New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-29
LET OUT OF CUBAN JAILS.
ONLY THREE AMERICANS ASKING FoH
HELP STILL IN PRISON.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SINCE MARCH 4-siGNiFI'
CANT CHANGE IN THE ATTITUDE OF THE

SPANISH AUTHORITIES.
rRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNE1
Washington March 2S--In the twenty days
since President Mckinley assumed office as
MANY American citizens have been released from
Cuban prisons as were released under President
Cleveland in the last twenty weeks of his term
Only three of our citizens confined IN Cupa no"
appeal to this Government for protection OF re-
lease There are dozen American clt'"ehs III
Cuban jails. but several OF them nave laiieu 10
call on the State Department for succor. Inc
members of the Competitors crew VINO are sun
I'm prison are undergoing trial. with an assurance
OF all the protection and privileges to which as
American citizens they are entitled. 30 OF the
entire number who were confined In Spanish prls-
ons when the present Administration came INTO
power twenty working days ago. only three re-
main in the list of those asking protection from
this Government. and II the present rate or re-
leases Is maintained. another week VIII see every
one of these free man.
The change in the attitude Of the Spanish Gov
ernment and OF the Governor General Of Cuba
since the new Administration began has been
strongly marked Under the Cleveland Admins
tration the release of American citizens averaged
possibly one n month and in most cases the men
were charged with trihing offences. or were SIM
ply suspects, many OF whom had been detained
on vague evidence for many months. For IN
stance the two American citizens released III
December, 1896. We're colored boys born IN Key
West, and charged with the crime of being VOC
docs" Another Of the dismissals in the closing
months of the Cleveland Administration that in
October 1896 was also "voodoo' case, while
another American was dismissed with the re-
mark I'VE have no charges against you ana
still another with the statement that no actual
grounds for complaint had been established.
When these trihing charges are compared
with those made against the men released under
the Mckinley Administration, the change In the
attitude OF the Spanish authorities becomes more
striking. Most OF the prisoners recently set free
were charged with aiding the instruction by d.
rect co-operation one was captured in an insur-
gent hospital and another was suspected or pur-
chasing and concealing arms and ammunition
for the benefit of the insurgents; yet there mas
been no delay since the incoming Of the new Ad-
ministration in obtaining for every American
citizen held in Cuba either the fullest right of
trial under the guarantees Of treaty relations, or
a prompt dismissal without trial.
How this remarkable change on the part of
Spain has come about the officials OF the state
Department do not explain in detail IL Is
known. however, that high officials of the span
ish Government promptly disclosed 10 Minister
TAYLOR their strongest desire for absolute TREND
illness between Spain ard the new Admlnistra,
ton in the United States. and that General
Weyler also manifested q decided change in at
titude with the incoming of the new President
Whatever may have been the real intentions
Of tho Spanish Government during the CLOSING
year Of the last Administrations ana Whatever
may have been the Instructions given TO zen
eral Weyler. 1t Is known that he was largely
law unto himself in the island or CUBA ana that
If the Spanish Government Indicated to MIN
desire to have justice done to American citizens
its desires and instructiC ms were absolutely
disregarded by him. This is shown by his re-
fusal to release or to grant trials 10 American
citizens in Cuban prisons during all the time
he had been in charge there up 10 March -
1897, one result being the death OF at least one
citizen of the United States imprisoned in cuba
The greater attention paid now TO American
demands may be in part the result OF this terse
and vigorous utteraEce OF President McknIeys
inaugural:
foreign policy which shall DO just impartial ever
watcRful OF our National honor; and always insist
ing upon the enforcement OF the laWful rights OF
American citizens everywhere our diPIomacy
than Is due us
Probably it may also be due in part to the
statement Of Secretary Sherman on February
% during the closing days OF his service as
Senator
trust IN God the time will come when
shall see an American citizen wronged OF his rights
and persecuted ana 20 wroGg and
violence and tyranny whereyer exereiseg ana wnen
stand by him II l alone.
Perhaps the Spanish authorities have also
taken 10 heart that other expression Of Secre-
tarv sherman on February %: We do not
want an Armenia near our shores, ana II one
shall he established there II will be Overthrown
Whatever the ruling causes Of this changed
attitude it is a fact that all but three Of the
many American citizens who had beeh appear
ing from Cuban prisons for the protection OF
their Government have since March been
released or received fun rights Of trial, and II
is confidently expected that those remaining
imprisoned will within a few days find their
cell doors opened and themselves landed safely
again upon TIE soil Of the United States.