Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-03-16

The "Haushty Castillian" Informed That
American ships Are Not Practice Targets
for Spanish Guns, and n Peremptery
"Cease Firing Uttered-A Document
That Lacks Nothing in the Way Of vigor
Sent to Minister Taylor.
WASHINGTON, March 16-It seems tha:
while the assistant secretary of state was
declaring he had no news to give out
relating to the Alliance incident, and giv-
ing his questioners the impression that
the report OF n ''w2rning to Spain" from
the state department was at least prcma-
ture, that very warning mad been sent
and received by our minister to Spain.
And it was couchcd in no figurative
terms. 1t set the American eagle to
screaming around the ears of the Castii-
liam in a manner that bodies war, unle S
the aforesaid Castillian, like Crockett s
coon, comes down. 1t is Practically an
order to Spain to let American vessels
severely alone.
The I'ith of the Documrnt.
AS telcgraphed from Madrid. the cable
gram to Taylor, after referring to the
firing on the Allianca says of American
mail and commercial steamers: "Forci-
BILE Interference with them can not be
claimed as bcIligcrent act whether they
pass within three miles of the Cuban
coast c; not, and can under no circum-
stances pe tolerated when no state of war
exists. This government will expect
prompt disavowal of the unauthorized act
and Guc expression of regret on the part
of Spain, ana it must insist that immedi-
ate and positive orders be given to Spanish
naval commanders not to interfere with
legitimate American commerce passing
through that channel, and prohibiting all
acts waEtonly importing life and proper
ty lawfully under the Gag OF tho United
States"
Why the spaniard Feels Wicked.
Taylor is instructed to say this to the
Spanish government. \ more downright
assertion of American rights WIS never
uttered by Blaine himself. II amounts
practically to a warning to Spain that n
| repetition of the Ailianca affair will be
considered by this government as n de-
clara.ion of war The incident is looked
upon in Washington as more than the
laundering impcrtlnence of naval conn
mander. The revolution in Cuba has
been supported by American Cubans.
Key West and New York have furnished
| the sinews of war tn the rcvolutionists.
Public men at the capital have been open
in their declarations that the time for an
| nexation of Cuba To this country is near
ut hand. The assault on the Allianca is
taken as an intimation that Spain will
stand no further triiling with Cuban af-
fairs.
Couldn't Make Out the Cruisers Signals.
Captain Crossman has written the de-
partmcnt q full account of the affair, with
charts showing the course his vessel took
| Ii adds little or no information to the
landsman, except that close to the end of
his letter the captain remembers that the
cruiser was signalling to him-before the
firing bcgan-but Crossman being in line
with the fly of the flags, could not make
out the signals. Meantime the residents
of the capital are waiting with intense
| interest to hear what Spain will have to
sly in reply TO Gresham's belligerent de-
mand. The Spaniard must necessarily
b, cxasperated at hearing of American
citizens, probably, organizing for the pur-
pose of interfering in the affairs of Cuba,
| and there may be something really excit-
| ing come out of this thing yet.