Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-05-14
SPAIN is CAUTIOUS.
COMPETITION CASES CONSIDER
Ed.
The Protest Of the United States Against
the Military Trial VIII Receive Attsn-
sion.-spsnish People stnl Bitter To-
wards Amsrica,

Havana, May 1.-THE Spanish govern
ment has been asked to approve the SEN
fences Of death passed by court martial
upon the men captured on the Competitor,
,on charge of piracy and rebellion. The
men sentenced are: Alfredo La Borde,
said to be the leader Of the party and
claiming American citizenship; Elias
Bedaa, also claiming American citizen
ship; William d.ldea, said to British
subject; John Milton, native Of Kansas;
Teodoro Mata.
This places the fate Of the men in the
hands Of the authorities at Madrid and in
sures that they will not be executed with
out an order from the Spanish govern
ment.
1t has become known that the British
consul has also interviewed In the name Of
his government in behalf of the Competi-
tors captlves sentenced to death. He In
vokes clemency for the prisoners.
This action Of the British government
In the case has caused q sensation here,
and It has been the topic Of comment to-
day by all classes In the community. It
would be difficult to say from any admis-
sions made In official quarters what effect
this new development will have In the
case. There Is a marked absence Of irri-
tation manifested In the comments on the
subject, and the action Of the British
official seems to have been taken In very
good part.
Madrid, May 11.-These are evidences
Of growing popular excitement in Spain
over the attitude Of the United States gov
ernment toward the question Of the ill.
busters captured on board the Competi-
tor. The riots and outbreaks OF popular
hatred toward the United States at the
time Of the passage through congress OF
the resolution favoring the recognition Of
the Cubans rs belligerents have not been
forgotten. and the sentiments which
caused them nre but smoldering. The
Spanish government has, on all possible
occasions. expressed its appreciation Of
and satisfaction with the efforts made by
the United States government to prevent.
as far rs lay In Its power. the giving of
unlawful aid to the Cuban insurgent citi-
zens Of the United States. But the wide
spread sympathy felt for the insurgents
in the United States Is well recognized by
the Spanish people. and the news Of ex
peditIons from the United States landed
| from time to time In Cuba creates intense
! irritation.
The news OF the capture Of the men Oh
the Competitor was received with great
satisfaction and rejoicing. 1t was felt to
be the first opportunity that had been
offered to make an example Of those en-
gagged In feeding the insurrectlon. 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 Interpretation involved
In the protest OF the United States gov.
ernment against the execution Of the sen.
tences. The action Of the United States Is
regarded rather as an expression Of SYM
pathy with the insurrection and there will
be strong popular clamor to disregard It.
The Epoca. the government organ, In
guarded language, recommends prudence
and deprecates demonstrations. 1t clearly
intimates that the government will make
another effort to conciliate President
Cleveland by ordering General Weyler to
send all the papers bearing upon the case
here for the supreme court to pronounce
upon. The execution Of the sentences
would thus virtually be shelved.
The rest Of the Madrid press are unani-
nous in the opinion that America has
taken an ungencrous and unjustifiable ad
vantage Of Spaln's difficulties.