The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-10-05

New York, Oct. 4.-',Liberty is dead
in Cuba, and the condition of affairs
there is worse than il ever was under
Spanish rule. even in the most ferocious
periods of the weyler government Fin.
ancial ruin and dishonor viii come. to
the Cuban people. and IL things con.
tinue as they are the nation win be con.
verted into one of hereditary rule"
That declaration was made last night
by General Jose Miguel Conner, govern
or of the province of Santa Clara and
candidate OF the liberal party for the
presidency OF Cuba, at the New Am
sterdam Hotel, where he is stopping.
Upon his arrival on the steamship Mon.
terey from Havana yesterday, General
Conner refused to discuss Cuban affairs
at length, but after he had rested at
his hotel ne was more communicative.
Il am here to rest for some days"
he continues, "and to breathe the air OF
liberty that is lacking in my own coun-
try and for which ! have fought SO long
"0n false charges, the government as
sassinates the liberals, the jails are fill
ed with political prisoners, and we have
no hope of justice from judges and mag
istrates who recognize no law but the
will of the government. We are hind.
cred in casting our votes and Cuba Is
now suffering reign of terror never
equalled under Spanish tyranny. 1t was
such things as these that made us with
draw from the elections. Public funds
!are used for electoral purposes. The
I, sanitary condition of the island Is a
disgrace. The Cuban government has
employed thousands of men in the sani.
tary department, but for voting, not for
working purposes.
1T has become impossible to dare to
oppose the government without
risk of ones life or liberty. The mayor
of Havana has been deprived of his Of
fee against the law and the whole city
council have been dismissed because
they were liberals. No one dares ex-
press his political opinions for fear Of
assassination, for which purpose the
most desperate criminals are allowed by
the government, to be at large.
For what is happening in Cuba, the
United States has a direct responsible.
ity. Palma is enabled to do as he is
doing only by telling the people every
day that in case of revolution or dis.
order the United States would send
troops TO punish them and to sustain
the Palma government
Il believe if the Platt amendment
holds the United States government re-
sponsible for order in Cuba it should
never be taken for supporting the un-
lawful acts OF the present government
and to serve as screen for the com.
mission Of such acts a. have been com
mitted against the opponents OF that
government 1t is the duty of the
United States to put stop to such a
condition. and if affairs continue as they
are much longer we shall have TO ap-
peal to the United States TO do so.
IF the United States should inter.
vene in the matter Of the elections and
insist that these elections should be
carried on honestly. it would be proved
that eighty per cent Of the population
are liberals. That proportion of the
people hate Palma and his expressions
worse than they hated Weyler, for the |
conditions he has enforced are worse
than ever existed under Spanish domin.
ion."
Before leaving Cuba, General Gomez i,
rendered his resignation as candidate for
president in order, as he said, TO give
The convention full l.erty in its pro.
ceedings.
Upon his arrival here he was inform.
ed that the convention was held last
Sunday; that it had been decided not |
TO accept the resignation. General Go.
mez said that before he could outline