The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-25
ROW AMONG SPANIARDS.
FIST FIGHTS At n MEETING OF
HAVANA POLITICIANS.

The Union Constitucionai Party Insists That
No Reforms shall Ne Onsred to the
Cuban, A Cable Message from Madrid
Will Decide the Fate OF Con. Riua Rivera.
HAVANA. June %, via Key West, June "a
An exciting meeting has boon hold at tho Casino
Espahol Of the Union Constitutional, the politi-
cal party OF uncompromising Spaniards. The
meeting was arr 1nRed by Senior Santos Guzman,
the leader Of the party, we'll known for his
hatred OF tho Cubans. He has Just returned to
Cuba from Madrid.
Senior Santos Guzman's object was TO explain
to tho Spaniards the new policy Of Senior Cano-
vas. OF whose party In Spain he ia also a mem
Der, with regard to tho island Of Cuba. He
said that he was speaking with authori-
ty from the Primo Minister. who desired
to convince tho loyal members Of the
Union Constitutional party Of the advisabillty,
undor the present circumstances, Of yielding to
the Governments desire to grant to Cuba some
reforms which, II not real homo rule, are moro
liberal than any proposals hitherto made by tho
central Government.
As soon as these words were uttered, the whole
meeting was aroused, and protests and Kisses
interrupted Senior Guzman. DR.. Antonio Jorer,
without allowing Grzman to mako any
further explanations. protested in the name
Of the loyal spaniards living in Cuba
teihos .uhy Shohko III Nv oIu pullCy II w
posed reforms ana concessions of any kind to tho
natives, He was heartily cheered, and It was
some time before Santos Guzman got another
opportunity to DO heard. He said at last:
Il am speaking hero at the request of o man
whose patriotism no one has any right to quos-
ton. Canovas is a patriot and true patriotism
inspires him. 1t 10 nonsensical for you to reject
tho reforms when II you do not accept them you
will soon have to accept homo rule or perhaps
something moro serious still"
Somebody asked II this something was inde-
pendence, and Immediately tho excitement be-
came 30 intense that tho opponents Of
Senior Guzman advanced to attack him.
Some Of his friends surrounded the orator
to defend him and a general fight ensued in
which canes and fists did much execution. Senior
Santos Guzman could not quell the disturbance,
though he called out loudly that at this time
Spaniards should DO united instead Of fighting
one another. Tho meeting broke up in great
disorder.
The exact number Of soldiers going to East
Cuba with Gen. Woyler is 10000. Tho 80, 900
men he intends to operate with will be made up
Of these men and tho regulars and guerril-
las who are already in Orient and Santiago
dc Cuba Gen. Weyler has with him o largo
part Of the regular Spanish troops in the
provinces of Pinar del Rio and Havana, and this
fact has caused considerable adverse comment
hero, as It is generally believed that the revolu-
tfon will grow stronger now in the western part
Of the island.
Near Managua, q few miles from Havana. o
hard engagement took place on Tuesday. It
lasted nine hours. and tho Spaniards, who num-
bered about 1000 men. had to retire TO the
town because their ammunition became ex-
hausted. The Cubans used a email cannon very
effectively. The gun, 1t Is believed here, was
landed by a recent expedition from the United
States.
At Cardenas, Matanzas province, tho Spanish
soldiers mutinied on account of the bad food
and i'll treatment they receive ana the utter
failure to pay them their wages. The officers
theoretically quelled the revolt by wounding
with their swords several of tho soldiers.
The nows that Gen. Rius Rivera was to DO
shot, sent to New York more than a week ago,
was based on the fact that weyler had conferred
with some of tho members Of the
that tried Rivera and Bacallao when they were
CAPTURED. and whose proceedings were inter
rupted by pressure of public opinion In the
United States.
1t 10 known now that both were secretly tried
a second time in the Cabahas Fortress and SON
fenced to death. From Madrid orders came to
Weyler two days ago to suspend the execution Of
the sentence. The Captain General has cabled
to Madrid that. according to international law.
the United States can do nothing in favor of the
prisoners. who are not American citizens, and
that their punishment with death will have a
desirable effect upon the revolutionists. An
answer is awaited by Weyler and it will decide
the fate Of both prisoners.