The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-07-09

Kansas city SlaF. 4lfEy years ago,
in 1869, Spain and the United States
were on the verge of war. The strug-
giles of Cuba for independence and
Spanish conduct toward an American
ship were then, as now, the thorns
in the flesh of the American people.
The capture of the American ship
Colonel Lloyd Aspinwall by a Span
ish man-of-war led to an international
dispute which, but for the final sur
render Of Spain, would have exploded
the shells Of actual warfare between
the republic and the monarchy. The
incident of the Aspinwall brought out
the unchanged national disposition of
Spain-that of procrastination and I'M
warranted delay in its dealing with the
United States. The Colonel Lloyd AS
pinwall, owned by a New York firm,
had arrived within five miles of Ha-
vana on January 81, 1859, on its jour
ney from Port-au-Prince, when the
Harnan Cortes, Spanish man-of-war,
brought the American to a standstill
with shot across its bow and sent a
force of armed men aboard. In spite
of the protest Of Captain McCarty of
the American ship that he bore dis
patches to Rear Admiral Poor of the
North Atlantic squadron, and in the
face Of McCarty's official passports and
letters, the Spanish captain kept the
armed force aboard the Aspinwall for
six days, and then when McCarty re-
fused to sail for Havana under Span
ish orders, the Aspinwall was lowed,
her crew still captive, into the harbor
of Cuba's capital under the shadow of
MORO castle. There was a whole days
delay before the captain of the Ameri-
can ship was allowed to send his dis
patches ashore to the American con-
sui general. Not until February 10.
twenty-three days after the CAPTURE.
was Captain McCarty permitted to hold
a conference with the American con-
sui, and so dilatory were the tactics of
the Spanish that the United States gov
eminent did not learn of the CAPTURE
by foreign power of an American
ship upon the high seas until Febru-
airy 16, twenty-six days after the oc-
currence. After two days, Secretary
Fish of the state department tele-
graphed to the consul general in Cuba:
report particulars, and if seized on
the high seas, demand release" On
February rs Captain McCarty filed his
formal protest with the authorities of
Spain. Then followed a period of in
excusable delay. Spain appeared to ig-
more the protest of the United States.
Meanwhile, Spanish cruelty and out
RACES fourished unchecked in revolu-
toned Cuba. The United States gov
eminent, with General Grant at it's
mead, rigidly enforced its laws against
This curbing of the
american sympathy for the oppressed
was an unpopular measure of the adj
mlnlstration, but still the Spaniards
delayed. A telegram was at last sent
by the secretary of state to United
states Minister Sickles at Mahrid. au-
tnorlzing him to make an official de-
mand for the release of the 4ABpinwall,
march 5. Spain replied after more de-
lay that the ship was under the con-
'roI OF the admiralty court at Havana,
and could only be released by that
Dody. The United States renewed it's
demand. Spain again replied that the
snip had been "seized on suspicion
mat she was landing arms in Cuba"
and was therefore a subject of the
pr prize court. Secretary Fish replied:
suppose she had, you could not seize
Il 1or that unless you took her in
spanish waters" More delay. It was
uuring the latter part of March and
resident Grant again renewed his eff
toItS' On April 6, Minister Sickles was
Heiegraphed: "The president is not
SATISFIED with this long delay" This
was the first intimation that the
onlled States was becoming offended
at Inc conduct of Spain. General
Ofants warlike spirit boiled. He pro-
posed to the cabinet that an armed
t ~ De sent on board of the Spanish
- lsate then in dock in New York har-
por, which act might have been the
UUesinnlng of hostilities. Minister
:, who renewed his protests with
Wv. .4'3, spanish premier, Sagasta (who is
sun at the helm of the Spanish ship
VI sUate), was again put off with the
eA'uSe that the matter was undergoing
~ examination in the prize court.
oucle Sam then submitted his ultima
Culn' which would have begun the con-
,,IcI mad not Spain surrendered in the
, tnl' Minister Sickles told the Span
,al Us that the United States would not
.ecosnlze a prize court which had no
~, ,r ISuictlon excepting in a state of
val. var The very positive information
VI the Spanish minister, that the gov
oaIent of the United States would
ooHSlrue the Jurisdiction of a prize