The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-22
MORAs LONG WAIT.
For twenty Five Years Our Govern
ment Has Sought to Collect
Spain Debt to Him.

Payment Long Since Promised, But the
Promises Were Only Made to Be
Broken.
In his last message to Congress Presi-
nent Cleveland made mention of one pri-
waite name ands referred to the grievous
injustice done to one private individual
in these words:
"The Mora case, referred to in my last
annual message remains unsettled.
From the diplomatic correspondence on
this subject, which has been laid before
the Senate, 1t will be seen that this gov
eminent las offered to conclude con-
vention with Spain for disposal by arbi-
tration of outstanding claims between
the two countries, except the Mora claim,
which, having been long adjusted. now
ONLY waits payment as stipulated, and OF
course it could not be included in The
proposed convention. 1t was hoped that
this offer would remove parliamentary
obstacles encountered by. the Spanish
government in providing payment of the
Mora indemnity. [ regret to say that
no definite reply to this offer has yet
neen made and all efforts to secure pay
ment of this settled claim have been un-
This Mora case has become famous in
the annals of modern diplomacy. Be-
ginning with Grants last presi dency.
every succeeding administration, every
Secretary of State, every Foreign Rela-
tions committee, has had a hand in it.
Nor has it been bette noir in any sense
to the State Department, for. lrrespec-
tive of party, each administration in turn
has taken up the case with vigor and
done it's best to effect a settlement.
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
The history of the case in brief is as
follows: Antonio sMaximo Mora, re-
ferred to in tine Presidents message, is
native of Cuba, where he owned large
and valuable sugar plantations. In 1858
be came to New York and established a
residence. In May, 1869, he took out his
final papers of naturalization and be-
came a citizen of the United States.
Cuba at that time was i'll a state of
constant fidget and unrest. bordering on
absolute rebellion. 1t is an open secret
thas President Grant was in sympathy
with the revolutionary propaganda. and
his Secretary of War. General Rawlings,
was an avowed sympathizer with the
Cuban patriots.
It was under such encouragement that
leading Cubans like Mora, ALBANIA and
Castillo, night have been inclined to
offer assistance to the revolutionary
cause. Before thing was done or even
Thought of court martial convened in
Havana, passed sentence OF death and
confscation of property against the gen.
tlemen named and many Others for al
legged completely in the Cuban rebellion.
Antonio Mora and his brother escaped to
New York disguised as sailors. Young
lose Manned Mora. now a we'll known
resident of New York, remained to as
sist in his fathers escape, was captured
and transported to a penal colony in
Africa, whence, after suffering unheard
Of miseries, he finally escaped to Europe.
THE FIRST PROTEST.
Maxine Mora no sooner arrived In
New York than he laid his case before
Hamilton Fish, then Secretary of State,
ia the rebellion or given it aid or COM
fort.
On Nov. % of the same year QS70) Mr..
Fish instructed the United Stats Minis
ter to Madrid to protest against the SEN
tence of the court martial and its en-
forcement against the lives and property
of American citizens, on the ground that
it was a gross violation OF the provisions
of the treaty between the United States
and Spain relating to the manner in
which citizens of one country could.be
tried or deprived of their property in the
other. This, then, was the beginning of
the famous Mora case, which is still I'M
settled.
In May, 1872, the Secretary of State,
who had had several interviews with the
Spanish Minister in Washington on the
subject, wrote to him inviting his es-
pecial and immediate attention to the
case of Antonio Mora, with view to it's
speedy and satisfactory adjustment
The Spanish Minister then suggested
that the claim for the restitution of the
Mora property should be submitted to
the Spanish-A merican Claims Com
mission, then in session in Washington.
Mr.. Fish objected that the claims before
the commission were for compensation
for past injuries but that the release of
the Mora property was properly SUBJ
ject for diplomatic intervention.
EASY GOING SPANIARDS.
Eight months passed in that diplomatic
correspondence of which the Castilian
is past matter, until in December, 1872,
Mr.. Fish cabied to the United States
Minister in Madrid: Urge the imme-
date release and restoration of the en-
bargoed property"
Again the fine art of Spanish diplo-
macy was made manifest. A decree Of
restoration was issued in Madrid, but
secret instructions were forwarded to
Cuba to disregard the decree.
In September and November. 1873, in
consequence of further protests from our
government the Spanish government
sent orders to the Governor General of
C,ho djrectjpo hi m tn release the nron-