The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-21
SPAlN'S CROP OF SENSATIONS.
LEE, THE POPE AND DON CARLOS
BEFORE THE PUBLIC.

1
Consul Generals RecaII-Attitude
OF the Pope Toward the Cuban
Question Appears to He in Doubt.
story That Son of Don Carlos Is to
Enter Spain As Pretender to the
Throne.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.
| Madrid, March S.-The Madrid press,
with a few exceptions, has during the past
few days been trying to convice the public
that there was never any question of Gen.
Fitzhugh Lees recall from Havana. The
facts in the case, however, are exactly as
cabled to the Associated Press.
Senior Sagasta, in conversation with
Gen. Woodford, did suggest that friendship
and good will between the two countries
would be promoted were Gen. Lee to be
recalled, and after consulting his govern
ment, Gen. Woodford did inform the pre-
mier that such a step could not be consid-
cred.
The Globo, the Spanish ministerial or
gan, in a leading article to-day, says the
statement concerning Gen. Lee can only
mislead those who are ignorant of the ira
ditional sensitiveness of the stock ex-
| change
"The present blow" 1t continues, comes
from Paris and is due 60 two absurd ru-
mors. namely, that the United States gov
ernment refused to remove Gen. Lee at the
request of the Spanish government, and
that no lesser person than his holiness
Leo XIII, had, through his Secretary of
State, committed himself to favorable
statements with regard TO the Cuban in
surgents. The first has no basis what
ever. the government having neither off,
cially nor indirectly suggested Gen. Lees
REMOVAL the latter. we opine, arises solely
from Cardinal Cascajares pastoral. But
it is we'll known that the said pastoral has
not been well received at Rome"
The Impartial says: III the day should
come when war is inevitable and the pres
ent government tranquility turns out to
be neglect and want Of foresight, then the
foreign question will be as nothing COM
pared to the home one started in our
midst. AS we have already pointed out,
the most dangerous thing which can hap
pen Is that the nation should imagine the
government is negecting either the de-
tense of our honor or our interests. For
that will leave the road open for some
ambitious man who has name or point
ical party of some strength
The Pals referring to the denial given
by Senior Sagasta the statements contain
ed in its issue of March T. to the effect
that the Pope sympathizes with the Gu
ban rebels, remarks that no one knows
the truth of this fact better than Premier
Sagasta himself.
1t adds; "It Is, however, absolutely
true that the Pope has discountenanced
the warlike attitude of some of the Span
ish prelates who are organizing battalions
of volunteers, and that he suggested the
removal of Gen. Weyler from his COM
mand Nor can 1t be forgotten that the
Pope has In no way admonished the
Bishop of Havana, who thunders against
the system of war in Cuba, accusing us
Of being cruel and bloody. In our opinion
patriotism does not consist in denying
the truth"
With respect to the affair of Gen. Lee,
the Pals says: "It is quite clear the
government is determined to live as di-
vorced as possible from public opinion
and it carries out this plan with a consis-
tency worthy OF a better cause AT this
very moment, when the whole Of Spain
or rather the whole of Europe-is rejolc-
ing at the rumors of complaints address,
ed by the Spanish government to that of
the United States our minister of state
labors to prove that no such complaints
have ever been made, and that the gov
ernment has not even incidentally occu-
pied itself with the affair"
The Pals then adds: Gen. Lee may
now quietly continue plotting in his IIa-
vana consulate"
Referring TO the quotation slump" in
Spanish fours, the Liberal characterizes
as absurd the action attributed to the
Pope, "his lofty prudence being recognize
ed all the world over" Nor does 1t credit
the Lee incident with being the real cause
Of the slump.
"The real origin" 1t says, IS TO be
found in the prominent state of alarm un-
der which the Spanish have lived for
some time I'm the tension of mind they
endure; in the cloud Of suspicion with
which they are surrounded IN the fervor-
lsh excitement which leads them to take
precautions against a rupture, and In the
angry restlessness which pervades all un-
known dangers. Step by STEP almost
unconsciously we and they have reached
state Of armed policy. not less ruinous
and probably more demoralizIng than
actual war While things continue In this
position we may at each step expect SINH
lar falls without the necessity OF a con-
crete fact bringing them about. Undoubt-
edly our relations with the United States
are daily accommodating Themselves 10
the strict dictates of prudence and dill
gence but does the government really
believe that the nation can without suf-
fering irredeemabie loss put up for few
months more with this angushing inde-
cislon and enervatlng uncertainty"
The Liberal Is OF the opinion that the
clouds continue to gather. II adds, how
ever; "The solution Of the problem lies
In the pacifcation of Cuba. When this is
accomplished all the clouds that now
arise from the United States VIII disap-
pear OF themselves"
The Impartial regrets that Spain applies
to external politics the dilatory tactics she
Is accustomed to use in international af-
fairs. This. to a great extent, arises from
the fact that for the greater pari OF the
century Spain has but little mixed herself
with outside politics, for she has lived
like a nation shut up In its shell, stewing
IN ats own juice"
Continuing, the impartial says for more
than two years Il has warned the country
that to be feared by the Cuban insurgents
II was necessary 10 be respected by the