The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-11
CUBAN AUTONOMY
easiness Over Maneuvesinx Of American
Fleet-sagasta's Replyr mister Woo

Havana (via Ke, .yest.) February
6.-Dispatohes received from Madrid
late yesterday. which are not allowed
10 be published. say that the Sagasta
cabinet has become Disguised with n
autonomist Cuban ministry for not
following a military policy and not at
tempting to attack the insurgents, but
simply attending to their own interests,
ignoring entirely the insurgents in the
field. It is desired that Senores Giber-
ga, Bruzon, Amblard. Govin and Font
should form a radical party. intrusted
with the task Of arranging terms with
the insurgents. n government offer
ing to disarm the volunteers and form
a militia with the CubanS n also Of
fering to pay one-half OF Cuba's debt.
amounting actually to $500, 000, 600. Of
which amount $500, 000. 600 was incurred
during the last war, s240. 000, 900 during
the present instruction and the re-
manning $50, OO0, 900 of which is actual
Indebtedness of the government.
Political agitation. as well as the
cessation of military operations, has
paralyZed commerce and Is creating
discomfort and a feeling Of diScour-
agement. 1t is believed that the policy
of the new political party, If it does
not meet with success, viii. in failing,
p~recipitate the loss Of the slam
A crisis is reported to have occurred
in the council of secretaries, and it is
said that Senior Gown, secretary Of the
interior, awaits the return OF Captain
General Blanco to present his resigna-
ton. This is asserted to be due TO the
refusal of Senior Moret, Spanish minis
ter for the colonies, to repeal the law
relative to the removal of judges and
magistrates.
Great public anxiety exists, but is
prevented by the censors from being
shown in the newspapers. This ankle
ty is due to the evolutions of the
American fleet and the presence of
war vessels at Lisbon and in the vicin-
ity of the Azores, in the route of Span
ish steamers to Cuba, while other war
ships will leave for St. Thomas, near
Porto Rico, Matanzas and other Cuban
ports. These movements are taken as
clearly indicating to Spain that the
American government is prepared for
an and is eagerly watching
the movements of the Spanish fleet
from strategic points.
Madrid. February Gel HeraldO
says that General Stewart l. Woodford,
the United States minister yesterday
presented an official note to the Span
ish government, to which Premier Sa-
gasta responded in vigorous terms.
The work on the naval ornaments
is being actively rushed, and the
Spanish squadron will proceed shorty
for the Canary Islands.
London. February 6.-The Madrid
correspondent of the Standard says:
"Senor Sagasta's response to the Off
cial note presented yesterday (Satur-
day. by General WoOdford, the United
States minister, complains of the fill
clustering expeditions, and declares
that Spain cannot entertain the sug-
gestion for fixing a date for her COM
pletion of the pacificatiOn of Cuba.
.sPessimist impressions are now cur
rent regarding the relations
Spain and the United States and have
depressed the Madrid and Barcelona
bourses. Public feeling among all
classes is strong against America