Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-17
Adroitness Of the Spanish Consul,.

fiy telegraph 20 tna Dlspetcu.
JACKSONVILLE. November ia Key
West special 70 the Times Union says: The
committee recently appointed by the Board
Of Trade 10 investigate the alleged inter-
ference OK the Spanish authorities with
the Cubans now living here, as well
as with the natlye-born children
of naturaliZcd CuJans, made q report 20
that body last Wednesday. The board had
il under discussion for some time and
finally accepted II. subsequently. 10
was ordered 10 be sent - Gov
eruor Fleming. with the request that
be- transmit IL to Secretary Blame,
state Department, in order that the Crow
eminent might take action to protect the
island from the depopulati0u scheme OF the
Spanish officials. he report was made
public today, and is IN part a. follows
Your committee throughout its lnye-,-
cations has been amazed al the adroltness
of the Spanish Consups intrIgues hero
during the past few weeks. Everywhere
and through every ramihcaton OF tho
strike lhc subtle hand OF the Spanish au-
thorifies in Cuba can be plainly traced.
Never before have strikes been marked 10y
FOREIGN Interference, but in The present
instance the sorry spectacle las been
presented of an unwarranted lnttr-
ference in local affairs IN the country by
a representative o. foreign nation. whose
hospitality he Is enjoying upon proies-ed
assurance OF the good viii and amity to-
wards il by his Government inc ing and
and urging labCrers 10 hostility and
hatred towards his former employer
and benetactor. We do not desire
10 appear discourteOus towards the
Spanish Consul here. believing that
he j.. merely the instrument assigned 70
carry out the instructions OF his superlors,
lut the evidence of his cupidlty
aud cunning have confronted US at
every step. At tho very threshold
of the strike we ind him attending
a meeting of the committee called TO dis-
cuss the situation. He WAS there not IN
the interest of peace nor to urge them 10
return 20 work, 20 arDtrate their grew
ances. but with prOfessed pecunlary AID Tor
conveying worklngmen and their families
from this ISLAND Meantime his paid emissa-
ries were notidle. The inhuence OF Spanish
gold was being invoked and provisions sent
from Havana, and the dissatisfied labOrers
whose feelings and sympathle5 were thus
captured were urged TO return 70
Cuba. Even now after a few weeks,
when the commercial interests OF the
island have been forced 10 the verge
of bankruptcy. several manufacturers
have part ally yielded 10 the demands OF
the wOrkmen and resumed work. We nnd
by the agents alleged TO be IN the
employ of the Spanish Consul urg-
Ing the workmen to avail themselves
of the final trip OF the gunOoat,
return TO Cuba before, az they are led to
believe starvation will Oyertake them. We
invite attention 10 the remarkable and un--
precedented occurrence of a Spanish naval
vessel sent here on four different occa-
sions 10 convey the Cuban workmen 70
Havana. Over one thousand laborers with
their families and their effects have been
transported to Cuba. OF course We do not
question the right Of any foreign govern
ment 10 extend its protection to ITS
subjects when in distress. but when
we find the representative OF that gov
eminent violating the hospitality which ne
is permitted to enjoy in this country under
the guise of friendship by melting and
urging its peaceable inhabitants to aban-
don their adopted homes and furnish them
transportation in a public vessels, even to
the children Of naturalized American pa
rents, we feel that the limit OF patience has
been reached aud the attention OF the Ad-
mlnistration should be called to the mat
ter.