The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-11-06

hdilniS tslOI printed AeStertEis, the former
minister To SPAN mentioned that at din
ner in the house of Senator Castelar,, n
which he had a long conversation abcu:
Cuban affairs, there were among the
guests lady and gentleman from New
York. That lady and gentleman were Mr.
and Mrs. A. B. de Guerville. Mr. de Guer-
vilie's account OF that dinner and events
leading mp 10 At corrOborates all that Mr..
Taylor said. Mr.. de Guerville, too, has
arrived at almost the same conclusions as
10 the solution of the Cuban problem.
Mr. dc GGerviile said yesterday:
Il can easily oorroborate Mr.. Taylois
account, At least IN its main lines, as |
was I'm Madrid at the time these events took
place, bad several interviews with castels r
ald other Spanish statesmen, and, in fact,
suggested TO CASTELAR, that he snould in-
yite Mr. Taylor To- the dinner he Was
planning 20 give IL our honor. The stand
taken hy our formeT minister VIII un-
1oubtedly he severely criticised i'm many
quarters, and 1 feel that for the sake OF
justice at is my duty to publish few facts
which wIh prove that from many a stand.
point Nd, Taylor is right.
"A tew DAYS after my arrival I'm Madrid
I paid visit 10 Senor CASTELAR,, whom
had met years before He rushed into the
pArlor, eXclaiming
"'Whvrr did you come from-New York
or Pekine'
As soon a. lad told him that | came
direct fIUIr New Notk and shortly before
had be. n ia Cuba he grew much Interested,
and asked mc to step into his dining room.
where there was meeting of his Toliticai
friends. There found many senators and
depui ies, and hcfure them | ans wered Cas-
telar'S many questions. trying to impress
hiIa with the fact that as a ma tion TO L
nation We are no foe OF Spain; that the.
great majority Of our people would not
approve o. anne nation, even should Cuba be
given to ~, but, on the other hand. that
this country wanted peace TO he re-esta b.
Isihed in Cuba as we could stand no longer
such 4 war of determination at ogi very
door. nor a tIade representing 81 90, ,Ooo, 900
wear Ia '-e perilizec any longer. CASTELAR,
approved every one Of iuy woIds, and, in
substance, said.
You are right aud we are wrong. II
is our faul If Cuba is in revolution. We
nave Governed tue is.aud with the sword
ia the most selfish, brutal, aud dishonest
manner. Meh cannot live withDut freedom
oi libar.y any murr than the bird can live
without air or the fish without water.
We must give tle Cubans liberty and
freedoId.'
- DO Suu mean TO say that AZ today
-on were cuvrr.iilg spain you would Civ.
cuba it's liberty | asked.
- Yes, but hy liberty I mean al alb
Solute autonomy. they would be - free aS
Canada or Australia.
Rut Suppyse the Cuhans refuse that
autonomy aud Keep oh fighting fnr ab
solute independence, what would YOU ,lo?'
'' oh. thcn fight. fight To the bitter end:
fight - we al say. tIil the last cent and
ttc last uuan has gone. You see. iny friend.
with us ii il question of honor we can
Dpt give 1t up. ITO save our honor / sug
gest 70 give Cuba its autonomy, because !
know We cannot save Cuba by tie force Of
arms. Hut VT cannot give up, we must
rather die a 5 a nation.
This viii snow concluSively that uhe most
liberal aEd talented statesman of Spain
stands exactly as does the spanish govern
ment. Tie only difference is that he is
snccre ia Ills desire TO give Cuba its au-
tonomy. This was on January I5 last
" hcn the clouds of war hung heavy and
dark oven the Competitor case.
SIR CASTELAR, oppressed the desire to give
2 dinner in honor of iaN W.fe the following
Monday. and he asked me if 1 would sug-
2 s; any Of nay friends for him To- invite. |
naLed Mr.. Taylor. and be exclaimed:
- oh. yes good; for you know love him |
md a@i.ire him. But 90 you think he vdl |
receipt just now"
when the following morning repeated 1
his conversation to Mr.. Taylor, he -e- |
marked:
would Ike very m uCh TO go. tut do |
lot think CASTELAR, will dare to invite me |
II prCseHt-thC situation is too strained.
'Itisneariy iyihposSible for hose who were
lot there atthetime to understand Mr.. Tay
orr position. Neverdida a man need SO much
act, - much 1UUraee. SO much patience.
lever did nlan use these great q ua lities "a
,etter advantage. Though he was much
liked as piivatc citizen and gentleman as
IA official me was simply ostra cized.
As an example or what he had to endure
'veG At unofficial and merely social affairs
O. me State that at a dance, having asked
wel-SnOwn young society lady for
waltz, she ans wered So loud as To be heanl
IL over the parlor:
-" a Spanish g'H who respect he. elfcan-
lOt dance with Yankee
"Howevc-, Mr.. T. ylor came to Casselar's
linEer. and at the end offered a charminc
east O. Peace Forever As sOonas weha1
eft the table he seemed totake suddenlya a
.reat decfsiJn, and walkingto Castelar,. he
sked for private conversation. They're.
ldined together for nearly an hour, and
rhen weleftt he great statesman shuuse e ne
ala 10 me.
- Well, Rave gained powerfulfrien nd TO
he cause If peace. Castelar, will now fight
Dr reforms in Cuba and fer complete auton
N.Y.
"A Few days later il was announced
lat the prime minister had decided to grant
uha refUrms and autonomy. The fellow
= day I spent an hour with Senior Moret,
he ui tie leaders OF the Liberal party, !
'nmer minister for foreign affairs, and
Ow minister for thecolonies. Among other |
lings he said
= Yes, CASTELAR, is right. 1t is our fault |
Id Cuta has been fTightfully misCov
led. rhe war must come to an end or /
rely the United States will act
= Do you mean to say there VIII be
arr
= Wei, perhaps not a declaration or
ar pIt undoubtedly J some action from the
ashington Government which may lead
most anything, even war
'' DO you believe i'm the reforms proposed
: the prime minister?
- Although it is late to apply them, it
light succeed. Unfortunately, do not
ink the presyi,t government is sincere in
offer. In fact, am quite siHe they are
L siace