Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-18
SPANISH AUTHORITIES IN CUBA IN A
STATE OF ALARM.
AUTONOMY CAUSING TROUBLE.
OFFICERS WHOM IT OUSTED ARE
FOMENTING REBELLION.
They Are Aided and Allotted by the
weyIcr GanE-Captain General
BIanco Prepared for Any
thing That May Occur
Army In Loyal.

partment of state and from the officials in
Havana TO the Spanish ministry report that
disorder has been suppressed and quiet ana
peace is being maintained in that city. pri-
yate information from reliable sources JUS
titles an apprehension that disturbances
Ike those of last week may occur at any
time with grave results. Captain General
Blanco is prepared for any emergency ana
has his spies in every, circle of society, SO
that whatever happens will not be sur
prise and can be met with the necessary
remedies. 1t is true also that "a watched
pot never boils.'' and conspiracies that are
so long in Matching do not produce very
dangerous chickens.
1t is evident however. that the new gov
ernment has much more to fear from DIS
contented army officers and disappointed
contractors than from the insurgents. Inc
responsible portion Of the Spanish popula7
tion-the taxpayers, the merchants, plant
ers and manufacturers-have accepted au-
tonomy as an experiment. and hope that IL
may result in restoring peace. But anoffer
faction of the Conservative OF Spanish
party. which sympa1hized with and sus7
tanned General Weyler and enjoyed iucrai
tive rewards therefor, is embarrassing the
new government in every. way possible ana
conspring for its overthrow, and hopes 10
compel the Spanish minister to abandon
home rule and restore the Weyier policy OF
murder. tyranny and corruption. 1t Is re-
ported that they are even plotting for the
assassination of Captain General Blancos
and intend, If possible, to Involve the Span
ish government In hostilities with the
United States. ft /
There is a complete and cordial under
standing between the administration at
Washington and the ministry at Madrid,
who are cooperating as far as possible TO
make autonomy success. The leaders OF
the Liberal and Republican parties in Cuba
are also sincere In their efforts in the same
direction. They have accepted the omceS
and the responsibility Of carrying out the
policy which they have been advocating SO
long and SO earnestly. and are positive
that IL would have been satisfactory to the
people and successful had it been adopted
two years or even a year ago. Those who
pronounce autonomy failure forget that
II has been in operation only fifteen days,
but they expressed similar opinion before
It was adopted.
During the fifteen days that have elapsed
q tremendous revolution has occurred a,aS tna IN
the people to comprehend. Weyler has been
replaced by Galveg. republican, revo-
lutionist and an original sympathizer with
the insurrection. who refused, however, to
follow the present leaders and went into
exile. Several hundred officeholders who
were brought from Spain to plunder the
country and many of whom have been in
office for thirty years, have been dis
charged from their official positions and
their places have been given to native Gu
bans, many of whom have been in active
sympathy with the insurrection. and some
of whom have recently been released from
Jail. Everybody who was appointed to Of
flee by Weyler has been turned out. Be-
tween 800 and 400 army officers who were
his favorites. and have been reveling In
corruption under his rule. are now without
Office, influence or prospects.
Several hundred contractors. suffers and
others who have been plundering the gov
ernment and dividing the spoils, and null
ffs,lA Of <.fx-t1f fon +h.a .hod
at headquarters and share In the honors
and emoluments. have been driven out Of
the palace and the headquarters of the
army, and are desperate for revenge.
Their natural resentment has been in
famed by injudicious attacks and criticisms
from two liberal newspapers which have v,
been started since General Blanco came-El
Reconcentrado. which Is an entirely new
paper. and La Discussion, which was sup
pressed by Weyler for treason two years
ago. Mr.. Coranado, the former editor. Is
now with Gomez in the insurgent camp.
Both the papers have been not only indis-
Greet but vicious in their attacks upon
great deal Of truth. but have been guilty Of
exaggeration and falsehood also. and pro-
voked the attack which was made upon
them by a mob last week. This mob was
led by some of Weyler's favorite aids. and
l66 of them are said to have participated.
Since then the papers have been suppressed.
and the liberality that was granted the
press by General Blanco when he first ar
rived has been curtailed by the censor
are conspiring against the new government
of Cuba. They pretend to be loyal to Spain,
but insist that Spaniards shall continue to
rule Cuba as before, and are trying to in
flame the prejudices of the ignorant and
vicious classes.
Fortunately the army is loyal although
II is weak. hungry and unpaid. The discon.
tented officers have had no commands
They are what are called cafe generals
and are always found around the drinking
places In Havana and the clubs. They have
a nd nrfa acfo
departments, attached to headquarters or
detailed for semi-civil duties. They have
no influence with the soldiers On the con-
trary, they are despised by the hard-work-
ing officers and Ill paid enlisted men who
have had field duty and no opportunity to
share in the plunder. There is more dam
ger from the volunteers. who are COM
posed OF town people and elect their own
officers. They have many friends in office
and among the contractors and fayorites
OF Weyler. but they are divided, as are the
conservatives.
Key West. Fla, Jan. l1.-Havana is still
much alarmed and many residents are
preparing 10 depart for the United States
The hot headed Spaniards declare they
Will nave no autonomy nor permit the
publication of any papers that attack
Weyler or any officer of the Spanish army.
General Blanco has been obliged to pub
lish an edict, against those writer's who
have given out the recent infiammatory ar
ticies. The Spaniards declare If General
Blanco allows the antonomists to publish
papers against the Spanish government
the army will send him back to Spain and
destroy the newspaper establishments IL
Is said a duel between the autonomfst
leader, Senior Rafael Fernandez de Castro.
and Senior Antonio Martin Rivero. editor
OF La Discussion. was fought recently.
Pistols were used. The report saws de
Castro was killed. This has caused great
alarm. as de Castro had many friends
nmcng the Standards. and 1t is feared La
Discussion will be attacked again.