The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-20
Gossip at
the Capital

Special Correspondence of The Tribune.
Washington. May 10,
An investigation is likely to be made
of the charge against ana denial by ex-
Assistant Secretary of State Rockhill tina:
during the last administration he notined
the United States consuls in Cuba to sup
press information favorable to the insur-
gents. Notwithstanding Mr.. Rockhil's
denial therearo at least three persons in
Washington who are ready to make affi-
davit that such instructions were issued
by the state department, because they saw
the letters containing them.
The proceedings of the meeting of Gu
ban sympathizers in this city last Sunday
have smoked out at least one Spaniar1.
In letter 70 the Post one Juan Gonsalez
sputters and fumes In indignant protest.
I'VE, in Spain" he says, "know that this
rebellion would never have been started,
much less continued, were II not for the
active aid in money and arms which has
been given to the insurgents by a limited
number of the citizens of a nation pro-
fessedly friendly to Spain; we know that
tons Of dynamite have been successfully
landed in Cuba and employed in blowing
up trains crowded, not by soldiers, but by
women and children, and peaceful passer-
gers. This Is the warfare which has
called forth the active sympathies Of some
of the reverend ministers and belligercnt
senators of this great and glorious coun-
try. Has the dynamite plot In Chicago
faded from the memories of these gentle
men? This surely was an object lesson to
be remembered. Were the authors OF
that plot hanged according to the rules Of
civilized warfare%
Continuing. Senior Gonsalez asks: "Who
started the trouble in Cuba? Was 1t
Spain? No; for Cuba, before this insur-
rection began, was In the enjoyment OF
greater material prosperity than one-half
of the states of the Union, and Spain was
actively engaged in discussing legislative
reforms which the most advanced liberal
politicians in the island advocated, and
was only anxious to meet their views in
any reasonable way. Was il the inhabi-
tants of Cuba themselves? No; for at
the very commencement of the rebellion
an energetic protest was filed by all the
| liberal parties on the island. The rebel
lion was organized. encouraged. paid for
and finally started in the United States
| Maxine Gomez, n Santo DOMINICAN was
| smuggled into Cuba as COMMANDMENTS
| chief with the openly avowed intention
| of driving the Spaniards to abandon the
| island by the destruction of all property
| capable of destruction. From that mo-
ment Death and desolation stalked
| through Cuba, and only quite lately has
| it been clear that the end OF the rebellion
| Is at hand. 'Hlnc illoe lacTymoe' among
! the reverend and political sympathlzers
| with the rebellion. May the bloodshed
they have provoked be on their heads" I"
| This is probably the secret thought of the
| Spanish minister, Senor Depuy de LONE,
| only he is too shrewd a diplomatist to give
his feelings away.
| II Is not apparent that any one has stop
| ped to ask with much detail how the char
| ity that has been voted by congress is to
be dispensed in Cuba. 1t Is easy to appro-
| pirate the $4,000, but how 10 get It into
the hands of those for whom 1t is intended
| or, rather, how to get into their mouths
the food it will purchase is quite an
other thing Speaking In his message of
| the destitution in Cuba, the president
| says; This applies particularly TO the
| rural districts of the central and eastern
| parts The agricultural classes have been
forced from their farms into the nearest
towns where they are without work or
| money" The money IS to be dispense A
| under the dtteci'On of the secretary of
state. ana It is suggested that al his dis
| erection it may be used for the transpor-
| tation of citizens who desire TO return 10
| the United States but are without the
means to do so.
l have made q deal OF inquiry among
those who should be best able TO give an
opinion, and 1t seems 10 be the impression
that trouble will result from an attempt 70
distribute food or medicines. An outbreak
OF Spanish opinion, rescntful and ra bid, Is
| expected as soon as Il is known at Ha-
vana and Madrid that the appropriation
Is an accomplished fact The field for ex-
penditure designated by the president Is
I'm the heart of the region devastated by
the war. 1t has been part OF the policy
Of General WeySer to starye the inhabi-