The Red Cloud chief., 1898-03-04
WOULD BE A RELIEF.
SPANIARDS ARE ANXIOUS
FOR WAR.
Impatientiy AwaIpg the Result Of the In
quIry OF tho Maine Disaster
SIMPSONS Board Held to he Trying Ia
Prove Foul play.

NEW YoRK, March THE Havana
correspondent Of the New York 1ri-
bune says: 'Ohicials Of the govern.
ment are praying for relief from n
strain which they cannot endure much
longer. II is not encouraging when
officers Of high rank in the army, who
deplore the Maine catastrophe as
deeply and sincerely as do the Ameri-
a people, beg to demand tina IL the
United States intends to make the dis.
astcr a cause for going to war, 1t shall
do so quickly.
"Tbese expressions do not represent
the settled convictions Of those by
whom they are uttered They are the
uttcranccs Of men overburdened with
unxiety and uncertainty. In their
calmer moments these officers would
he the first TO accept the mediation Of
the United States rs the best mean
for helping Spain out Of her desper-
ute situation In Cuba. Under the
present strain they do not nc.
ccpt IL. They complain that
the thorough and comprehensiv
investigation which the naval court Of
inquiry Is making is too slow, and
they profess to believe that instead Of
impartial investigation TO learn the
facts the court is seeking to make out
n case OF foul play. These are repre-
Lentatives of the military arm Of the
government who do not believe any
thing OF the kind; they only talk to
relieve their overburdened minds.
III the clouds which the Maine dis.
Astcr has thrown over the relations OF
Spain and the jnited States were
cleared away the internal complica-
tons would not be lesscned. The loss
Of tho American warship and its crew
had nothing to do with the series of
minor successes which the insurgents
are gaining in all parts OF tho island.
This In due TO the Generalization
OF tho Spanish troops Gomez keeps
almost within range OF the railroad
and the telegraph in Santa Clara
province. lie could not do so II Spain
were able to carry oil an effective
campaign. The so-calicd crisis in the
autonomist's cabinet is another thing
with which The United States has
nothing to do.
''Thc crisis is not n dangerous one.
because Gown and his radical col
leagues have the secret support of the
Sagnsta ministry. Galvcz Montoro
and Iayas, who are all that remain OF
the Conservative autolomists, may
not indorse the plan To crcn ncgotia-
tons with the insurgents and to offer
Gomez n place in tho Cuban govern
ipent, but their designations are not
expected. The Saeasta ministry ap,
proves the scheme of making further
concessions 10 the insurgents and with
this knowledge members OF the auton'
omists cabiuet who disapprovs it are
likely to be passive.
The junta in New York has nj.
ready rejected the propositions. That
is not so important rs tho reputation
Of them which will come from Gomez.
Then nothing will remain for the gov.
eminent OF spain except to confess
the failure of autonomy aud moro
than autonomy, to restore peace and
save her sovereignty in Cuba. This
confession cannot await the election
OF the Cortes in April. In these con
ditions that war with the United
States should be preferred TO media
ton seems incredible, but the ultra,
loyal populacc wants war;"