The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-30
THE LION AND THE LAMB.
Minister de Lone Entertains Span
iards and Cubans at the Waldorf.


iards and Cubans at the Waldorf.
William E. Curtis in the Chicago Record.
The first step toward reconciliation be-
tween the Spaniards and Cubans was
taken at New York few days ago. when
Mr.. Dupuy de LONE, the Spanish minister
at washington, gave dinner in honor of
the officers of the Spanish cruiser which
came over to assist at the Grant monu-
ment ceremonies. There was no notice
of the affair in the New York papers. al
though 1t was an event of particular sig
nificance, and the facts are just becoming
known. The dinner was given at the Wal
dorf hotel and was attended by eighty
guests. Invitations were sent to about
100 of the most prominent Spaniards and
Cubans in New York city, regardless of
their relations with the insurgents. Mr..
Dupuy treated them all as if they were
loyal. Many of the Cubans declined the
olive branch. Some of them ignored IL
altogether, and did not even acknowledge
the receipt of the invitation. But about
thirty accepted, including some of the
most influential Cubans in the city, who
have been bitter hi their feeling toward
the mother country, and have given sub
stantial aid to the instruction. These
gentlemen were "sandwiched" at the
table between Spanish citizens, officials
and naval officers, and appeared to he
quite at home Mr. Dupuy made the prin-
cipal speech of the evening which was
carefully prepared and was intended to
be as conciliatory as possible He said
that he desired, in the name of has gov>
eminent, to extend a cordial welcome to
all Spanish subjects, whether they were
satisfied with the administration of at
fairs or not. and those who had been en-
gagged in rebellion he took pleasure in as
surfing that the government was willing
to forgive and forget. The ministry at
Madrid had advised him that the reVolu-
ton could not hold out much longer, and
that the queen would offer amnesty to all
who would renew their allegiance to her.
The first step toward home rule in Cuba
had been taken, and he believed it would
| be followed by still greater concessions
as fast as the island was in a condition
| to enjoy them. He hoped that all who
were interested in the welfare of Cuba
would unite in making the proposed re-
| form success. He alluded to the prese-
| ence of many ex-confederates at the
| Grant monument dedication as an evil
| dence that fellow countrymen could east
| ly forget their enmitles and become friends
again. He spoke of the cordial relation
| between Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Jefferson
| Davis as an illustration. He said that
the Spanish government would open door
| for the return of the prodlgal sons that
would be wide enough for everybody to
| enter, and so high that no one would be
| compelled to bow his head. Mr.. Culmeli,
a Cuban of Danish ancestry, made the
first reply. He has been an active sympa-
| thizer with the insurgents and has a son
and a son-in-laW in the insurgent army.
He was followed by Aristides Martinez,
| a native Cuban, who has also been inter
| ested In the revolution. These gentlemen
thanked Mr.. Dupuy for his kind words,
and said that their countrymen would
take them to heart. Neither gentleman
| apologized for the past burt both express
| ed the hope that the differences between
| the colony and the other country might
| be settled without further bloodshed and
suffering.
The leading Cubans In New York are
about convinced that the instruction can
not succeed and that it will be impossible
for the insurgents TO drive the Spaniards
| off the island. The most discouraging
| circumstances for them of late Is the sue
| cess of the Spaniards in negotiating a loan
with the Bank of Spain for SAC, 100000 The
| bonds have not yet been sold, but the
| bank has underwritten them and has as
sumed the responsibility of floating the
debt This has made it very difficult for
| the Cuban junta to raise funds, and the
| recent sensational publications in Wash
| ington, which were intended to assist
| them, produced no effect 1t was announc-
| ed so positively that President Mckinley
would take advanced grounds concerning
the duty OF the United States to inter
vene that when his message came out
there was a great disappoinmen and cor
! responding depression, for 1t showed no
| sympathy for the insurgent movement,
| but only for the starving and suffering
citizens of the United States In Cuba.
| The chief dependence now Is upon the
present agitation by Senator Morgan and
the adoption of his resolution. If Il is
| defeated it will be a sad blow to the jSata
and will destroy its prospects of securing
| financial assistance.
|