San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-05-14
OLD SPAIN is WRATHY.
PRESS O0UNsELs REPUTATION OF
TREATIES OF 1895 AND 1877.
Senior Laestres Thinks the American Oiti-
zenship Business in the Case of
Cuban Prisoners is Manufactured.

The majority OF the Madrid news
papers ask the government to re-
pudiate the treaty of 1895 with the
United States, and the Cushing
protocol of 1877. These journals
allege that the conventions referred
to are binding only on Spain, IS
the United States daily prove their
contempt for international law
and all usages amongst civilized
nations.
The United States, the journals
say, openly allow acts OF hostility
and filibustering expeditions
against Spain, because they sup
pose she is weaker than the United
States, and in a position that
would make it difficult to vindi-
cate her rights and obtain fair
play.
The main reason General Wey-
Ter gives for remaining in COM
mand in Cuba after the govern
ment has dissented from his views
in the Competitor case, is that he
deems his presence there necessary
to restrain the volunteers and the
Spanish party in Havana who
show strong disposition to take
the law in their own hands and
who insist upon putting to
death the condemned filibusterers.
Gen. Weyler contemplates send.
Ing several battalions of volun-
tesr to reinforce the forces
''blockading" Gen. Maceo in Pinar
del Rio province, with a view to
using the troops now there to rein
force the columns trying to arrest
the march of Gen. Gomez toward
Havana and Matanzas.
Much stress is laid in the press
and official circles upon the fact
that the continental European and
English press express sympathy
with Spain again on the occur
renee of the new incident.
"Juris consuls believeSpain might
make a strong case against most
of the naturalized Americans ar.
rested in Cuba" said Laestres in
an interview with the Worlds
correspondent.
Senior Laestres is the leader Of
the conservatives from Porto
Rico, is first vice president Of the
chamber and is much respected
by the Spanish conservatives. He
is devoted to Senior Canovas.
1t Is we'll known here that sever
al Americans arrested in Cuba
resided in the United States very
little beyond the time required to
obtain naturalization. Some even,
until lately, filled municipal and
other offices of the native island,
thus by implication, pretending to
be subjects Of Spain.
"Spain could show" continued
Senior Laestres, "that the majority
of the claimants to United States
protection come within the stern
sweeping comments once made by
President Lincoln upon Germans
and others unduly invoking Amer
lean citizenship to avoid obliga-
lions and responsibility to their
native countries. / admit that the
Spanish authorities in Cuba were
negligent in not properly see
ing. to 1t that the treaty stip-
ulation was observed before
the filibusterers Of the Comp
etitor were tried by court martial,
as Consul General Williams made
representations upon the subject
long before. The Washington
government not only instructed
Minister Taylor at Madrid to call
attention to the treaties, but insis-
ted upon Minister do LONE getting
the sentences suspended.
"I have often endeavored within
a year, though vainly, to induce
Premier Canovas to put reforms In
force in Porto Rico. / believe he
will draw up and keep ia readiness
more complete plan Of colonial
reforms than were contemplated in
the bill of 1895, only such q
scheme will be purely administra-
tive and economical, allow
ing the colonies to put in
operation measures voted by
the imperial parliament, but re-
serving all legislative and Initiative
power to the imperial govern
ment and parliament in whic h
representatives and senators will
continue to Sit"
Senior Laestres lie confident that
Premier Csnovas will persevere in
the struggle to pscify Cuba and is
equal to the task Of carrying out
the program laid down in the royal
speech.