The herald., 1898-03-15
TnE CUBAN QUESTIONS
WHICH THE UNIT1D STATES
MUST SOLVE
ONE IS THE MAINE DISASTER
Another r the Time When Cuban
Conditions VIII Make American
Intervention Necessary

Cond1c1o08 WILL MAKO American
Intervention Necessary
n.sociated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK. March IA dispatch
TO the Tribune from Havana says. Two
distinct phases Of the Cuban ques-
tfon are now before the American peo-
pie. One is whether the Maine inquiry
shall become a diplomatic incident be-
tween the two governments. subject ia
the usual course when an international
dispute arises. over facts. The other
phase is the military and political condi-
tion of the island with reference to inter-
ventfon.
Capt. Sampson and his associates, by
prolonging the investigation for weeks,
might md much further cumulative evil
dence Of an external explosion. The
comparatively narrow space in which
the divers are now working continues
to furnish proofs Of an explosion from
without, but this leading fact was es-
tablished two weeks ago. The clearing
away of the debris has added little to
the knowledge first obtained. The belief
that the Maine was blown UP by a
torpedo is held by experts who have
watched the progress OF the inquiry.
This brings the Naval Court to the most
difficult part of the task. Under Ad-
miral Sicard's instructions the board Is
to report what persons, not connected
with the navy. are responsible for the
loss Of the Maine. With what is con-
elusive evidence to the minds of the
members that the loss was due to foul
play, they are still without conclusive
proof of the identity of the conspirators.
That the explosion was not the work of
q single fanatic Is pretty well estab-
lished. Beyond this the board may not
be able to go, because the cooperation
of the Spanish government cannot be
had so long as Spain holds to the theory
of an accident.
The mud at the bottom has not pre-
vented the American divers from max
ing an examination of the portions of
the wreck which the board thought
necessary. The perfunctory labors Of
the Spanish divers have not prevented
them from finding unexploded ammuni-
tion in parts OF the ship where an in
ternal explosion could hardly have left
1t intact. They have also discovered that
the turret was blown from port to star
board, along with other incidental evil
dence of an external explosion. Never
theless. no admission Of the possibility of
foul play will come from the Spanish
board
Gen. Blanco's autonomist government,
30 far ais an autonomist government ex-
lists, is rejecting the instructions from
Madrid in encouraging resistance to
American Intervention on the grounds
laid down in the Presidents message
The claim that the Spanish arms are
making progress only draws attention to
the failure of the military operations and
to the knowledge that in what little fight
ing Is now going on, the insurgents are
generally successful. Senator Proctor
carried back some clear ideas regard
ing the military campaign. They may
be useful to the administration and to
his colleagues In the Senate. Two
months ago the decision of the Conserva-
tive party to take part In the elections
might have had influence. Now 1t Is of
little consequence, because while at that
time the prospect existed that autonomy
might last till after the election of
Cuban Congress, its possibility no longer
exists. The government proposition was
that it should have two-thirds of the
Congress and the Conservatives one
third. Notwithstanding the action of
their central committee the mass of the
intransigeants bitterly resent the scheme
AID exhort one another to refuse all
participation in the government so long
as autonomy Is not repudiated They de-
nounce Apezteguia and his followers as
traitors to the Spanish government. The
intransigeant newspapers complain of
the press censorship and ask Gen. Blanco
to modify 1t SO that the questions sup
posed to be at issue in the elections may
be freely discussed. They will not be
gratified.
The autonomist cabinet with its inter-
nal dissentlons has sunk out of sight.
The political and military condition
is described In single word. 1t Is a
condition of paralysis, and the United
States Is feeding the starving inhabi-
tants. knowledge of the desperate sit
uation apparently Is nerving the official
classes to excite feeling against the
United States as a means Of covering up
their international weakness. The pres
ence of the Spanish warships serves this
purpose. The ball at the Spanish Casino
in honor of the officers Of the Oquendo
and Vizcaya gives an opportunity for an
exhibition of loyalty fully as intense as
that shown by the populace when the
ships arrived. The press censorship
does not interfere with the Weyler and
other papers exhorting Spaniards to be
on their guards against the Americans
and to forestall the blow which they
say the United States intends to strike
In the Philippines. This sentiment
spreads while the usual courtesies are
exchanged between the commanders of
the Montgomery and the Spanish ships.
These courtesies do not prevent unusual
precautions by the Spanish men-of- war
In the harbor, nor did they result in CIV
ing the officers Of the Montgomery shore
leave.
The question has been raised whether,
when the Consular representations
are transmitted to Congress, a de-
fnonstration may not be made against
the Consuls. This Is not thought likely.
One reason Is that some time may elapse
before the Spanish populace is allowed
to see the full report, or a few lines in
cluding Sagasta's denial that a "de-
mand'' has been made for Lees recall.
READY TO YIELD
HAVANA, March 14.-The military
commander Of Santa Clara reports that
as the insurgent leaders Cayito. Alvarea
Nunez and others were upon the point
of surrendering to the Spanish troonu