Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-28
Spanish Rule in Cuba Dangerously
Near Abrupt Dissolution.
DESPERATE SCHEMES FOR DELAY
Presence of the Mane Arouses
Deep if Silent Resentment.
ELECTIONS ARE POSTPONED

Tampa. Fla. January a1-TA. Spanish
government In Cuba trembles ,n the verge
of a crisis, but the crisis MAJ . = ,.o.tp,si.od
The whole play now is 10 gain tifne. Blan-
CO. IL is said. has staked cveryih.,.l. Oh A
sii gle card. If his trip to ne EASTERN
provinces fails to secure important pre-
sentations OF insurgent chiefs the game
may be given up But II will net he given
ur II Blaicos coming back wita fresh ex-
cuses may keep Spain blinded "a while
longer. The situation is a despairipE on".
hut 1t will not be recognized "a such by
the government.
Whether Blancp took with him 81 o0oon
as some believe. whether il WAS only
SS00,0oo, IS the dr afts on the treasury seem
to show, he is certain to return without
any portion Of It and with the insnrrectIon
no nearer to an end than Il has h,en AT
any time during the last three months
Celebrating Ingnfned Victories.
Madrid is s,ill celebrating the supposed
success OF General Castellanos in his move
ment in Puerto Principe against IN. insur-
gents. though il is fully known an Cuba
that Castellanos' campaign was :ailurs.
and that he was glad 10 get back 10 the
city with his troops.
Similar victories of this kind can me
manufactured and Spain be k"pt from
knowing the truth for three or fonr rlcnths.
That will bridge the period until Ia" Wet
season begins. and the people III Spain
have grown accustomed not To expect re-
sults during the summer. Judging ~ Ike
feeling of the Spanish authorities they are
rot in serious fear of an upset at home
long as they can keep the insurgents from
taking Havana.
The presence of the Maine raises the
question whether the crisis in the relations
of Spain with the United States has been
reached. 1t is yet too early {" Judge the
effects of that move or the real impression
that has been made on Havana. The popu-
lace who lined the port when the vessel
came in unheralded Tuesday morning have
rot fully recovered from their stupefaction.
They a praiseworthy disposition to
make the best of its presence but they sin
talk and wonder about the meaning OF the
move Americans are gratifed that safe
guard is afforded against possible danger
10 their persons. but they think they see
something beyond.
ConEosso's Protest Remembered.
Everybody in Havana knows that several
weeks ago. when the sending 81 a war ves-
sci was suggested, Secretary General Con-
gosto called on Gen. Lee and earnestly
protested. 1t is also known that during the
riot when the consul general sert a mes
sage TO the palace saying he would call for
cruiser at the first sign OF danger 10 He
and property. tart reply was given to the
effect that there would he no occasion Tor
such action on his part When Lee on
Monday, acting on his Instructors from
Washington, announced that the Maine
was coming, there was a very lad eNhihi-
ton of temper at the palace. At this writ
ing Secretary Longs pacific assurance Of
friendly call had not been published here,
though line has heen given To the Tact
that Minister De LONE assured the State
Department that Spain accepted the send
ing of the Maine to Havana harbor as u
proof of friendship.
The usual official courtesies will he paid
to Cant. Sigsbee and the officers OF IL"
Maine The presence of two German train
ing ships may cause the official courtesios
10 be Joined and therefore be made less
embarrassing. Nobody, however, pre'enGs
to be fooled. The civil officials and the
army officers deeply resent the appearance
of the Maine in Cuban waters. The in
surgent sympa thizers rejoice in it. ami al
ready the word Is spreading over the
island from one insurgent camp TO the
other 1t will not be far behind Blanco
in reaching Santiago. Whatever excuse or
apologies may be made. the coming of an
American vessel Of war is looked on as
a forerunner of something further TO fol-
low. IL 1t is not the prelude to interver-
tion in some form, a wrangle has certainly
been caused.
Spanish Diplomats Awake.
Spanish diplomacy has not been asisep.
though taking measures to put the United
States to sleep The arrival OF the war
ship finds that diplomacy making a des-
perate and skillful maneuver for further
delay. Two cards are being played: they
are the prospective elections under au-
tonomy and the proposed reciprocity
treaty. Spain may not be able 10 show
evidence that the insurrection is weakened
or that peaceful pursuits can be resumed.
but she will hold out the plea that auton-
olny has not been given a fair trial till
the elections are held under It, if the elec-
tioEs were close at hand this would be a
reasonable plea
Early in December I found the palace Off
cials chatting over a slight delay I'm taking
the census. They wanted IL taken imms-
diately SO they could complete the prepsra-
tions for the elections which were To he
held the first week in February. The same
promise as to time was given by the Sa-
gasta ministry In Madrid. The FIRST week
of February Is pushing a smiling face
above the horizon; the census WAS com
pleted the last day of December hut The
Cuban elections under autonomy, If they
are ever held, will not be held during the
first week Of February. April is now the
time fixed for them, Captain General
Blanco suddenly discovered that the cleo
toral lists could not be properly revised
so as TO hold the elections earlier AS cx-
planned to me this revision of the census
is something like purging the registry lists
in the United States II should occupy two
Or three days. but the captain general
gives two months TO it, The government
has solemnly promised that the Isis shah
be honestly revised or In other woras that
1t won't stun the ballot box. The Sppos.-
tion sneers at this promise and refuses 10
credit a. These matters Of internal ioli-
tues, however, do not concern Tie tJi;ei
States. What does concern It is tha: he
elections have been put on tn March 10.
But that really means some time In April.
and. in this way, Spain hopes TO ward on
American intervention before midsummer.
April is close TO the wet season and also
10 the yellow fever season.
Recipro~ifS Treaty Farc~.
The proposed sreciprocity treaty is so
good a farce that the Havana chamber OF
commerce cannot keep its face straight in
giving ths cooperation that has been asked