The times., 1898-04-17


present trying circumstances.
FL Comercio. in fierce editorial today.
demands the expulsion of all foreign cor
respondents.
Riat at Matanzas.
Havana. April 16-Matanzas City is In
a riot0us condition. The grecers and
| their clerks gathered yesterday in the
main square to protest against the bando
of the mayor of the city imposing an
octroi duty on all provisions imported
into Matanzas.
In spite of the many appeals made to
their patriotism as Spaniards in the pres
| ent grave situation of the country, the
rioters went on shouting, Death to the
municipality" and Down with the tax
es." and paraded the streets in a threat
ening manner
A strong group of rioters gathered in
front of the palace of the governor, SEN
or Don Francisco de Armas, and INDUCED
in all sorts of insulting language and
threats.
The police tried to arrest the leader Of
the rioters, a grocer but the rioters de-
fGnueu MN dnC a ndTu iBll tHSucu
Arrests Made.
At last it is officially reported the police
dispersed the mob and arrested, among
the rioters, city counsellor and several
well-known merchants, who were all lock-
ed up.
A second dispatch says that the civil
guards are patroling the streets TO keep
public order, and that a committee of
| merchants called on the governor to pro-
pose a compromise between the authori-
ties and the rioters. Since yesterday all
the stores In the city have been closed as
a promise was made to the governor by a
committee of merchants which called at
the palace that the stores would be open
ed again, they still remain closed.
The Government Yields.
AT late hour it is announced that the
municipality Of Matanzas. yielding to the
rioters. has suspended the octroi duties.
During the riots all the consuls and con-
suIar agents raised the flags of their ma
tions at their offices for the protection
of foreigners. The only flag that was not
seen was the American flag.
The American steamer Seguranca left
this port today for New York unmolested
She carries a great number of passen-
gers.
on board the Versailles, which left yes
terday for Europe, many well-known per-
sons left. Among them is the Count OF
Macurijes. a prominent member of the
Conservative party and president Of the
Union Club, of this city. Senor Leopoldo
Goicosechea, an autonomist deputy, is
also among the passengers.
1t is said here that the City of Wash
ington from New York, win stop at Key
West on her way here.
Capt. Luis Pastor. commander of the
port of Havana who went to Porto Rice
on the Vizcaya, returned here today or
the Transatlantic steamer Montevideo.
War Preparations.
The mill .ary preparations for wal
against the United States are going Oh
with great activity.
According TO La Lucha, the Spanish
generals who conferred yesterday with
Gov. Gen. BIanco are entirely satisfied
with the defenses of the city and with the
| DlanS OF campaign dSItSt upon uulIliS illt
conference, which lasted over two hours
La Lucha says that war with the United
States is the only solution Of the Cubar
| problem for Spaniards and Cubans alike
The Diario, commenting upon the pros
pect Of war, says that the superiority o.
the Spaniards over the Americans is be
yond dispute. Foreign nations. says tht
| niario resnecf Spain while the United
States is despised. Spain has granted al
armistice and autonomy. The United
States now has no ground upon which t.
interfere, because Sagasta outwitted Nc
Kinley. The Diario finally makes Ions
parallel between Uncle Sam and Dol
Quixote, and says that while the former
is merely a Jew merchant, the latter is {
| Christian gentleman"
La Union Constitutional says also tha