The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-20
Spain Did Think Once.

Thirty years ago, in 1859, Spain and the
United States were on the verge OF war
The struggles of Cuba for independence
and Spanish conduct toward an American
ship were then. as now, the thorns in the
flesh of the American people. The cap
| ture of the American ship, Col. Lloyd AS
pinwall, by Spanish man-of-war led TO an
international dispute which. but for the
! final surrender of Spain, would have ex-
ploded shells of actual warfare between
| the republic and the monarchy. The in
cident of the AspinwaH brought out the
unchanged national disposition Of Spain
| that of representation and unwarranted
delay in it's dealings with the United
States.
| The Colonel Lloyd Aspinwali, owned by
a New York firm, had arrived within five
miles of Havana on January q, 1853. on its
| journey from Port-au-Prince, when the
Herman Cortes, a Spanish man-of-war,
brought the American to standstill with
a shot across its bow, and sent a force
of armed men aboard. In spite of the pro-
test of Capt. McCarty, Of the American
ship. that he bore dispatches to Rear Ad-
miral Poor, of the North Atlantic squad
ron, and in the face of McCarty's official
passports and letters, the Spanish captain
kept his armed force aboard the Aspin-
wall for six days, and then when McCar-
ty refused to sail for Havana under Span
ish orders, the Aspinwall was lowed. her
crew still captive. into the harbor Of Gu
ba's capital under the shadow of MORO
Castle.
There was a whole days delay before
the captain of the American ship was al
lowed to send his dispatches ashore to the
American consul general. Not until Feb
ruary Is, twenty-three days after the cap
ture, was Captain McCarty permitted to
hold a conference with the American con-
sui, and so dilatory were the tactics of
the Spanish that the United States govern
ment did not learn of the capture by a
foreign power of an American ship upon
the high seas until February Is, twenty
six days after the occurrence. After two
days, Secretary Fish, of the state depart
ment, telegraphed to the consul general
in Cuba: Report particulars, and if seiz-
ed on the high seas, demand release On
February rs. Capt. McCarty filed his pro-
test with the authorities of Spain.
Then followed a period of inexcusable
delay. Spain appeared to ignore the pro-
test of the United States.
A telegram was at last sent by the sec
rotary of state to United States Minis
ter Sickles at Madrid, authorizing him 10
ll4c1hC an OIliCldl OcIildIiQ the ItlSdSe
of the Aspinwall, March 5. Spain replied
after more delay that the ship was under
control of the admiralty court at Havana
and could only be released by that body.
The United States renewed it's demand
Spain again replied that the ship had
been seized on suspicion that she was
landing arms in Cuba and was therefore
a subject of the prize court. Secretary
Fish replied:
Suppose she had; you could not seize
her for that, unless you took her in Span
ish waters
More delay. 1t was during the latter
part of March and President Grant again
his efforts. On April g. Minister
Sickles was telegraphed: 1.-The president
is not satisfied with this long delay" This
was the first intimation that the United
States was becoming offended at the con-
duct Of Spain. Gen Grants war-like spirit
boiled. He proposed to the cabinet that
an armed force be sent on board of the
Spanish frigate then in dock in New York
harbor, which act might have been the
beginning of hostilities. Minister Sickles
who renewed his protests with the Span
sh premier, Sagasta (who is still at the
helm of the Spanish ship of state), was
again put off with the excuse that the
100000 "N' NAAGOA Owns Oh CAdIAiLdllOu III
he prize court
Uncle Sam then submitted his ultima
-um, which would have Begun the con-
1ict had not Spain surrendered in the end. |
Minister Sickles told the Spaniards that |
he United States could not recognize prize |
courts which had no Jurisdiction except |
ng IN state of war. The very positive !
Information of the Spanish minister that /
he government of the United States |
would construe the Jurisdiction of a prize |
'ourt in this case as a declaration of a /
state of war, thus according the Cubans |
heir long hoped for recognition of bellig- |
rency, was dilemma from which there |
vas only one escape, and that was by an |
release of the vessel. This |
brought the issue TO a point, and Sagasta
old the United States minister that or
ers for the release of the AspinwaIl
would go at once to Havana.
Either this promise was not carried out
r the orders were ignored at Havana, for
he American ship continued a captive
Her men were prisoners in their own quar-
ers. The captain was not allowed the
rivilege of wetting down the sides of the
hip, so that the weather boards of the
Aspinwall dried and warped in the hot
outhern sun.
I
lent. The president and half his official
dvisers wanted to take affirmative action
hat would have brought a crisis But one
lore message was sent to Spain by the
ecretary of state If immediate action
'as not taken by the Spanish government
q said, this government the United
tates) would consider the propriety of
asorting to the policy of reprisals"
Even this did not bring the delusive
paniards to action. Gen. Sickles was told
ask an explanation OF these evasion
nd immediate execution of the Spanish
romise TO release the Aspinwau Spain
ppreciated the danger which its meth {
is had engendered. Sagasta Informed I
lckles April H. that on the day before
-pril Is, he had ordered the release of
lie American ship on receiving a formal |
amand
Shall make this demaud? telegraphed :
lie United States minister :
The curt decisive reply of Secretary !
ish shows that the patience Of the Unit I,
States government was at last ex-
austed- 1t was simply:
Make demand"
Inc order was carried out, and after
early three months OF delay and eva
ons on the part Of the Spanish govern g
ent, the Colonel Lloyd Aspinwan sailed I
freedom from Havana harbor.
In the meantime the United States gov '
nment strict IN its observance Of inter
ational law. had captured six expeditions
te1r 3