The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-03-15

lates to the Military and Politis
cal Condition &c the Island
With Reference to Interviews
ton.
NEW YORK, March l4.-A dispatch
TO the Tribune" from Havana says:
Two distinct phases of the Cuban
question are now before the American
people. one is whether the Maine in
quiry shall become a diplomatic incl
dent between the two Governments,
subject to the usual course when an
international dispute arises over facts
The other phase is the military and POI
liticaI condition of the island With ref
ence to Intervention.
Captain Sampson and his associates.
by prolonging the investigation for
weeks, might find much further cunlu-
lative evidence of an external EXPOS
sion. The comparatively narrow space
in which the divers are now working
continues to furnish proofs of an eX-
plosion from without. but this leading
fact was established two weeks ago
The clearing away of the debris had
added little to the knowledge first OBJ
tanned The belief that the Maine was
blown up by a torpedo is held by eN-
perts who have watched the progress
Of the inquiry This brings the naval
court 10 the most difficult part of it's
task. Under Admiral Sicards instruc-
tions the board is to report what per-
sons not connected with the navy are
responsible for the loss of the Maine
With what is conclusive evidence to
the minds of the members that the loss
was due to foul play. they are stu
without conclusive proof of the iden-
tity of the conspirators. That the eX-
plosion was not the work of a single,
fanatic is pretty well established. Be
yond 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
Since Captain Peral, the President
of the Spanish Board. gave out his in
tervew. that is accepted as the Span
ish official view No help can be eX-
pected from the authorities in discov-
ering the conspirators while they are
claiming that there could have been no
conspiracy. because the Maine explo-
sion was due to mysterious accident.
An analysis of Captain Peral's the
Dry need not he given here. 1t is
enough that if his scheme of raising
the hull by means of the floating dock
We're feasible, months would pass be-
fore final report could be made The
mud at the bottom has not prevented
the American divers from making an
examination of the portions of the
wreck which the board thought neces-
sary. The perfunctory labors of the
Spanish divers have not prevented
them from finding uneXploded. ammu-
milton in parts of the ship where an in
ternal explosion could hardly have lett
it intact. They have also discovered
that the turret was blown from port to
starboard. along with other incidental
evidence of an external explosion.
Nevertheless, no admission of the pos
sibility of foul play will come from the
Spanish Board. The matter as now
presented is that the American court.
while probably not feeling justified in
indicating suspicion as to the parties to
the conspiracy have sifted the evidence
which it's members are ready to submit
to the world in support of the claim
that the Maine was destroyed by foul
play: when that evidence shall be raade
public can be judged better in Wash
ngton than Havana
/; General Blancos autonomist Govern
ment, so far as an autonomist Govern
nent exists, is rejecting the instruc-
tons from Madrid in encourag ing re-
siStance to American intervention on
the grounds laid down in the Prcsi-
dents message. An abstract of Min
lister Moret's speech is published here.
and one and all classes are cXhorted to
unite. No result follows. because.
While Spain might be deceived o. the
Colonial Ministers pretensions the
people in Cuba cannot be misled The
claim that the Spanish arms are max
ing progress only draws attention to
the failure OF the military operations,
and to the knowledge that IN what lit
tie fighting is now going on the insur-
gents are generally successful. SEN
stor Proctor carried back some clear
ideas regarding the military campaign.
They may be useful to the adolinistra-
ton and TO his colleagues ir the SEN
ate.
Two months ago the decision of the
Conservative party to take part in the
elections might have had influence.
Now it is Of little consequence, because,
While at that time the prospect existed
tiiat autonomy might iaSt tlIl AFTER the
election OF a Cuban Congress, its pos
sibility no longer exists. The Govern
ment proposition was that it should
have two-thirds of the Congress and
the Conservatives one-third. NothWith-
standing the action of their Central
Committee. the mass of the intransi-
gents bitterly resent the scheme, and
exhort one another to refuse all par
ticipation in the Government so long as
autonomy is not repudiated. They de-
nounee Apezteguia and his followers as
traitors to the Spanish Government.
The intransigent newspapers complain
of the press censorship. and ask Gem
erai Blanco to modify it so that the
questions supposed to be a. issue in the
elections may be freely discussed. They
will not be gratificd.
The Autonomist Cabinet with it's in
ternal dissensions has sunk completely
out of sight.
The political and military condition