New-York tribune., 1903-06-08
PALMA'S FIRM GUIDANCE.
CUB4'S PRESIDENT TALKS.
His Relations to Political Parties al
Cuba-Lottery Veto Sure.

Havana, June (speciaD.-Presldent Palma has
given ar interview here which is causing much
comment in all circles. The interview given
to 'El Mundo." Of the papers which has most
heartily attacked President Palma and his ad
ministration, and many thought that there might
have been mistake about Il, but The Tribune
correspondent ascertained at the palace from the
secretary to the President that it was correct 1t
is regarded by most of those best informed as
warning the country that the President was op-
posed to the Lottery bill and that he would veto it
President Palma said:
Il a stubborn with respect to whatever
refers to my patriotic duties and discharge them
without party passions struggles influencing my
mind. I holding this post for ostentaton
I led it by anything else than my patri-
otisnl. I want the country to support me, and the
politicians comprehend well that as a man OF
experience, adapt my procedure TO what Is neces-
sary 10 4 people beginning Independent life am
firm in my purposes and look only TO the strength
enng OF the republic in which have faith; and
when existence bends me toward the grave, have
no other aspiration than TO reach it having made
my country happy and left it prosperous
NOT UNDER PARTY CONTROL.
There have been many attempts made to get the
President affiliate himself with one OF the po-
Htcal parties of the republic and in reply TO the
question whether or not he favored any one he
said:
'I am neither to distant from any party
Ny position is easily understood came mere
without knowing the parties, without knowing
whether the men Of the parties were bound to this
or that programme; the people knew my pro
gramme before they elected me. and I have not
deviated from it will 1 do The men VINO
were close to from the start are those whom
I knew and in whom. knowing them thoroughly,
had confidence. Believe me. it did not concern me
at all that those men should belong to this CT that
party. I saw both Nationals and Republicans with
out a perfect organization; in the Congress saw
Nationals and Republicans who aided me in my
{ and HDlTbl who
conduct was different Within these same affllia-
tons I also saw high minded and moderate men
who. despite they belonged to the same
political ranks There Is not to-day. in my opinion
and there less before, perfectly discIpllheo
party which I could lean; and only those men
who agree with my plan of moderation, defending
the sovereignty and liberty of Cuba from all dan
gers are close to my government AS TO the rest
1t is the same to to employ National as A
Republican; and in the designation Of our high
f11nctionarfes which is difficult I have had to
go on endeavorng. little by little. to choose those
who possessed certain indispensable qualifications
I am neither Conservative Republican nor Ma
onaI-Iiberal I trust in the people in the masses
who are greedy for tranquility. who aspire 10 ao-
soute peace that they may work; l trust IN TINS
docile intelligent and patriotic people wno 1iTeo
of political perturbations. violent changes une1-
pected evolutions ready material the principal
element for rendering the republic firm Thls IS
my work. and I convinced 1t Will be reahzeo'
Warm euiogy is made in the United states over
the healthy progress of the rcpuonc' II Is not
euIogv of me who would only be a factor OF that
healthy progress but OF the people, who, with
good sense prudence and moderation, go WIN
sure step toward the soldihcaton Of the repuphc-
With such people must govern with faith IN the
| masses.
REPUBLICS STABILITY HIS AIM
And If the masses Liherals?''-
.rrr the Liberals are the masses and they, as l.
have faith in the necessity of moderate action and
/ UOTIf6 no
n,vseIf over the name they may give themselves II
would be the same to whether or not they can
themselves Liberals when 1t comes 10 LOOKING ~
! them for support. I have not come here to oe
| either Liberal National, but to soid1ty the
ranuhIc and to reach that end the road is one, IN
| my mind For that reason, year after arriving
at Cuba am the same. and If am close TO or rar
from certain men it is because these men are those
who distance themselves from me or approach me-
| With without those men I am going WITHOUT
| hesitation to carry out my plan Of government
the one which believe saves the republic
! Sehor Palma added;
I must repeat it. it is the absolute truth:
am where I have always been We have matters
under discussion by Congress in which stand to-
| dav as I have all my life One of them Is the
lottery"
YOU will veto the lottery If the Congress ap-
proves it?''
Undoubtedly will veto it. have the conviction
that would be obeyiag my conscience must
| maintain here the creeds that made me a reVoIu-
tionary. When we raised our nag against Spain Al
! 1868 one Of the things that made me hate the
government was the lottery, and the lottery mere
has continued repugnant TO me the same as every
where The lottery is source or revenue 10 Ine
State but the money collected thereby Is almost d
/ hoIdup Nothing is immoral than for tne
/ country To he a great bank In which the lottery
figures The lottery reduces the moral level OF
peope: IT seems to have been invented for an inoo
| lent people where do not love work NO. the
! lottery would be a return to the past which would
hurt me v-ery much I shall uneQuivocaHy TO
/ oppose It.
AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT
You say. M President that you carry out your
nIan Of government In Gibara you said that the
! centre of your work of development Woulo he IN
AGRICULTURAL problems notwithstanding which little
has been done for agriculture
we have done what we could but not enough
/ Agriculture Is favored by roads and bridges, and
| roads and bridges we have made as far as 1t has
heen possibIe Ny aspirations go further than that
ae said TO YOU in Gibara and believe will see
nv desires satisfied. I needed money to restore
cattle raising in Camaguey, and had 1t been at my
dsposaI that province would have already been fuiI
/ Of cattle I wanted to establish agricultural sta
tons through the island but it has not been pos
/ sfble until now, and I have appropriated heavy
sum to establish agricultural station II oanuaso
de Cuba In this practical study VIII be MADE
among other things particularly OF the cultivation
of cane and cotton. for it is my aspiration that
oo++on sbal he propa gated and become q source Of
riches to the country The station should be man
aged by foreign asricuitur1st' or wen hno"ii
competence superior those we have here for 1t
to give excellent results
And the S00o,OO0 OF surplus "ny ~ II H"9
used for agriculture?
! IN the first place. there is not surplus OF
100000 since. with expenses Tor May tnere VIII
remain IN the Treasury E.60o0o0. and at the end
we will have a surplus Of only SlSoo'o"' DO not
want the Congress 10 touch that sum. nor the peo-
-, =, .st, that u he used now ] need that money