The record-union., 1898-01-19
The Only Hope Of Future Material
Prosperity in Cuba.
Moderate SpanIards Would Welcome Such
aTurn In Events.
Autonomy is Already Acknowledge
ed to be Failure-Report at
Havana That General Blanco is
Soon to Resign-PubIic Order
Re-Establishment at the Capt.
tai City.


HAVANA, Jan. 1S.-Badgering the
Government occupies the attention Oh
two classes in Cuba at present. one
class is the Conservatives, who are
predisposed to fault finding. Deter
mined to have no share in the admins
tration of autonomy, they are now con-
graduating themselves on their decis-
ion. The responsibility of implanting
that system is, indeed, heavy one, and
those who do not share in it are fortu-
nate. The other class is new creation.
Its members call themselves Radlcal
Autonomists. They are aggressive ana
critical. If the authorities depart IRON.
the straight path of colonial home rule
they cry lapse from the housetops.
The amnesty such as has already been
extended does not suit them. They de-
mand that Weyler and all his works be
disavowed, and call for reparation in
individual cases. They also insist on
the immediate reform of various ad-
mitted abuses and the removal of the
press censorship. In short, the Radical
Autonomists have a programme which
causes them to be designated both as
insurgents and as embryo rebels.
1t is unfortunate for the regime Of au
tonomy that misunderstanding have
arisen between Madrid and Havana.
The opposition pretends not to know
whether the Cuban Government is Cap
tain-General Blanco or the autonomist
Cabinet Where genuine doubts exist
they are solved satisfactorily by elect
ing to rest under the authority of the
~ L. ,I.,,-
standings between the Sagasta Minis
try and the Autonomist Cabinet cannot
be settled so easily. The autonomist
Constitution is comprehensive one. 1t
may be that it's authors did not thor
oughly know their work The control
of the judiciary was delicate matter.
The Autonomist Cabinet thought it
had been decided in favor of home rule
appointments, but the Minister Of the
Colonies has recently made the nomi-
nations of Judges and magistrates. The
Cabinet protests, Madrid responds, re-
GREETING the mistake, but explains that
provisional autonomy did not go into
effect until January 1st, and these
nominations, though gazetted now,
were in reality made before that date.
The Madrid newspapers give utterance
to the fear that it may bring in ques-
ton the good faith with which autono-
my is being implanted. Their fears are
not baseless The Cabinet, however, re-
ceives little sympathy. Its critics point
out slips on its part which seem to
show a lack of familiarity with the
Constitution under which it is work
ing
These efnbarrassments, while annoy
ing, are not of a serious nature If au-
tonomy We're acceptable to a majority
of the people of Cuba they would not
jeopartiize it's success. But it must be
stated that q majority of the people on
the island, in the insurgents camps or
within the lines of Spanish sovereign
ty, are not paying much heed to auton-
omy as a political system. Civil admin
istration is receiving little attention.
The Government, which means Cap
tain-G General Blanco and not the auton-
omist Cabinet, is asked what the fur
ther plans for the war are, and when
they will be put in force. IT, news
from Madrid is that the plan of General
Blalco's military operations has been
published and has had a good effect.
The Plan has not been published here.
What there is of the army is in igno-
rance of the prospective operations. The
Madrid reports about the good effect
produced cause only derision. The in
telligence that the populace, if not the
public men, has been led to look for the
ending of the insurrection within
month is looked upon as incredible. The
condition in Cuba is viewed through
different glasses.
The questions about the conduct of
the war bring the Radical autonomists
to the front with their series Of inter-
rogation points. Since the insurgents
will not accept autonomy, these Radi-
Gals want the Government to ask CO.
mez and his associate chiefs what they
Will accept. Must it be complete inde-
pendence? VIII they not consent TO
keep the shadow of Spanish sovereign
ty in some form? The newspapers be-
gan by pumping their inquiries into
Senior CalveZ, the President of the Au-
tonomist Cabinet. He responded by
stopping his subscription. General
Blanco was not subscriber, and when
the questions were turned on him that
method of resentment was not open.
The autonomists and reformists, who
formed a fusion organization to support
the Government, are also asked what
their Text step is. When autonomy was
formally proclaimed they declared the
whole system was an anachronism. in
dependence and Utopian chimera. More
plainsly, some of them put it. that in
trying autonomy Spain played her last
card. but they were sure she would not
turn trumps. The Conservatives have
M r1fr
agree that Bianco's military policy will
not bring peace. They are of one mind
in denouncing the United States for
forbidding a return of Weyler's policy,
but they realize that the prohibition is
an effective one. Some of them would
go to war with the United States in or
der 10 lose Cuba in a way that would
be consistent with their idea Of Spain's
honor
Back Of all the recriminations which
are indulged in Is the fear of American
intervention. 1t can hardly be said to
be longer in the background. Hence
forth 1t must be discussed as a proba-
biffty which all parties in Cuba recog-
nize With the insurgents it is evil
IDENTIFY definite purpose. To SPANS
Government In the Antilles it may pre-
sent llSeiI either as refuge or as q re-
treat. The irreconcilabIe Spaniards
dread it. The moderate ones. the prop
erty owners and the commercial classes.
welcome the prospect. But while this
is the feeling, it should not be misfnter-
preted. The conditions in Cuba will not
Of themselves bring about the basis of
Intervention. The initial step must be
taken ewhere-possibly in Madrid,
L