The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-16
A FANCY PRICE WANTED
Spain Does Not Want to Let the
United States Secure the
Valuable Prize.
SHE rs VERY JEALOUS NOW.
The American Flag Looked Upon as
the Emblem of Foreign
ConSpiratorS.

WASHINGTON, March 15-The out
break in cuba renews the talk about the
purchase of the island by the United
States, and a proposition to make Spain
an offer will be presented to the next Con-
gress.
The question, it is pointed out, would in
no sense be political. Some prominent
Southern Democrats are in favor of the
acquisition of the territory by purchase,
and many Northern Republicans have
long advocated it.
Chauncey NJ. Depew in recent inter
view expressed an opinion that Cuba
ought to be American soil, and he is con-
sidered as spokesman of great business
interests of New York.
The United States has three times tried
to buy Cuba. Forty years ago 500, 0000 900
was offered for the island and declined.
There has never been an intimation as to
the money value put upon Cuba by Spain.
1t is assumed that if the sum of 500, 900 900
was refused forty years ago a much higher
price would be asked to-day in case nego-
tiations for sale were opened. There is
feeling in some quarters that separate
from other matters and considered upon
Cuba would develop great strength in this
country.
The business relations of the lower
Atlantic Coast with the island are
quite intimate, and for some years
have been profitable, while both New
York and Philadelphia have gradually
been increasing their sales to the Cubans.
The commercial opportunity is regarded
as exceptionally good. American capital
has been making its way there, and many
valuable investments are reported.
The complaint, however, is, on part of
both native and American residents, that
Spanish rule is expressing and it is fer
this reason that union with this country
is so earnestly desired. It is stated that
Spain would rather part with Cuba to any
other country than the United States.
Officials in Madrid have been led to believe
that all of the instructions on the island
have been planned in this country and
pushed to the verge of an open infraction
of international laws. They look upon
New Orleans, Mobile and Key West on the
lower coast, and on New York, Philadel-
phia and even Boston on the upper coast
as resorts of Cuban plotters, where An1eri-
can assistance and sympathy are freely
extended. The purpose of all this, as they
believe, is to force Spain to part with Cuba.
1t is, they say, a Yankee method of "bear-
ing" the market for Cuban soil by helping
to foment trouble on the island and max
ing it expensive for Spain to maintain her
authority there.
This is quoted, too to explain the firing
on the Alliance. The opinion is expressed
that if the instructions to Spanish COM
manders in Cuban waters could be gathered
it would be shown that they are cautioned
particularly against all crafts flying the
American flag. No Englishman or French
man or German is suspected of a desire to
assist a revolt in any way. But every
American is on the blacklist, and Spain
believes that whatever means the armed
Cubans are now employing against the
home authorities have been secretly col
lected and supplied by friends of the revo-
lutionists in the United States. For this
reason the American flag is a hostile
emblem in the eyes of the Spanish sailors
protecting the Cuban coast.