The herald., 1898-04-09

Gullon and Puiggreiver. and the alleged
immense influence of the pope over the
Spanish court and tho Catholics could
weigh In the balance against the popular
and military classes, against thte deep and
widespread hostility Of classes toward the
United States and against the fear In the
court and the government Of playing into
the hands Of the Carlists and the Repub-
licans, of Weyler and political agitation.
Up to the last, also. American diplomacy
and the president had hoped that advice
Of the European powers. with the sup
port Of the pope. would prove enough to
force the hand Of the queen regent and her
ministers and to decide them to accept m
armistice as the first step towards Cuban
Independence in consideration Of an In
demnlty Of 500. 900 or $soo.oo 900. which
is deemed by spaniards utterly inadequate
as material compensation. even If they had
consented to surrender the island.
But q majority Of the nation, from tho
highest to the lowest. believe that II Cuba
must be lost, It Is better to lose after hav-
ing inflicted serious and. II possible. pro-
longed harm upon the nation that has 10
long and deeply wronsed Spain in Cuba
Despite the profound animosity prevail
Ing against America. so far not single act
Of aggressiveness has been reported
against American private residents or the
official representatives Of the United
States. Nevertheless. the government Of
ficials are taking precautions lest violent
articles Of the Republican independent
press should fan the popular excitement
Into flame.
To understand the present temper Of the
Spanish people It must be borne in mind
that their press and government have en-
couraged them to believe that their navy.
with a little vigor in preparation. could
compete easily IN the first brush with tbs
American navy. Then, again. they had
been led to suppose that their military
organization In colonies like Cuba, Porto
Rioo and the Philippines could undertake
to punish severely any aggression on land
from the very small regular force and
poorly organized militia Of America. At
home they are persuaded their coasts and
forts have nothing to fear, as the reserves
can be called out and the coast guarded
without difficulty. They put much con-
fdence in the idea Of sending privateers to
raid upon the American merchant and
coasting fleets. These optimistic views arc
not shared in high political and profess
sional circles, where grave apprehension
exists regarding trade and communication
with the colonies and the dispatch Of re-
lief and provisions, especially for the
Spanish forces in Cuba, that used to set
most Of their supplies from the United
States.
1t Is necessary to call attention to the
conduct Of the press censors Of Madrid.
Nobody can dispute their right under the
treaties to stop obnoxious kilograms alto
gether In a moment Of scare. That scare,
however, has now reached such a pitch
that even the telephone lines to the Span
ish provinces are as vigorously watched
and checked as the kilograms. But the
press censors persist in ignoring the fact
that the international telegraph treaties
do not authorize delays Of several hours
in transmission, to suit their convenience,
and that Of all the ministerial departments
which require translations Of foreign
press messages
Another abuse IS the fact that weeks
and months elapse before money disbursed
for suppressed kilograms is repaid.
CUBA MUST BE FREE
ROME, April 8.2The Tribuna publishes
an interview with can American diplo-
mat" evidently General Draper, tho
United States ambassador, who said that
war between Spain and the United States
was inevitable Unless Cuba were granted
absolute Independence.
"If President McKinley's message" COM
tinued the American diplomatist," "an-
nounces that this has not been obtained,
congress will decide upon an ultimatum to
Spain. For many reasoes5 England will re-
main the loyal friend of the United States.
Germany has powerful compatriots In
America, while France and the othe:
powers can only remain neutral"
ABSOLUTELY QUIET
MADRID, April s, II p. MAT this hour
there is absolutely no news stirring. The
government offices are empty and political
circlss and places Of public resort are de-
serted. owing to Good Friday. General
Woodford remained at the United States
legation until q late hour.
Advertising lola