New-York tribune., 1901-05-18
PARTY POLITICS IN CUBA.
UNIFIcATIoN OF GROUPS AND FAC
TIoNs-THE THREE DIVISIONS.
Havana, May II.

Havana, May IL.
Political parties are in the course of formation
in Cuba. This is the explanation OF much that
is done in the Constitutional Convention which
10 Americans seems ineKnlicahle. Heretofore
there have been simply groups or factions Of
men who claimed to represent various prinei-
pies but they found it hard themselves to define
these principles. The party name in Havana
would stand for something entirely different
from that which il represented in Santa Clara
or Santiago But the present tendency is TOT
unifcation. so that throughout the islana thF
party name will stard for the same thing
The two leading parties the Repuohcahs
and the Nationals There is a third orgahi%a
ton known as the Union Democratic parry
which Is strong in some sections hut which Is
not represented throughout the island. In IL
are concentrated the conservative forces Whl'h
are lacking "a ultimate annexation to the United
States. and which therefore have not Favored
the absolute independence Of Cuba, TO which
both the Republican and the National parties
are pledged Since the general sentiment for
Independence while vague, nevertheless is
strong with the mass Of the Cuban people. the
opponents Of the Union Democratic party have
little difficulty in weakening II by simply charg
ing that 1t is the annexation party After
time these charges will lose their force. But in
their present conditions they restrict the sphere
Of influence ~ the Union Democratic party. and
leave the field almost clear 10 the Nationals and
the Republicans TO claim the spoils and the
honors OF representing the people by holding
Office for their benefit.
SHRINKING FROM RESPONSIBILITY.
The Cuban politician is not exactly trim
mer." yet he shrinks from responsibility wher-
ever II can he shcudered upon somebody else.
That is why it has been so difficult TO get
definite alignment in the Constitutional Con-
vention any given question. Months ago
there a sharp division with regard 10 MAX
ing Maxine Gomez eligible for the Presidency.
but that division purely personal lines
and carried with il no responsibility for policy.
Careful observers knew for months that the
radical members Of the convention who talked
strongest against recognizing the guardianship
OF the United States never would accept the
responsibility Of absolutely rejecting il. At the
same time. those who favored recognition Of
the relation Of Cuba 10 the United States We're
timid about taking stand which in the future
would place them before the public as the re-
sponsible authors Of the policy Of recognizing
the paramount American influence. This has
come out so clearly in everything relating TO
the Platt amendment that it has ceased 10 cause
comment But the underlying force all along
has been against the responsibility of rejection
and going back to the people with a confession
OF failure 10 form island government. All
the present moves are directed TO securing the
benefit OF the good which may come and OF
evading the censure which may follow il the
acceptance Of the American conditions does not
work out Immediately as the friends Of Cuba
hope. This simply means that there is conten-
tion between the Republicans and the Nation
ais 10 which party shall govern Cuba.
The Republicans are more representative Of
he ole hey do Nof max
this claim because it might reflect their
Cuban patriotism, and might be admitted evil
dence OF the truth Of the charge that few Of
them actually in the field with the in
surgeats. The Nationals are the followers Of
Maxine Gomez though he dsowns any leader
ship OF political party or Identification with H.
But among the leaders of the Nationals there
are a good many men who held positions in the
insurgent army. and their disposition is claim
that they did all the work in the woods. while
their opponents were in the United States or
were merely eXerting passive influence in favor
OF the insurrection as members Of the secret
juntas with which the island was honeycombed.
Both parties have some fairly good men, and
also some ambitious and reckless dema gogues.
and il is quite likely that the future of Cuba is
safe in the hands Of one organization as Of
the other. because when once in power the
party which is accountable for the material
progress as well as the administration OF the
island will become conservative. Just now there
is a notable tendency toward moderation in the
lessening Of the attacks the American au-
thority, or the intervening power. they call it,
A few months ago II the popular thing to
criticise and attack the Americans, but in the
municipal campaigns which are now under way
all over the island there is little of this anti
Americanism.
WARY COMMISSIONERS.
The unwillingness TO accept responsibility and
the desire 10 save themselves in the future by
having their past records clear which is so
marked characteristic of all the Cuban lead
ers' came out very strongly in the report OF
the commission which went to Washington TO
confer with President Mckinley and Secretary
Root 1t was not bad idea to have the full
report OF those conferences and interviews re-
corded officially, but the members OF the COM
rnittee who took this course were not thinking
so much OF the value Of this record as OF their
own personal records They did not propose
that anything should be brought up against
them in future with regard 10 this mission