The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-07
War With the United States No
Longer Talked About.
CONCESSIONS TO CUBA, MAYBE
A General Belief That Mr.. Cleveland
viii Act Very Cautiously.
The Utter Failure of Gen. weyler a
Great Disappointment. but tie Can't
BE Recalled just Now-Gen. Garcia
and His Artillery Astonished the
SpanIards In Pinar del Rio.

Madrid. April s.-lThe result OF the vote
on the question OF the attitude Of the
United States toward Cuba. taken on the
United States serate's resolution in the
house today. was anxiously awaited here
IL is pointed out that hostiliiies must soon
cease on account of the approach OF The
rainy season. and no further reinforce
ments worth mentioning will be sent 10
Cuba until the month of September. Bat
the war department is making extensive
preparations in this connection. and four
ironclads and several torpedo boats ara
ready TO sail at short notice in order to
take part ia the blockade OF the coasts OF
Cuba should the insurgents be recognized
as beiiigerents.
The general opinion here. however. IS
that the question. as TO how and when tha
United States viii intervene in Cuba will
be left TO President Cleveland. and 1t is
believed the latter will only. at least as 4
preliminary. offer the friendly offices OF the
United States in the matter. while intimat-
ing that other steps may be taken should
the offer be refused.
Although some newspapers declare that
a crisis is at hand. the fact remains that
the people are almost entirely calned down
and that little or no war talk is TO be
heard. The military and naval prepara-
tions being made by the war department
and admiralty are more in the nature Of
precautionary measures. the ultimate OBJ
Ject of which Is the further and siill more
energetic prosecution of the campaign
against the insurgents. There is no inten-
ton to defy the United States or 10 do any
thing calculated 10 intiAhe popular feeling.
although should II become necessary to
do so. the Spanish people will respond with
enthusiasm to a call to the arms in defense
of Cuba. and Spain's blood and treasure
will flow TO the utmost in the efforts to
uphold the honor OF the country.
The defenses of Havana have been
greatly strengthened recently by the addl-
ton TO the armament Of that place of a
number of the heaviest guns. Additional
earthworks have been thrown up on the
land side. and everything possible done to
make that place capable OF withstandinC
a combined attack by sea and land. The
Spanish troops in Cuba now number about
10000 men of all arms and the important
towns and ports are strongly garrisoned.
In spite of the fact that 1t has been Of
ficially denied here and at Havana that
Capt. Gen. Weyler has resigned or Is TO
be recalled. all classes of people express
surprise that the general has been able
TO accomplish so little since he assumed
command in Cuba. Most people here.
however. in view of the outcry against
Gen. Weyler in the United States. wogid
hook upon his recall under the present cir
cumstance as being very much IN the ma
ture of humiliating backdown on the
part of Spain, and this might lead TO seri-
Gus results here.
But amid all these clouds there Is feel
ing of official recognition that In arbitra-
tion there is a way out OF such difficulties.
and that with mutual concessions and the
use of diplomacy of high order some ar
rangement may be arrived at which viii
give satisfaction 10 all concerned. Cuba.
it is asserted. all claims to the contrary,
could hardly urder any circum-
stances enter the sisteThood of the Unite,i
States in this generation, and it Is ad-
mitted here that the people of the United
States would be unwilling TO declare war
on Spain in order TO bring about such an
addition TO the number of states of the
Union. There remains. therefore, the
plan of giving Cuba some measure of self
governmen which may lead 10 settlement
OF the internal and external troubles
which have ruined Cuba for the time being
and which bid fair to drive Spain into
bankruptcy.