Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-05
HAVANA POPULACE EXCITED
Reports from the United States Daily In
creasing the Strain.
ARE QUITE READY TO SUPPORT SPAIN
Little Change in the situation ms Far
ms the Insurgents Are Concerned,
Though Ammunition is
Reported Scarce.

HAVANA, Cuba, March 4.-(New York
World Cablegram-Special Telegram.) There
has been no change in the local situation
since yesterday except that with every fresh
report OF the state of public feeling through
out Spain the Spanish element here becomes
more excited over the action OF the senate.
Today's newspapers give only a bare men,
tion OF the action Of the house of representa-
tives. El Diario la Merina devotes four lines
to cable from New York announcing the
vote,
All eyes are now turned toward President
Cleveland II he agrees with the two houses
Of congress Spaniards will generally regard
his action as a virtual act of war; although
not legal casus belli. q prominent poll
tical leader said to me today:
1T is not the single fact that congress
would grant recognition of the rebels. but
the manner in which the subject was con-
Quoted, which was grossly insulting to Spain,
Spanish officials and the Spanish people.
Distinguished senators arose from their seats
and launched forth violent diatribes against
everything Spanish. A senator read from a
book charges against Governor General Wey-
Ter that were as false as hades. We will
spend our last dollar and go down with fly
ing colors IL necessary to defend our honor"
The same views are heard on all Sides
although officials are too much restrained by
conventionality to express their opinions.
The press continues its unanimous opposi-
tion to the action at Washington. Ell
Diario prints bitter articles and says the
United States, with all their greatness, re-
semble the statue of NebuchadnezZar, which
had head of gold and feet of clay.
Bellicose students in Valencia, Barcelona
and Madrid are commencing to threaten that
the expectation of tobacco will be stopped.
Ell DIARIO COURTS TROUBLE.
In its evening edition Ell Diario has a
very exciting article calculated to arouse
unthinking people to violence, The Union
Constitutions article says: IF we would
have peace we must prepare for war;" and is
written in similar vein to Ell Diario's
articles.
Consul General Williams maintains an atti-
tude of extreme calmness and informed me
today that he can see no indications of a
disposition to injure Americans. At no
period during the rebellion has he considered
that occasion called for the presence of men,
of-war. He has not suggested to the Wash
ington government that war ships are
needed and will not do so unless some reason
arises which Is not in existence now.
During his interview with General Weyler
at the palace Saturday the consul gen.
eral was informed that the military power
of the government would protect American
citizens in the event of an improbable con-
tingency trouble should occur The pres
ence of war ships here at the present time
would cause irritation and If men-of-war
are coming in this direction Key West would
be a better point for their location.
l conversed today with several foreign
consuls, who would not permit the use of
their names. They agree, however, that
there are no signs of disorder. Merchants
in the American trade take the same view
The head of a distinguished mercantile house
said, however, that If beligerency should
become an actual fact he feared that Amer
leans would be exposed to SO many annoy
ances that they would be obliged to leave
the island.
Maceo is said to be very short of ammuni-
t!on.
Consul General Williams has visited the
rebel general, Cespero, who is confined in
Moro CASTLE
Two fresh batallions have arrived from
Spain.
PRESS IS AGAIN PACIFIC.
The press is unanimous today in advising
moderation in popular sentiment. The city
continues perfectly quiet in spite of the
wild reports circulated last night that
demonstration would be made against Amer
leans. No one familiar with the strength
and nerve of General Weyler believes the
story, but timid people were much exer-
cised thereby.
The chief of police sent eight extra po-
States consul general is located The cor
poral in charge climbed the stairs to the
office of Consul General Williams and in
formed him that he had been ordered to
report to him. The consul dismissed the
corporal Immediately and informed him that
he desired no guard. He asked him to take
his extra police away and said that he had
lived three-fourths of his file in Cuba with
out q guard and did not require one at tho
late day. The chief of police Informed the
ncpl hn haH ha piIa rH mi
as a precauton against excited individuals
going to the consulate.
1t is the earnest belief Of Mr.. Williams
that there Is no necessity for taking any
particular action to protect Americans, either
by local force or by United States men-of-
war.
1t is reported here today that President
Cleveland will not accept Consul General
Williams resignation as. he is considered
tco valuable to the government to be al
lowed to leave his post at present.
Somo young Spaniards with students at
the university, who talked about emulatlng
the deeds of some students in Spain by get
ting up demonstration, were Informed
that they would be prodded in the rear with
bayonets If they did anything so foolish
They abandoned tho idea.
LANGUAGE WAS OFFENSIVE.
spaniaras, now rnat they nave become
mere calm, think a mere declaration of
DelllbeTeHCy VIII not greatly IHJure tnem
On ali sides, however, great disappointment
is expressed of the verbal attacks on Spain
and Spaniards made on the floor Of con-
gress. They say that gratuitous insults were
offered. II the resolutions had been passed
quietly without violent language no such
ground OF complaint would exist at present
Tidngs received today from Washington
indicating that the president will follow
conservative course are viewed with much
satisfaction in government circles. SEN
timent amtng Spanish residents and in the
official press was, until the receipt OF this
reaosurlng news, bitterly hostile
The rebels continue about the central por-
tion OF Havana pr0Yince. Maceo is un-
doubedly short OF ammunition.
Charles Nicholson, the American corre-
spondent who was imprisoned in Moro cas-
tie for two days, departed for Key West
by steamer today. The government arrested
him for going outside the lines, mistaking
him for another correspondent who did 60
Nicholson behaved dlscreetly and hon, rably
and refused TO clear himself when a word
OF explanation would have set matters right
General Weyler has issued a circular or
dering the election of deputies 10 the Span
ish Cortes OH April ~ and of senators on
April &C. in fuhllment Of the orders OF the
Spanish government
two fresh battalions have arrived from
Spain. WILLIAM SHAW BOWEN.
Does Not Need Rcinforcement.
MADRID March 4---The correspondent of