The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-02
AMERICAS FLAG INSUL7ED
Dragged in the Dust BY Spanish
hOOdlumS.
EXCITEMENT AT OLD MADRID
Hot .BlOOded Residents Of barcelona
stone the American Consulate Build.
ing-Preparations for War-PoIice
POwerlcss to Control the Mobs.

Madrid. March Popular feeling
here is bitter against the United States
because of the action of the senate in
adopting a resolution favoring the
granting of bellgerent rights to the
Cuban rebels. AS stated in the United
Press dispatches last night the stock
market here yesterday responded to the
excitement and there was material
decline in purely Spanish and Cuban
securities. In view of the financial
difficulties under which the government
is laboring. this is a most unfortunate
time for Spanish securities to decline in
value.
The action of Admiral Berenger. min
lister of marine in ordering the speedy
preparation of six warships and some
of the naval reserve vessels OF the
Spanish transatlantic company for
dispatch to the Bahama channel meets
with hearty approval. 1t is very evil
dent, that despite Prime Minister Cas-
tillo's declaration yesterday that II
President Cleveland should be COM
PEELED to endorse the action of congress
it would not provoke an international
conflict nor interrupt the friendly rela-
tions existing between Spain and the
United States, the government il doing
its utmost to prepare against any pos
sible contingency.
The prime minister said last evening:
II trust that President Cleveland Will
veto the formal resolution of congress.
and | have more reason To trust that he
will not comply with the recommends
tions contained therein"
He added: "rhe granting of bellig-
erent rights to the Cuban rebels is not
a casus belli, but Spain shall declare
that it is not the act of friendly ma
tion. | do not think that Spain Is
threatened 10y foreign aggression. but
measures shall be taken for the defense
of Spanish rights, chiefly i'm Cuba. As
regards demonstrations i'm the streets
here. | shall repress them severely II
they are attempted
SILVELA's OPINION.
Senior Silvela, leader of the Dissident
conservatives, has in an interview ad-
yised the union of all SpaniardS with
out regard to their political faith. lie
added that the act of the American
senate was without precedent in inter
national law. He greatly feared CON
the bad faith of the Americans
that they gave bclligerent rights "A diff
t,rent meaning than is described IN
law.
An interview was also sought with
.iruor Castelar,, the Republican leader,
hut he refused To speak on the sub
jtct as he cDnSiueftu tne circumstances
of the most serious nature.
The Duke of Tetuan, minister of for
cign affairs, sent long cable despatch
to Senior Dupuy De LONE, Spanish am
bassador at Washington, mstructing
him to present to the American gov
eminent a formal reclamation against
the insults offered to Spain In speeches
in the senate during the discussion of
the belligerency resolution.
The troops are confined to their bar
racks in readiness to respond to any
call for their services.
This morning the city was quiet, but
the public buildings. the American le-
CATION, and the residence of Minister
Taylor were guarded, the authorities
fearing that in the present state of
public excitement an attack might be
made upon them. A group of nifty stu
dents paraded this morning. They We're
perfectly orderly and no attempt was
made to interfere with them. At the
University the students this afternoon
attempted to make q demonstration.
but the police having in mind the last
troubles they had with these young
men. promptly intervened and dis
persed them. ,'
Acting under instructions from the
government, no group of persons is al
lowed to aunroach the United states
legation or the house occupied by Min
lister Taylor.
In addition to the six warships the
of marine has ordered that
several torpedo boats and one torpedo
catcher be made ready for immediate
despatch in the event of the United
States acknowledging the Cubans as
belligerentS.
ATTACK AT BARCELONA.
Dispatches from Barcelona state that
an attack has been made upon the Uni
ted States consulate in that city. not
withstunding the fact that the building
was guarded. During the day pro-
cession comprising ten thousand per-
sons. headed ~ four Republican MEM
bers OF the chamber of deputies, par
AIDED through the principal streets of
the city as a demonstration against the
action of the American senate. \
strong guard had been placed about the
American consulate in anticipa tiOn of
trouble. AS the procession passed it
there was some derisive whistling in
with cat calls. and other
tokens of disapproval. Some of the
paraders tried to force their way into
the building. but the police and gen
darmes succeeded I'm driving them
away. but not until they had been
forced to charge upon the mob with
drawn sabres. While this trouble was
going on the main body of the process
sion continued its march to the town
hall. where the leaders of the demon
handed to the mayor a strongly
worded protest against the action of
the American senate and also against
the speeches that had been delivered
therein on the Cuban question. it being
declared that some of the speakers had
grossly insulted Spain and the Spanish
government i'm defending Cuban ban
dts and outlaws.
Subsequently great crowd assem-
bled i'm the plaza Catalina, and a num-
ber of patriotic speeches there deliv-
cred. The crowd became greatly ex-
cited by the burning Oratory of the
speakers, and after the meeting had
broken up a large number proceeded
to the American consulate, where they
gave vent to their patriotism by ston-
ing the building, much to the damage
of the windows thereof.
As in previous demonstrations in
Barcelona the police were almost i'm
potent to disperse the rioters, who did
about as they pleased.
OUR FLAG IN THE DUST.
In the evening there was another out
burst of disapproval of the United
states and all things American. This
time Ii took the form of publicly dis
honoring the American flag. The riot
ers had purchased somewhere "a large
American flag, which. after 1t had been
dragged through the streets. was
pulled to pieces amid cries of Long
live Spain" and Down with the Amer
leans. There Is still much excitement
in the city.
After this outrage on the flag Of the
United States the mob beeame more
violent and proposition to make q fur