The times., 1898-09-28
CUBAN MOBILES.
Their Titles VIII Disappear With
nIanco and His Army


With the end of Spanish sovereignty in
Cuba the right TO Cuban titles of nobility
will also end. A number of marquises and
counts, if they elect to stay in the island,
viii cease to have patents of nobility.
citizens who are grandees of Spain. The
distinction between the Spanish title and
the Cuban patent of nobility, says the
New York Sun. has always been carefully
maintained The Spaniards affected to
despise the Cuban counts and marquises,
and the Cubans themselves were disposed
to make them ridiculous. Nevertheless,
some Of the titles held in old Cuban fami-
lies We're respected, not because of the
patent that conferred them, but because
of the patriotism of the men who bore
them. In the Ten Years War there were
Cuban counts and marquises among the
revolutionists, and in the late insurrecton
the same was true. One of the most zeal
Gus of the insurgents was Marquis de
Santa Lucia.
One reason why the Cubans cared little
for the titles in themselves was the ten
dency of the Spanish government to be-
stow them as a reward for political ser
vices. To the patriotic Cuban political
services to Spain could only be at the ex-
pense of their own island. Rafael Mon
torO was one of the notable men of Cuba
a scholar, orator and writer He
free government, and was one of the au-
Economists. In an evil day the Canovas
ministry made him a marquis. This fol-
lowed upon his adhesion to the reforms
which were proposed by Canovass in lieu
of autonomy. From that day his influence
was practically nothing. His friends de-
clared that the title had been bestowed
upon him unsought, and that he despised
it. Nevertheless, he was called the Mar
quis Montoro, and as such was known in
Cuban politics When the autonomist
Cabinet was formed last January and the
Sagasta ministry made him secretary of
the treasury, it was discovered in Madrid
that whether under a conservative or a
liberal ministry, Marquis Montoro was far
less influential than Senior Montoro had
been. While he is respected for his pri-
vate character and the Cubans speak
kindly of him, Secretary Montoro has not
regained their confidence 1t Is possible
that when the new government is formed
and all titles are lost he may again, as
Senior Montoro, take the place for which
his talents fit him.
Marquis de Apezteguia is another Gu
ban who has had a similar experience.
He was a delegate to the Cortes when
six years ago, the Queen Regent made
him Spanish grandee. Though a Gu
ban, he was the head of the conserya-
tive party, which was made up largely
of ultra-loyal Spaniards. 1t was hoped !
that the special honors conferred upon
him by the Queen would increase his
prestige among the Spanish. and enable
him to influence the conservatives to-
ward the adoption of the policy of auton-
omy. but when he returned from Madrid
the Marquis de Apezteguia found that
the Spanish were less susceptible to the
dignity and honors of the crown than had
been supposed. The conservatives would
have nothing to do with autonomy.
whether brought them by newly-cre-
ated grandee or offered them by the cap
tain general. The conservative party at
its convention repudiated the policy The
Marquis de Apezteguia is president of the
Sugar Planters Association He has ex-
tensive interests in Cuba and ii is pre-
sumed that he will elect to remain there
when his title of marquis and his digni-
ty as a grandee of Spain become moth
ing more than "reminiscences of a colo
nial epoch that has gone forever.
The present mayor of Havana has also
a title before his name. He is the Mar
quis de Esteaban. His family is an old
and honored one. He had not taken
leading part in politics. but he enjoyed
the respect of all classes. The mayor of
Havana, even under autonomy. was not
elected by popular vote, but was desig-
mated by Captain General Blanco. The
Marquis de ESteaban succeeded a con-
servative mayor, who had been a dray-
man. Many squibs were published when
the drayman mayor was replaced by the
representative of one of the old Cuban
families. However this had no influence
in reconciIing the Cubans. in Havana to
autonomy The Marquis de Esteaban is
a large property owner, and on that ae-
count 1t is not doubted he will remain
and sacrifice his title to the new regime
A few days ago the Havana dispatches
reported that he was in conference with
Gen. Rodriguez and others who had been
prominent in the insurrection. and would
be influential under the changed condi-
tions.
Under the old order the government
blue book used to state that the nobility
in Cuba did not constitute an element
of power" This was true. because all the
power was concentrated in the captains
general. OF the 1A captains general who
span the period from the appointment of
Columbus voyage companion, Don Die J
go Velasquez, who was named in 1511 |
down 10 Don Ramon Blanco, Marquis of
Pena Plata large proportion have held
titles of Spanish grandees as dukes, |
counts and marquises. Gen. Weyler was |
Marquis of Teneriffe Some of the cap