The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-20

in sending out war news. The Marquis
Palmerola, now governor of the province
| of Havana, who was formerly press cen
sor, had the same complaint. So they
shut down on all war news except the re
ports of Spanish victories. A string OF
these can be sent out at any time, and the
| palace officials do not understand why
American newspapers are not willing to
pay cable tolls on news for the relia.
| bility of which they themselves vouch
1t may be guessed that with so strict a
| surveillance kept on what goes out of Ha-
vana, nothing is permitted to come into
it without an equally close watch. The
Havana newspapers are at a disadvan-
tage compared with their contemporaries
in the states. Anything which is got to
an American paper Is sure of publica-
ton, but the Havana journals, after great
enterprise, would still be unable to reap
the fruits of their enterprise. Not a line
is published in one of them until the blue
pencil of the censor has gone through 1t,
and the censor is what would be called in
newspaper offices a wholesale copy
butcher"
During the month of May was able to
learn from the Havana newspapers the
latest and fullest advices about the pro-
gress OF the war between Greece and Tur-
key.
The prospective success of the rebellion
in Uruguay was also recorded, along with
the regular revolutions in other South
American countries. There was likewise
full Information about tariff legislation
in the United States, the trial of Mr.
HaVemeyer, the earthquake and Vari-
| GUS other matters, but not word about
the burning question of the United States
and Spain. The action of congress in
voting money for the relief of distressed
Americans was published two or three
| days late and in the most guarded man
ner. The passage of the Morgan resolu-
| ton in the Senate recognizing belligerency
| has not yet been made known to the Ha-
| Vana newspaper reading public. The
| night that resolution passed a private
message did get through conveying the
| information. Otherwise the Americans
| in Havana might have waited days before
| 1t was known. The news also leaked out
from the palace, and it was possible TO
| obtain expressions of very bitter opinion
| from the officers and the official classes
| against the United States. But all this
was under cover. Most Of the time the
| stereotyped news from Washington and
| Madrid would be that the relations be-
tween the United States and Spain con
| tlnued affectionate."
If the belligerency resolution should
pass the House there would probably be
a cable in the Havana newspapers saying
that the relations between the two coun-
tries were still "affectionate." In the
course of a week or ten days some hint
might be permitted of the action taken
| by congress, but this is doubtful.
| Naturally, the censorship has to permit
| something to be published about the move
ments of the troops and the local mill
| tary operations on the island. Every
| body is interested in knowing where the
| columns are and what they are doing.
This information is given by telling of the
movements Of the troops against the insur-
/ gents, usually with an account of some
| glorious victory. Sometimes it is not DOS
sible to record victory, and reading be-
| tween the lines, the people of Havana
| know that the troops have been whipped.
| sometimes, too, the news gets past the
censor, because he fails to see its signif-
| canoe.
| Occasionally the Havana dailies stop
| their presses" not to announce any late
| news, but in order that some news which
! is Objectionable to the authorities may be
| chiseled out. One day 1 noticed, in a re.
| port of skirmish between the insurgents
| and the troops, that something had been
chiseled out of the description OF the In
! surgents. II seemed that their actual num-
| Der had been reported, and this number,
| giving a proper idea of their strength, the
| censor would not permit it to be stated.
| Such intelligence controverted the assur.
ances of paciflcation and of dwindling in
| surgents.
The Havana papers have full CORE
| spondence and dispatches from Madrid.
| That is a kind Of information that can
| not be entirely suppressed. The Havana
| public know something of the political
| condition in Spain, is able to keep in
| formed of what is going on, even though
| the news that is published may be meager
and disjointed. When the Duke of TIE.
| tuan slapped one OF Sagasta's followers,
| that fact was not published in Havana
| till the developments following It had been
made known. The discussions In the
cortes were edited with great effectiveness
| by the press censor. He could make the
| Congressional Record vest-pocket vol
ume
However, the newspaper editors in Ha-
| vana are shrewd, and they do manage to
give their readers fairly complete know
ledge OF what is happening in Spain The
cabinet crisis was not permitted to be
made public. Only the vaguest hints that
Gen. Martinez Campos had been summon
ed to Madrid and the possibility Of sagasta
! resuminR power were given. Not the
shadow Of an intlmaton was permitted
that a change in the cabinet might mean
the recall Of Gen. Weyler II that ever
happens, II will be made public only be-
cause his power will he broken and the
palace officials Will not be strong enough
| TO prevent the newspapers from spread
| ing II broadcast without waiting for Wev
ler's actual departure
on the other hand. any strengthening OF
Weyler's power will be promptly ana
prominently recorded. When the deelara-
ton was made that Canovas assumed full
responsibility for Weyler's actions In
| Cuba, and that the queen regent approved
this statement was set forth with much
| flourish. Similarly. Sagasta's declaration
| that the liberal party would never consent
to any scheme for the sale Of Cuba was
exploited. though hardly word OF the
proposition for the purchase OF Cuba had
been permitted publication.
The martial law Of the press ceneorshin
extends TO All newspapers which como 10
the island. theoretically nothing Il per-
mitted circulation which reflects ON tbe
government. Actually this cannot be car
ried out. The book stores and news do
pots which handle American newspapers
have TO send two copies 20 the palace FOR
approval IL the censor should dlsapnrove
and copies OF the paper should be- sold
u would be n grave offense by the hook.
seller. But the imposslblilty OF carrying
out such system Is realized al the mai.
ace ana the American newspapcrs circu-
late freely IN Havana. Those from MAJ
-