The herald., 1898-03-29
- AlGoNa THE THINGS LIKELY
10 HAPPEN
sRAANp OF THE MANaRovE
ostsusibly 70 Bring Back Wrsckags,
1pally to Provide transportation
for American Citizens
4asealalea Pres. sp.o.al VIZ.


Ornys which sailed for Havana on Fri.
day went there ostensibly to bring away
material saved from the Maine, but In
reality to be ON hand In case Of an out
treak IN Havana. 80 that Americana
oauld take refuge on the vessel, sayl
the Key West correspondent Of the Her
ald.
Twenty-one American citizens arrived
1ore ON the steamer Olivette from Ha-
yane. Among these were Capt. Sigs.
eee and other officers Of the Maine, Or
Aered home by the Washington authori-
Ties. Captain Chidwick will remain here
temporarily. All the other ofilcers con-
tinued north via Tampa.
The consensus Of obinton among all
~ peaeengers was that h general EXC.
4ua from Havana wouldyshortly follow
I, ~ the result Of the pre1ent excitement
Attending the present attitude Of the
/. American government.
unN9ually strict ceyAorship has been
!, maintained over the cable to prevent
J any information heirG known regarding
i the attitude Of the vfhited States govern
Ment, the authori,ks fearing violent de-
nena1RatkQna aga <nst the American resi-
Gents In Havanrh
!, Among the Passengers who arrived
was Julio Hdalgo. OF the prominent
banking firni OF Hidalgo & Co.. Havana
No better informed person than Me-
A1dAlGo or one who is better qualified
to express an opinion regarding the
conditio As In Havana can be found. The
4eot Of his being careful. conservative
9ueine ks man gives weight to any as
00Rttfkn he unluht runko '
a. a said that the city Of Havana might
be Akened to volcano. liable to eruption
T. ~ any moment. Palace authorities, by
l Hie enforcement Of the most stringent
measures, aided by bayonets had been
able to hold the rabid populace in check,
but he feared this element was deter
mined now on a conflict with the United
States and could not longer be con-
trolled. more especially as the movement
would have among the most active lead
ers and ardent supporters. well-known
military officers and prominent mer-
chants Of the island. Once started, there
was no telling. he said. where an up
rising would end.
THE CUBAN PRESS
NEW YORK, March ga dispatch
to the Tribune from Havana says: Ha-
vnna newspapers have finally estab-
lished friendly relations with the press
censorship. Heretofore they have in
stituted mild objections against the gen.
eral stan OF the army which is charged
with the duty OF editing of the copy.
The general stafft does not use the blue
pencil slkillfully or with discrimination.
Anything that might appear to be hos
!. tile to the governments policy is thrown
out entirely. II suspicion exists that
an article IL meant to be read be-
tween the lines 1t is lifted bodily. A
better understanding was not reached
until q subject was found upon which
the military censorship OF the press and
the newspapers occupied common
ground. This was the Yankee. The
policy Of autonomy was 30 dead that the
daily journals, though representing
what was supposed to be conflicting
opinions could find nothing over which
they could dispute.
Some asperity has been developed over
. local matter known as the slaughter
house contract. The contract was let
by Weyler to his friends. There was
much money in It for those whe secured
/. the concession. They did not mind the
scandal. When the Weyler regime went
out the supporters Of the new regime
thought the contract ought to be abfo-
gated because Of q scandal surrounding
II and their friends have the privilege
Of fresh concession. The influencsiof
the Weyler ring has been too strong to
overcome. The controversy ragged
fercely, and the newspapers have taken
sides and indulge in what would be called
in the States Offensive personalities."
Some activity has also been shown
by the organs of the intransigeants or
conservatives in their discussion Of the
central committees decision that the
marty should "come out Of its shell" and
70 through the form of taking part in
the elections.
But these exchanges of compliments
have not aroused feeling. Everybody
knows they were meaningless. It was
only when the Yankee was tossed to
them that all the journals found they
had secured raw meat on which to feAd.
with the press censorship taking
the edge on their appetite. partisanship
has ceased In the enjoyment Of the conf
mon feast At first the exhortations
were simply to Spanish patriotism md
loyalty with only yelled references to
the enemies Of Spain, This was s1on
changed to open attacks on the Yankees
or North Americans, az they are indis-
crimately called.
The loyal Spanish classes have been
worked up to the point where they
think It would be both duty and, q
privilege to punish the entire Yankee
nation. They will not begin to perform
The operation until the word comes from
Spain. Then, II the Havana newspapers
interpret their sentiment correctly. they
viii start with their sleeves rolled pp
and hsgin the slaughter Of American
s"piss."
In working up this patriotic fever the
newspapers have unconsciously per-
I formed Z public service. They have
educated the Havana populace to the
probabllity that the Maine was blown
Np hy an external agency. No case has
.boen made out for their own govern
nent. The people have not been ledto
Fiselieve that It would be possible to ~
tabiish the theory Of accident They
have been much interested In the d.
tails Of the American case. have had
: more information dAput II. and notwi h
sta nding their prej{ {lices and passions,
plhcs more conndetEe In It. SO thsy
are prepared for the Verdict.
THE PANIsH2LECTION
NEW YORK, March ga dispatch to
the World from Madrid says;
seldom has general election excited
|. fege interest In the Capitol than that or