Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-17
him. followed by attacks on American
consulates and legations.
SPANISH CONTEMPT.

consulates and legations.
SPANISH CONTEMPT.
Tho temper OF the Spanish people Is not
| fully understood In this country, but u
has been clearly explained TO President
| Cleveland and Secretary Oiney. the ave
rage Spaniard Is 400 years back In the
past In his national pride and concert
| and will not believe that Cuba couid nave
been torn from SPANS grasp except
through the interference OF America anu
Americans. The Spanish papers, copies
Of which are regularly sent TO the state
Department. are filed with cartoons anu
verses, exhibiting clearly the spanish
contempt and hatred for all Things
American. This country Is apparently
regarded az an easy conquest Tor SPAIN
Judging from these papers. and that they
reflect the sentiment and preJuulce Oh
those who read them Is certain.
The definite announcement 10 the nome
government Of Weyler's inability to sup
press the Instruction is expected. how
ever. TO have another result. Ii Is be-
lievel that the Spanish Government
fearing the result OF the announcement
OF Cuban victory. will divert the contest
to the shores of the United states pc
fore the Spanish troops are fnally WIN
drawn from the island. the sole purpose
being to appease the anger OF the Spahlsn
people. and to continue the regency III
mower AT the conclusion of the result
ing contest Cuba would be lost to Spain,
and that country would be Impoverished
by n war debt larger than II can pay
for nftv wears to come. The spanish
people. however. would then be hoou-
winked into believing that CUBA had oeen
wrested away from Spain by the Uhlted
States. and the war would be trans etISu
to the diplomatic chessboard ana 'he
arbitration courts.
VESSELS PREPARING.
These things are fully understood py
President Cleveland and Secretary Olhey.
Secretaries Herbert and Lamont nave
heen taken into their counsels. AS a
CONSEQUENCE. every vessel In the Atlantic
squadron is being prepared ior service,
and several vessels on the Pacihc coast
have been ordered to stations In South
America. from which they can easily
roach the Atlantic This defensive pre-
narration Is in no sense intended as ue
monstration Of hostility, but In view OF
the known feeling Of Spain toward TINS
country. these precautions are peihs
taken as the surest means OF preserving
peace. III
Messages from Minister Taylor are being
frequently received, and Secretary Olney
is in possession Of n vast amount OF IN
formation concerning Spanish movements
lie knows. for instance, that SPAN Is
preparing to conduct operations from ha-
bana. and that the city Is being iorliheu
for defence. not against Lubans' Dut
against sea forces.
SPAIN MUST ACT FIRST.
Whatever may come in the shape OF
war must come from Spain. fres'ueh.
cleveland will use every effort to avert
actual hostilites. and will make no
change in his policy Of non-lnterVentioh
and non-interference. His preparation
are being made from the natural ueSHe
10 be in a position TO DEFEND our Coas.
cities from the Spanish navy III case .,
a naval demonstration under mo Ieu anu
gold standard Such demonstration now
ever. must be begun by SPAIN
Tho crisis in Cuban affairs, as eNpialhed
nv a friend OF General Lee. 10 whom lhe
Consul-General talked at length, Is que 10
the apprehenslOn Of the Spanish tnat the
incoming Of the Mckinley Administrator
will mean active and persistent lnterler
ence by the United States. and thal ftss,
dent Mckinley. acting I'm accordance win
the provisions Of the ST. LOUIS piaIio.,h III
win recognize the belligerent rights Oh the
Cubans and the Independence OF the Is
land Government This would mean the
end Of the instruction and the witndraW-
al Of the Spanish forces from the islanu.
II wonld also mean that the devastating
conflict will not BE- allowed to drag alohs
for months. OF perhaps years. but mus
he brought TO a termination before the f'h
Of next March.
ALI. DEPENDS on WEYLER.
For this reason Weyler has taken the
field In a wild endeavor TO secure decisive
results and is now throwing his forces
into the hills Of Pinar del Rio. should
he succeed. there will be no CLASH with
this country. Should he lose II VIII mean
the loss Of the island 10 Spain. Snouid
yVeyler not win before March am, thete
will be an entirely new turn TO cuban ana
Spanish affairs 10, 49,. 80
BEFORE that time Cleveland VIII take no
action. He has at heart the welfare OF
the great commercial interests. especially
the Sugar Trust He has stated that
he will take no action toward recogniz-
inc cuba during his administration, ana
n is certain that Speaker Reed VIII 90
an i'm his power 70 choke or resolutions
Of sympathy with Cuba This was MS
record last year and ~ viii not chahse
his policv during the short session
The acceptance Of the Ericsson mas no
narticular significance at this time, as
his action was decided upon before any
active preparations for trouble were De
enn The boat has been dlsappoln'-
mont TO the naval officials, ana the
source Of serious loss 10 her builders.
Her boilers are seriously defective ana
she Is generally I'm bad shape; but IL was
decided TO accept her AT a reduction anu
tinker away at her at the government
Yards until she is gotten into shape