The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-08-29
COMMENTS ON THE RECENT DE-
yBLoPMENTS IN THE
MORA CLAIM.
THE CLAIM IS OF TWENTY
YEARS STANDING.
A Rumor That Admiral Bunce's Fleet
Would Have Seized Havana Had Not
Spain Suddenly Settled-Senator
Watson on Silver.
Special Correspondence:


The DEVELOPMENTS of the last few days
in regard to the Mora claim, Spain agree
ing to pay the claimant $1,500,OOO with
out any further dispute, would indicate
that Secretary of State Olney has de-
cided to run his department without any
foolishness whatsoever from any foreign
nation. The claim referred to has been
upon the records of the state department
so long that it has become moss covered
and historic. Growing out of, as it did,
the seizure of the plantations, property OF
Mr. Mora, n naturalized American citi-
zen, by Spain something over 70 years
ago, il has since been a source of endless
dispute and correspondence between the
two countries. While Spain has admit
ted the justice of the claim, various pleas
have been entered from time to time for
delay in the settlement, which have been
accepted by the United States up to the
present moment. At last, however, it
seems that Secretary Olney has come to
the conclusion that any further forebear-
ance would cease to be virtue, hence he
has put down the screws finally and hard.
1t is understood that the present war
in Cuba is costing the mother country
something, like. 100000 q week, and
the last plea of Spain was that it would
be unkind of the United States to press
the claim just at the present time on that
account. Mr. Olney was not of that
opinion and seemed to think that the
last 20 years was about time enough to
be allowed and that If any further extern
sion was granted some other specious pre-
text for delay would be forthcoming. AS
to just what means were employed to
bring about the present settlement, little
is known, as the state department officials
are saying nothing. Although they deny
it, q good many people believe that the
assembling of Admiral Bunce's fleet off
Newport was for something more than
drilling purposes. They believe that it
was the intention to swoop down on Ha-
vana and Selling that port as the British
recently grabbed Corinto, hold it until the
custom receipts had liquidated the claim.
If such was not the absolute intention
of the government it may have been a
great big bluff. Had Havana been
seized, it would have encouraged the Gu
ban insurgents to such an extent as to
have made their cause victorious.
SENATOR SQUIRRELS VIEWS.
Senator Watson Q. Squire, on being
asked what he thought of the late Demo
cratic silver conference, replied:
1.-THE most natural thought is one of
surprise that the meeting was not more
largely attended by the leaders of the
cause. l should have expected much
fuller attendance from Southern senators
and representatives, who have been c,ose-
ly identified with the agitation for free
coinage. AS far as it's results are con-
cerned do not think the gathering will
be productive of much good to the Democ-
racy. That party is in bad way, and
There are no bugle notes that can rouse
it from its enfeebled and moribund con-
dition.
PERSONALLY l am for bimetallism. The
more l study the question the more l am
convinced that there is need of both sill
yer and gold as primary money, and that
one of them cannot be retired without the
most serious results. 1t is not the present
regard; we can ge along for awhile,
but the future is pregnant with disaster
as sure as the attempt is made to estab-
dish monometillasm. Yet | am not radi-
cal on the subject, and especially do not
insist on the 16 to l ratio. That ratio
has answered for many years, but it
might be practicable to adopt a new one"
Senator Squire on being asked his views
TOUCHING the various candidates for the
presidential nomination on the Republic
can side, spoke in kindly way of the
principal aspirants, but committed him
self to none.
after ALL" said he, "an outsider may
step in and walk off with the honor. In
that event where could happier choice
be made than in the selection of that
accomplished kind-hearted and widely
popular gentleman, ex-senator Mander-
son of Nebraska. There could be no
mistake made in the nomination of Nam
derson. He would make one of the best
presidents the country ever had, as he
was one of the best presiding officers
that ever sat in the Senate"