wealth and men az prominent in business as
| any in the cities OF Havana. Matanzas ana
Sagua-bankers merchants. lawyers and Au'oh"
mist officials some Of them Spanish-born put
! Cuban bred. one prominent Englishmah' severn.
| OF them known Autonomists, and se'e'a' Vi
| them telling me they were still beneVers III
| autonomy, II practicable but without exception
they replied that it was too late for that some
| favored a United States protectorate. some an
rcyatlon some free Cuba-not one has peen
| counted favoring the nsurrection at hrst. IheE
were business men and wanted peace nut sa'd
II wns too late for peace under spanish Sow
ore,entv They characterized Weyler's order
in far stronger terms than I can could not
hu, conclude that you do not have to scratch an
! Autonomist very deep 10 find Cuhan. Ihere
is soon to he an election but every polling-place
| must he inside q fortified town. Such elections
| ought 10 he safe for 1ns.'
THE STRONGEST APPEAL.
"r have endeayored to state In not intern
rerate mood what saw and heard ana 10 "'ahe
no argument thereon. but leave every one to
draw his own conclusions. To me the strongest
onpeaI Is not the barbarity practised by Wey-
,or NOR tho loss Of the Maine. II our worst fears
shouId prove true terrible are both OF these
Incidents but the spectacle OF million ana
half Of people. the entire native population or
Cuba struggling for freedom and dellverance
from, the worst disagreement OF which ever
had knowledge.
"Rut whether our action ought not to be in
erorced bv any one or ali these things and II
so how far Il another question. am not IN
favor Of annexation. not because wouid ap-
nrehend any particular trouble from II. but De-
cause Il is not wise policy to take In any people
Of foreign tongue and training and without
strong guiding American element. The fear
that II free the people Of Cuba would be revo-
lut,onary is not so well founded as has been sup
rosod and the conditions for sef-government
are far more favorable. The large number OF
educated ard patriotic men. the great sacrihces
,hev have endured the peaceable temperament
of the people white and black; the wonderful
nrosnerity that would surely come with peace
and GOOD home rule. the large Influx OF Ameri-
can and English immigration and money would
all no strong factors for stable institutions
.Rut il is not my purpose at this time. nor 90
I consider it my province. TO suggest any piaii'
7 merely speak Of the symptoms as saw them'
but do no, undertake TO prescribe Such RENEE
dial steps az may be required may safely be
left IN an American President and the American
people"
DEEP IMPRESSION PRODUCED.
THROUGHOUT the delivery Of the address there
was not an interruption. Every person WITHIN
hearing listened TO the statement with the
closest attention. AT Its conclusion there was
no demonstration either on the hoor OF IN |hs
galleries although Senator'S here ana 'here
about the chamber turned one TO announcer with
such unusual remarks on the Senate hoor as
"A remarka BILE statement: "A simple, straight
forward statement of horrible condltlon OK
affairs: "A most effective and convincing state
ment"; "A temperate and timely utterance'
and similar comments.
Mr. Proctor left the Senate chamber soon
after he had finished his address, but not De-
fore he had been heartily congratulated by
many Of his colleagues.
At 40 p. m. on motion OF MT Frye tne
Senate went into executive session. and at
O'Clock adjourned until Monday.
RENTING TAXES on WASTED LANDS
CAPTAIN GENERAL DLANCo INFORMS THE SPAN
IsH MINISTER OF A DECREE JUST ISSUED.
Washington. March 1.-THE Spanish Minister re-
c.ved tho following dispatch to-day from Captain
General Blanco:
The Council OF Secretaries under my, presidency
ma np' 10 5e MaTcS 81 sss decree Of April 1871 relative
10 the suspension OF proceedings againsi isn .nai
estates unless the insular Legislature thes spe-
cia action on the subject
The effect of this. 1t s explained. is TO do away
with the taxes lands which have been devas-
taed and have become pnproduStve Ine b rSn
suffered greatly as a result OF the war ana me
mpsnS if not entirey to the use Of the torch and
other destructive methods adopted by the insur-
of its main sources OF income. but 1t was repre-
sented to the officials at HayaIa hat the lands IN
should not be taxed at the usual rate. These rep
IRON 1I wS as Hs
which mad suffered proy d7i, decree freeing
present order makes the decree effective for an
noteworthy in calling attention to the fact that
the decree will stand only II the nsuar Leg!slat
T This 'S IS cited at the Spanish legation as another
evidence Of me completeness with which the man.
the Legislature as soon as It convenes.
PAYMENTS FROM THE DEFENCE FUND. |
MONEY FOR Guns SENT TO THE ARMSTRONG;
AN INsrALMEYT on THE CRUISERS
WILL FOLLOW TO-DAY
Washington. March 1.-THE first disbursement !
under the act OF Congress approprang so 900. po0 |
for the National defence has been made by the |
Trca sury Department on executive order for /
$50 600 to be cabled London to the credit OF ST.
william Armstrong in part payment for twelve |
rapld-drc guns including mounts and ammunition. !
The purchase price, including mounts etc, Is !
fn 900 for each gun s252 90 for the twelve. In /
addition 10 this payment the Treasury Department
tomorrow will cable TO the RothSchildS Al London
sseG gu IN fun payment for the Brazilian cruiser
Amazonas and In part payment for the Abrouall. /
AN ADDRESS TO SPAIN PROPOSED.
JOINT RESOLUTIONS INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE