Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-21
AUTHORITIES MAY KNOW BY WHOM
Divers Renew the Work of Inyesti-
cation This Morning.
VIZCAYA AT NEW YORK

Special Cablegram From STAFF Correspondent.
HAVANA, February 10 via Port Tampa.
Fla, February 20.-Spanish sovereignty i'm
Cuba is rapidly approaching a condition
OF anarchy While the people of the United
states are in the shadow Of the Maine
calamity the internal affairs of the island
are naturally forgotten. nevertheless the
probable consequences of that disaster
should not be overlooked.
1t may be the investigation will show
that the belief privately held by the cffi-
GERS OF the Maine, from the highest In
command down. that the ship was blown
up is mistaken one. If so, possibly the
relations between the United States and
Spain will continue friendly and the re-
gret manifested by the officials for the
accident, when 1t shall be proven to have
been an accident. will cement a better un-
derstandfng; but with the light that has
thus far been shed the calamity is dis
cussed in Havana as something else than
a casualty. Public opinion in the United
States will doubtless await offl,ial oec,,r,-
tions and be guided by them. For that
reason the exact facts may be stated about
the situation in Havana dispassionately.
Feeling of Spanish Classes,
-'-s-.l To conceal the real
feelings of the Spanish classes. A large
number Of them do exult. some secretly and
some openly, in the destruction of the
Maine and the deaths Of her crew.
whether the cause was accidental or
whether a plot was successfully carried out
makes no difference in the feeling of exul-
tation. The Maine is gone, and with nearly
800 American sailors.
1 have seen too many evidences of this
sentiment to be deceived. 1t is not univer-
sal, but it is general enough to show that
the ultra-loyai Spaniards in civil life, the
volunteers and the army officers are con-
sumed with fierce hatred toward the
United States. Among these classes those
having moderate opinions are few. Captain
general Blanco and the officers show a
deep sense OF the responsibility that is on
them and their government They know
Spain today has more to fear from within
than from without, but they also have
~AASoAAS Va Aho"hS liS pAoOdOlhly VI
Maine having been blown up. for the secret
of the harbor defenses and Of the mines
ard torpedoes which existed, If there were
any, is In their possession.
Dynamite COnspiracfes.
The authorities also know something of
the dynamite and other conspiracies with
which the city was thought to be honey
combed, because these conspiracies were
originally directed against the government
Whether these plots were diverted toward
the American warship should not be diff
cult to determine If the authorities are as
fully informed as they claimed to be-
1t may prove after the calm and thorough
investigation of the disaster by the naval
court of inquiry that there was an acci-
dent and that the external evidences of the
ship having been blown up which now
seem 80 strong are mistaken. In that
event presumably full credit will be given
the Spanish government and a kindlier feel
ing may prevail in the United States
Nevertheless the official assurance that the
Maine was destroyed through some acci-
dental cause would not change the condi-
uons in Cuba. nor would 1t alter the senti-
ment which has been disclosed. At some
stage or other American statesmansh.-
must recognize that it has to do with half
civilized people, whose savage instincts
manifest themselves when the occasion
arises
Spanish Sovereignty Waning.
All this time Spanish sovereignty in the
island is becoming extinct. but the ex.
tinction comes like volcano whose fires
are dying out, yet blaze forth at times.
1t Is literally true that in the eastern end
of the island the Spanish troops have been
repulsed by the insurgents under Calixto
Garcia. 1t is also true that reinforcementa
have been sent to Santa Clara province be-
cause of the oppressive tactics of the in.
surgent chiefs who are carrying out the
orders of Gomez. They only help to
strengthen the evidence that autonomy is a
failure.
Decentralization spreads and the people
continue TO starve to death. Possibly the
reports OF the American consuls ON au-
tonomy and on the inability Of the govern
ment to succor the starving people win be |