The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-23
OPPOSITION TO SAGASTA.
sPANrsH HOSTILITY TO TEE GOVERN
MENT,s CUBAN PLANS.

merehants visit senior Mfsrst 10 Frotest-mo
TELLS Them the Pians Are for the coed or
the Ceuntry. ana lf Thsy Are Abanasned
ne Will RosiEn-Ths Reception to Wssier.
sssotui Cable Ds,patch to TEE SUE.
MADRID, Nov. 29.-Sshor Moret. Minister Of
tho Colonies, to-day received . Oatalonian dep
~utation, which visited him for the purpose OF
urging protection to Spanish imports into Cuba
and to oppose the plan Of giving the Cuban
Chamber the right to fix tho Cuban tariff. The
principal protesting bodies are the shipo wners'
Association. the Catalonian Agricultural 1nsti-
tute, and the Barcelona Chamber Of Commerce.
Replying to the arguments advanced BY the
deputation. sehor Moret said that the Ministry
had considered tho general interests OF the colo
MES. and believed that q peaceful settlement OF
the colonial questions depended upon tho adop-
ton Of the Governments scheme. The interests
Of the colonies possibly might not harmonise
with some of tho manufacturing interests Of
Spain. but they certainly did with the ~interests
Of the nation. Rather than to abandon any part
Of the Governments proposals. no would resign
his office.
ssnor Moret referred to the demonstration
that are being prepared at Barcelona in honor
Of Gen. weyler, and declared that these demon
s~trations could not be allowed to prejudice
colonial interests.
After the interview the Cabinet met to dis
euss the position, Is the hostility to the Govern
mont's proposals is strong and influential,
though not unanimous. Thus the Huelva
Chamber Of Commerce has sent . message to
the Government oongratulstinR it upon the
measures It has taken to bring about the pacih-
cation Of Cuba. It iB believed, too. that the
Cabinet In divided upon tho Cuban tariff
question.
Meanwhile tho Catalonian delegates have tel.
egraphed to their friends advising them to alb
stain from taking any part In the Weyler dem.
onstrations at Barcelona. The preparations for
these demonstrations are on an elaborate scale.
The city 10 much excited over the expected ar.
rival of weyler. who. prior to his appointment
in Cuba, was Captain-General of Barcelona
Steamers have been chartered to convey oepu-
tationB to the Montserrat, on which Weyler
travelled IrOm IlaN1nhy 1no uuuob 1uu cnorAi
societies will 60 OF to the steamer on other
boats. A banquet In honor of Weyler will DO
given on the evening Of his arrival.
The Carl ists's Young Mems Association has
issued . manifesto demanding that a ovation
be given to Weylor. as he had interpreted the
sentim ents Of the country during his governor.
ship 81 Cuba. Several Republican municipal
officers and some Conservatives will take part
in tho reception, ct which the industrial and
commercial element will be strongly repre-.
scented.
Prime Minister sagasta, who will receive tho
deputation tomorrow, seems confident of his
ability to find some conoIliatory compromise Of
the clashing interests, but the situation Il
critical and requires nerve and decision. Tho
protectionists are loath to relinquish the Span.
Ish monopoly of the colonial markets, and they
are backed by all the politicians who oppose the
Government and by most of tho newspapers OF
tho country. which base their hostility to the
Governments plan on patriotic and political
grounds.
Catalonia. especially that part of 10 constt
tuting the province of Barcelona. Ii the AMI
mating centre of tho movement, which has
broken out most inopportunely, a. the Govern.
ment has Just framed the royal DEGREES en-.
bodying all the colonial reforms.