The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-05-14
THEY THIRST FOR BLOOD
SPANIARDS DEMAND EXECUTION
OF COMPETITOR PARTY.
Indignation Toward the L. =. Con-
sui at Havana for Alleged
Interference.

Madrid, May 9.-There are evidences of
| growing popular excitement in Spain over
the attitude of the United States govern
| ment on the question of the filibusterers
captured on board the Competitor. The
riots and outbreaks of popular hatred
| toward the United States at the time of
| the passage of the resolution favoring
| the recognition of the Cubans as belliger-
| ents have not been forgotten, and the
| sentiments which caused them are but
| smouldering.
| The Spanish government has on all pos
| sible occasions expressed it's apprecia-
| ton of and satisfaction with the efforts
| made by the United States government to
| prevent, as far as lay in its power, the
| giving of unlawful aid to the Cuban in
| surgent citizens of the United States. But
the widespread sympathy felt for the in
surgents in the United States is well
| recognized by the Spanish people, and
| the news of the expeditions from the
United States landed from time to time
in Cuba creates intense irritation.
The news of the capture of the meu
on the Competitor was received with great
satisfaction and rejoicing 1t was felt
offered to make an example of those en-
gagged in feeding the insurrection The
| popular clamor for the execution is gen.
| eral and is likely to become vociferous.
Little account is taken of the refined
| questions of treaty interpretations in
volved in the protest of the United States
| government against the execution of the
| sentences. The action of the United
| States is regarded rather expires
sion of sympathy with the insurrection
and there will be a strong popular clamor
to disregard it.
The public feeling on the subject is fos-
| tered by the tenor of the advices receiv-
ed from Havana. Dispatches from there
affirm that Captain General Weyler is
greatly irritated at the attitude of the
United States the question of the sen
tence. 1t is asserted that If the Spanish
government adopts a contrary view ow
ing to the representations made by the
United States government, Weyler will
resign his position. Allegations are made
in these Havana dispatches of very cx-
traordinary conduct on the part of Ramon
o. Williams, the United States consul gen
eral. If these are not true they are. new
ertheless certain to add fuel to the fire Of
popular Indignation in Spain. The story
consul general shows himself everywhere
in public places in Havana, using irritat-
ing and menacing language regarding the
probable action of the United States to-
ward the authorities in case the sentences
upon the Competitor captives are exc
cuted.
The Imperiale, commenting on the at
ttude of the United States, says that u
man accused of acts of piracy admitted
before a courtmartial in Havana that the
America police made point of vanishing
when filibustering expeditions for Cuba
were about to leave Key West.
The Ell Liberal declares the Spanish
government ought to have sent a squad
ron to Cuba in addition to armng all the
transatlantic steamboats, at its disposal
for that service.
This newspaper asserts that the steam
er Bermuda, belonging to the Cuban in %
surgent committee, embarked upon the
Florida coast 10000 rifles, six pieces of
artillery, three mitrailleus, a quantity
of munitions of war and 300 men, the ma
jority of which were gunners of the United
States militia, for the supply of the in
surgent forces in Cuba. This embarka-
ton took place, the Ell Liberal says, in
spite Of the protests of the Spanish consul
at Jacksonville against allowing it, and
the Bermuda left without difficulty or OBJ
struction, and according to kilograms re-
ceived from Captain General Weyler, the
expedition has already landed.
This report has created a sensation in
Madrid and astonishment is expressed by
| the Ell Liberal at the conduct of the
United States in the matter.
At a meeting of the conservative sena-
tors and deputies on Saturday evening the
premier. Senior Canovas del Castillo de-
clared it would be impossible to introduce
reforms for Cuba before the situation
there had become normal again. He ad-
mitted that the Spanish arms alone would
fail to terminate the war, but he said he
believed that the discouragement of the
insurgents and the prevalence of racial
hatred among them would contribute
largely to the cessation of hostilites.
1t has become known that the British
consul has also intervened, in the name
of his government, in behalf of the Com
petitors captives sentenced to death. He
invokes cdemency for the prisoners
This action of the British government
in the case has caused a sensation here
, and it has been the topic of comment to-
day by all social classes in the commu-
nifty. 1t would be difficult to say, from
| any admissions made in official quarters
| what effect this new development will
| have in the case. There is marked alb
sence of irritation manifested in the com
| ments on the subject, and the action o
the British official seems to have beer
taken in very good part.
1t is pointed out that the Intervention
. of the British consul is couched in very
" | different form from that of the United
:, States consul general and is, in fact, ex
pressed in very friendly terms, invoking
the clemency of the Cuban authorities
= The question of the execution of the cap
tives of the Competitor is recognized to b.
one of the most important which has oc
Cured since the insurrection broke out
Now that the question has been referre
\ | to the government at Madrid the situation
I | here has quieted down. though there is n
cessation of interest and discussion of tn
I question.
All of the comments OF the press mani
4 fest the deep impression made upon tn
J public mind by the action of the Unite
States towards the sentence of the Con
pctitor captives.
A later dispatch from Havana confirm
| the report that General Weyler ha
, threatened to resign unless the sentence
?, are carried out.
ole ha al ffftndp Of N