Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-29
IT DESCRIBES AUTONOMY GOVERNMENT
How RigidIy the Censorship Of the
Press is Observed.
DE LONE AN ITOR
Copyright, 1898, by Charles NJ Pepper.l
pecial Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

who nave been starved to death by the
| hundreds of thousands. or to the insur-
gents, who have endured the hardships of
the field. But, while the designation does
not fit the irregular combat of arms, it
is not out Of place In describing some
thing else that obtains in Cuba. This is
the government under autonomy. 1t is
opera bouffe government. The staging of
| the comic opera IS the only thing lacking
to make it real.
When the autonomtst DEGREES were put
forth by the Sagasta ministry some hard
headed persons did not pay much atten-
ton to their wording. Such people thought
that the ability TO copy on paper the CO.
lon1al system of Canada or Of other coun-
tries was not the real test of the new
colonial policy. They believed the admin
istration In practice would be a better
test whether the Spanish authorities them
selves had genuine understanding of
what constitutes liberal political institu-
tions. Cuba under autonomy would be the
only safe guide.
According to official DEGREES, Cuba is
under autonomy, and autonomy means
broad political rights, reasonable liberty
OF speech and press, and, above ali, home
rule. The first test which would be applied
by statesman from abroad or student
of history would be the discussion and
criticism which is permitted of govern
ment and of measures. He would be able
to apply neither criterion here. There is
neither open discussion nor criticism. Ac-
cording to the Spanish idea, it would en-
danger autonomy to let the people talk
too much about it. The press censorship is
more rigid than that which was enforced
during the height of Weylers despotism.
When the army officers placed themselves
in rebellion because the newspapers had
begun to criticise gross military abuses
the first thing the Sagasta ministry in
Spain did was to pass regulations further
limiting the restricted freedom of the press
and making specific provision against re
f1ections' on the army.
Power of the General STAFF.
We should not expect too much. People
under Spanish government have been used
to repression. The autonomist cabinet in
Cuba might have taken some action which
would have seemed high-handed to Ameri-
cans, yet which would not have appeared
unusual to Spaniards. Instead of the local
authorities taking the measures for muz-
zling public opinion this was done by the
captain general 1t was Blanco acting un-
der direction from Madrid who revived
Weylers decree. 1t is Blanco whose name
is signed to the supplementary decree
which from its nature reduces the Havana
newspapers to last years almanacs. 1t is
the general staff of the army with which
the censorship of both the press and the
cable rests Under home rule the natural
supposition would be that the autonomist
cabinet would have something to say in
these matters. The members of that body
were pushed aside. Their functions con-
sist mainly in issuing manifestoes.
The general staff of the army is over
worked with it's fresh labors. For three
years the staff has been charged with the
responsibility of suppressing the insurrec-
ton on paper The official reports of army
operations are issued by it. 1 believe there
was a general in Europe once who never
Won a battle. yet who in the end prevailed
over the enemy. The circumstances are
reversed here. In three years the general
staff has not lost battle, even in skir-
mish. for the troops of Spain. The insur-
gents may finally prevail, but the staff
will have kept it's record clear. 1t has al
ready killed more than 10000 Of the enemy
on paper, though neither Weyler nor
Blanco has admitted the existence of $1,000
insurgents.
In all the official reports a consistent ra-
ito is maintained of ten insurgents killed
for every Spanish soldier who may be num-
bered with the dead. Once the ratio fell to
Sla to l. but the balance was quickly re-
stored. There are some fine young officers
in the general staff, courteous and agreea-
BILE l fancy they would rather be in the
field Their new duties confuse them
They have had no experience in editing
newspap pers, and they lack the instinct for
successfully censuring cablegrams which
relate to news other than that of military
ODeratiOnS hpv drnu oil,
IoJa, the red pencil-it is red instead of
blue in Cuba-through the entire dispatch.
With the local papers, when in doubt, they
censure the whole article. In consequence
the Havana journals frequently appear
with their columns blank or with long
scientific articles about the inhabitants Of
Mars or the eclipse of Jupiter In the midst
OF stirring events these subjects are heavy
reading.
Perhaps a better idea Of the understand
ing which the Spanish government has OF
wnat constitutes the liberal regimen of au-
tonomy can be had from reading the de-
cree itself. give it herewith:
Decree.
Don RaE,on Blanco and Erenos, MARQUES
OF Pena Plata. captain-general Of the army
and general-in-chief Of this island, etc.
In order to avoid conflicts such as these
days have witnessed to the inhabitants OF
this city, using the faculties which the
low SohiCiS Oi OIucTSu anu commando
ed:
Article From the publication of this
decree in the Gazette Of Havana and the
official bulletins of the provinces is pro-
htbited the publication of every class of
periodicals, circulars or kilograms or PAM
phlets without the proofs having been pre-
viously authorized by the general staff of
this army for those which are published
in Havana and outside of 1t by the stan of
the division or brigade where it may be
and where there Is no military authority at
the place Of publication, for which pur-
pose the proofs shall be presented two
hours In advance OF publication.
Article 2-The general administration of
communication post Office Department.
shall detain the circulation Of all periodi-
calls national and foreign until authorised
by the general staff. to which shall be SUBJ
mitted copy of each periodical
Article 3-Thes Sc who violate this law Gas
fntractures) shall be judged and punished
Confined On Eighth Psgel