The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-31
OUR LONDON Gable letter.
THE UNITED STATES ATTITUDE
TOWARD CUBA is MUCH DIS
CUSSED.
BRIGHT CHRISTMAS dry IN ENGLAND

A-~
The Poor Were Provided for--An Actress
Sues an Army Officer for Breach of
Promise, Suing for 10000 Pounds
Sterling.
London, Dec. 26.-(Copyrighted, 1896,
by the Associated Press.)-The attitude
of the United States toward Cuba con-
tinues to be the most engrossing sub
ject of discussion in political circles here
and on the continent. The crisis has re-
vived recollectiOns in Paris of the ill
fated Mexican expedition and interviews
in this connection with the imperialst
generals, Basil and Gallifet, and others
have appeared in the French press. EN-
Queen Isabella of Spain is quoted as hay
ing expressed the belief that the idea of
Napoleon III was the union of the Latin
element as a counterpoise TO the immense
spread of Anglo-Saxon influence. Her
majesty is reported as having said: "The
failure of the Mexican expedition person
ally disQuieted me in the direction of
Cuba, and you may add tentative nego-
tiatiOns for the purchase of Cuba began
before my abdication and We're revived
at the moment Spain was crippled and
harassed by internal struggles
The leading London weeklies devote
much space to the Cuban situation.
The Statst thinks there is very little
prospect that Spain will soon be able to
assert her authority in Cuba and urges
Great Britain, with or without the con-
sent Of some of the great European pow
ers, to offer her good Office to the United
States and Spain.
The Statist attaches little Importance
to the general continental objection that
the United States has no right to inter
fere and that it will be dangerous to
every European government with posses
sions in the western hemisphere, and
says:
Unless one or more of the great pow
ers are prepared to forcibly interpose
intervention, a mere verbal objection will
not carry weight. In case of war Spain
will be absolutely ruined in the end. The
best friend of Spain is he who tries to
induce her to come to some arrangement
in time"
Comment has been provoked by the feel
ing shown at the London county council
recent meeting, when the chairman of the
public works committee suggested that
tenders for new fire department be in
vited from America. The proposal was
received with howl of disapproval, show
ing that America" is partly regarded
by the members of the council with equal
revulsion as made in Germany
The conservative newspapers claim
to see in this incident an indication of
the decadence of Cobdonism and express
the opinion that Great Britain must GER
tainly have Travelled long way from
the position taken up by the old free trad
ers, when popularity elected body like
the, London county council approves of
the idea that no work must be given to
foreign countries while Britons need en-
ployment.
1t is understood that Joseph Chamber
lain, the secretary of state for the colo
MES, has arrived at an important agree
ment regarding the part which the colo
MES are to play in the celebration next
year of Queen Nictoria's reign, which has
exceeded in length that of any other
English sovereign, and he will make a
statement on the subject in the house
of commons early in the session.
1t is stated in Canadian circles that
the proposal of the Toronto Naval League
that the royal navy be recruited from
colonial as well as home seamen has been
coldlg received by the imperial authori-
ties. Naval experts are credited with
seeing many difficulties in carrying out the
scheme, and, according to the Manches-
ter Guardian. they are doubtful of the
alleged abundance of good material in
the colonies.
United States Ambassador Bayard
spent Christmas at Lord MiddletOn's seat
Bardsell House, Yorkshire.
1t is announced as a result of a confer
ence, between the Belgian minister of
marine and the company which has I'M
dertaken to build the canal which is TO
make Bursses a seaport. that work on
the proposed new water route To the Rel
gian capital will be commenced early in
1897.
Inc dispute between the Canadian gov
and Prince Sciarra respecting
the latters right to sending out Italian
of his art gallery has been
finally settled. A sensation was caused
some time ago by the prince secretly
disposing of several important painting,
notably Raphael's Violin Player Accord
ing TO the new agreement the prince pre-
Sents the nation with about dozen chefs
d 'ouvres and in return the embargo
placed upon the sale of the others will
be removed
Christmas day here was sunshiny and
was quietly spent. Many of the old Gus
IONS We're followed out in the true spirit
IF the English Christmas At Queens
College, Oxford, the ancient ceremony of
bringing on the bOar's head was solemn
y gone through with in the presence of
he university deans. At Rochester six
Door travellers enjoyed the Watts charity
n the shape of good, old-fashioned DIN
Ter and a present of four pence. In
liverpool 10000 hot pots were given to
he poor and the impoverished people of
he city were well cared for through
thousand of free breakfasts. dinners,
'tc., in many parts of the metropolis. In
london work houses 109,93S paupers en-
Dyed the Christmas celebration. partcll-
arly the beer and tobacco features, and
1865 hospital inmates were made as com
ortable as possible under the circum-
tances.
1t transpires that Herbert Cracken-
horpe, the author, who mysteriously dis
appeared in Paris during the month of
october and whose body had been found
n the river Seine. committed suicide in
n excess of frenzy after receiving
ptter from his wife announcing her inten-
ion of commencing divorce proceedings.