Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-12
Later Phase, 0, Cuban Question.


says he is not lingo but believes this
country will drift into war with Spain.
because there are so many jngoes in
Congress, and so many in the country
who will egg them on. In the
South, Caffery says. 100000 men could
be raised to fight Spain, in fact would
like nothing better than such chance.
On the other hand later dispatches
from the national capital indicate a
decidedly better feeling there. The
Spanish note was of a pacificatory ma
ture and it has since been learned that
the present Spanish ministry had been
misled with regard to our attitude to-
ward filibustering. 1t seems that the
Spanish Minister has been conveying
the impression to the home govern
ment that ours was doing as little as
possible to prevent the transportation
of arms and war material from this
country to the insurgents. The adj
ministration is to disabuse the minds
of the Spanish government of that
view of the matter. 1t is not SurpriS-
ing, holding this view as the majority
of Spaniards do that they should feel
as hostile toward us as we did toward
England for supplying the sinews Of
war to the Southern Confederacy. But
this country has strictly lived up to all
clustering. 1t has expended many
thousands Of dollars to prevent it and
proximity of our great seacoast to
Cuba and the overwhelming sentiment
in this country favorable to the cause
of the insurgents are such as to render
it utterly impossible for the govern
ment to put an end to filibustering
under any circumstances but We
should receive credit for doing all that
can be done.
The thing which has done more than
anything else to relieve the apprehen-
sion Of war is not the note from Spain,
nor Sagasta's declaration that he and
Spain would regard war with the
United States a great misfortune. nor
the instructions given to General
Blanco when he went to Cuba. but
rather what Blanco is there endeavor-
ing to do to relieve the poor in
habitants. who under the brutal edic.
of Weyler were "coOped up" to starve.
At first it seemed that the new gov
ernor general was taking only half
hearted measures. He certainly is la
boring under grave difficulties. He
neither has the support of the pro-
Spanish, the neutral or the anti
Spanish element in Cuba. Any lessen
ing of the severity of 'Weyler is con-
demned by the former. looked upon
with contempt by the neutrals and
those opposed to Spanish rule. Never
theless he announces to our govern
that everything that is humanely
possible is being done" He states
what measures he has taken and is
taking to relieve the horrible situation
existing there. These things indicate
an effort on the part Of the new
Spanish ministry to carry out the re-
forms it has given our government to
understand it would put in operation.
Under these circumstances it certainly
seems that we can do no less than give
the new ministry an opportunity
though we may be convinced that its
efforts will prove futile.
1t is very evident, however. that il
will not be the purpose of many of the
Democrats in and out of Congress. TO
allow that this is the proper course 10
pursue. The words of Senator Caffery
growing purpose. Everybody knows
to what straits the Democratic party
as party is put for campaign cry. Free
trade they dislike to take up until the
American people get some of the bad
taste left over from the Wilson dose
out of their mouths. Free silver
weakene d the De mocrats in almost every
state where it was preached this fall.
This is not encouraging for the Demo-
Gratis in Congress to push the propa-
ganda of that doctrine at this par
ticular time. Accordingly it will not
be surprising4to see quite concerted
effort on their part to embarrass the
administration over. Cuba
1t does not seem that such a course
can have much success. Elk Minister
Taylor may think that because ne
could not attain any results while in
Madrid that no one else can. He may
be for war now that he is not to an
swer to the country for his opinions
But it should be borne in mind that
General Lee. who didn't stoop to in
dulge in mealy-mOuthed (1iplomacv