The herald., 1896-05-11

bearing upon the case here FOR the su-
preme court to pronounce upon. The ex-
ccution Of the sentences would virtually
be shelved.
The rest Of the Madrid papers are
unanimous in the opinion that America
mas taken an ungenerous and unjusti-
naDle advantage of Spain's difficulties.
NO NEWS RECEIVED
WASHINGTON, May .10.-If any off,
c1al news has been received by the gov
ernment In Washington today regard
ing the Americans captured aboard the
competitor by the Spaniards, and con-
9emned by court-martial to be shot,
dlligent inquiry fails to disclose its ma
ture. Secretary Olney, to whom note
was addressed upon the subject. replied
there was nothing to make public. In
curry IN congressional circles among
those directly interested in the case of
one OF the men. Milton. shows no addi-
t1onal facts have been received by
tnem. Senator Pascoe of Florida, who
mas taken special interest in the case.
believes Spain will not be inclined to-
ward action, as in the present state Of
public feeling any summary decision
Dy 1T may lead to serious consequences.
The fact that the Havana officials have
referred the execution of sentence to
Madrid is source Of qualification to
those interested in the prisoners fate
and inspires the belief that some lem
able that an effort may be made by con-
sress In the matter the coming week to
acquafnt the public with the facts in the
case, by calling on the president for in
formation and requesting him to take
such steps as will give the condemned
men civil trial.
ANOTHER FILIBUSTER
NEW LONDON. Conn.,. May 1o-The
tug Commander, with the barges Re
lief and Green Point in tow, which
sailed from New York Saturday night,
and the tug Volunteer met the steamer
Laurada. whose movements in New
York harbor have occasioned much
mystery, off Montauk Point today. and
transferred to the steamer about 100
Cubans and several tons Of arms. am
munition and dynamite. Capt. O'Brien
was aboard the Volunteer and after the
transfer was effected returned with the
volunteer. The Laurada put out to sea.
The Commander. with her barges in
tow, put in here tonight
LONDON COMMENT
LONDON, May 10.-The Daily News
will say editorially tomorrow regarding
the cases Of the Competitor captives in
Havana:
The serious news from Cuba places
the Spanish government between two
fires. 1t is difficult to see how either
side can recede. If the Spanish govern
ably have to be prepared to sacrifice it's
own life. Public opinion in Madrid Is
hardly well informed enough to profit
by the Virginius case in 1873. The Span
ish ought to distrust their own natural
ferocity in cases of this sort. The butch
cry of the men of the Virginius, which
many Of them applauded at the time as
fine and spirited act. was received
with horror and execration throughout
the world.
The Standard has an editorial COM
menting upon the sentences Of the men
at Havana which says:
The situation Is undoubtedly grave
but the dispute involves direct issue Of
fact. or at the utmost. conflicting in
terpretation Of the law which may fur
nish means of escape from a position
of extreme difficulty. Opinion seems to
prevail that the sentence of the British
subject (Gildea) will be commuted in
recognition of Great Britain's friendly
attitude. But this would be impossible,
as the exercise of mercy in one case
would render a denial in the other more
inviduous. The position of the Spanish
government must attract general SYM
pathy. 1t has choice of evils, but it
cannot be doubted which it will choose.
provided it is possible to avoid hostili-
ties consistently with Spanish concep-
tion or national dignity, and If the
Washington government Is in earnest
which is always uncertain on the eve
of a presidential election.
A REPORT DENIED
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. May 10.-Gov-
ernor Mitchell's attention was called to-
day to the dispatch from Tampa, stating
that he had telegraphed to Major Con-
nelly to hold the Fifth battalion in read
mess for immediate action on account of
the bold stand taken by the president
regarding the imposing of the death
sentence upon the men captured aboard
the Competitor. The governor stated
emphatically that he had had no recent
communication with Major Connolly on
the subject, and expressed surprise that
such a report should have gotten abroad.