Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-21
LS Observation-Disclosures

Representative Hit, chairman of the
house committee on foreign affairs, said
in the course Of his speech on the Cuban
situation that perhaps it would be u
harsh judgment now TO say that the
scheme OF autonomy had already failed,
yet the most trustworthy testimony is
to the effect that 1t Is a failure, that
there has really been nothing accom-
plished by Marshal Blanco toward the
paci1cntion of Cuba through the new
policy. The correspondent there of the
Philadelphia Press who recently went
TO Cuba to report the condition of af-
fairs exactly ns he found 1t, says there
are no signs that the autonomy scheme
will accomplish any result whatever.
He expresses the opinion that the only
CubanS who will accept autonomy are
those who viii be given offices. Blanco
and the provincial governors have
sent out many emissaries seeking to buy
up Cuban leaders and several of these
the correspondent had met. All of them
acknowledged that their missions had
been complete failures. The only Gu
bans who present themselves as accept
ing the new policy are men who are
sick or unfit for active service and
women and children, and there are not
a great many of these.
Mr.. Hit said the Spanish government
is sincere in its offer of autonomy, as
shown by events, but the Cubans do not
take this view of it. Not only do they
characterize the new policy as a sham
but they do not believe that Spain would
adhere to it n year if they should ac-
cept it and lay down their arms.
Cuban distrust of the Spaniards is as
deep-rootcd and intense as is Spanish
hatred of the Cubans. The offer of
autonomy is made by royal decree, but
that is not irrevocablc. With peace re-
stored to Cuba by the capitulation of the
insurgents it is not to b. doubted that
the Spanish conservatives would soon
demand either the abandonment of au-
tonomy or radical modification of the
policy. All of them are opposed to 1t
and it might not be difficult. with Cuba
again firmly in the grasp of Spain, for
the conservatives to elect Il Cortes and
secure ministry that would restore the
old governmental policy in Cuba. 1t
may be said that Spain would hesitate
to do this because it might invite an
other insurrcction, but this reasoning is
without weight with those who know
how the Spanish government has in the
past betrayed the confidence of the
Cubans and proved false TO its prom
ises The men who are struggling to
free Cuba from Spanish rule have seen
so much of Spanish insincerity that they
will not now, when they feel certain Of
achieving Independence, be persuaded
to again have faith in Spain.
That autonomy is doomed to failure,
if it has not already failed, we think |
is beyond a reasonable doubt. The |
Cuban army is said to be stronger now
than within year and the declarations
of it's leaders show that they are as
firm in their purpose to prosecute the |
war as they have ever been. They |
will consider nothing short of independ- |
about reached the end of its resources
in both money and men. The Spanish |
army in Cuba is unequal to the task |
of suppressing the insurrection and |
Spain is not in condition to materially |
reinforce it. The outlook for Cuban
grows steadily more prom
iSinr