The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-01
COARSE SPANISH M
A Stupid Remark About the R1aiue's Dea,
Sailors IL Received with Delight.

a Stupid Remnrk About the Maius's Dead
Sailors 10 Received with Delight.
HAVANA Feb. 2s.-The Spaniards of all par.
ties are unable to conceal their Joy over the dis.
aster to the Maine. and even in their news
papers, after the first conventional expressions
OF sorrow. the most cruel and inhuman senti-
ments are found.
The Didrio de la Marina, the Oldest news.
paper OF Havana and the paper possessing the
largest circulation all over the island. has pub
lished tho most unfeeling remarks about the
dead American sailors. Three editions of the
Didrio containing the insulting paragraph were
quickly exhausted with great delight by its
Spanish readers.
This newspaper 10 always the first to attack
tho American press merely for printing news
from Cuba that is not favorable to tho Spanish
cause.
Tho Diario said on Feb. 81 that the blowing
up of the Maine was "a hecatomb." and then
printed the following explanation:
"a subscriber asks us what is the meaning OF
the word 'hecatomb.' We have to answer that,
according to the classical dictionaries. 1t was
the sacrifice Of over one hundred oxen before
the affairs of the false gods. 1t Is also a whole
sale butchery of dumb beasts and some other
kinds Of animals"
The joke, II so it can be called. has been re-
pIlhlCo Wy hll blC ophiibh ~ u
the significance OF this stupid piece of journal
ism. 1t is only necessary to say that the OK is re.
garded by the Spanish people as tho most con-
temptible of animals.
The Didrio de la Marina. official organ of the
Spanish Navy. Is owned by friends of the present
Government in Cuba. Its principal shareholder
and President Of the Board of Directors. is the
Marquis of Rabell. honorary President of the
Autonomist party. The paper is a strong auto.
nomist organ and, like FL Pals. it receives direct
inspiration from Senior Galvez's Cabinet.
The question who blew up the Maine and how
1t was done is very hard to determine. in spite
of all the sensational discoveries that yellow
journals claim to have made. That the warship
was blown up by some external agency and that
the authors were Spanish. everybody here boz
lieves. even the Spaniards themselves.
Ell Cd,re0, Weyler's organ here. sarcastically
remarks that II war is declared Spain has al
ready won the first battle "by a lucky chance"
The Cubans here arc very indignant over tho
suggestion mado by the Worlds correspondent
that the Maine may have been blown up by
some Cuban idborante, eager to provoke q war
between the United States and Spain. 1t is OBJ
vious that II tho Cubans had had at their dis
posal the means of blowing up warships in the
harbor OF Havana they would long ago have
DESTROYED the whole Spanish Navy. Besides,
tho presence Of the Maine at Havana was
heartily welcomed by all of them as much II as 1t
was a source Of continual apprehension to the
Spaniards.
1t may appear strange that the German war
ships W which visited Havana not long ago were
not received here in q very friendly manner by
the Spaniards, and that the German officers.
quite contrary to what was expected OF them.
showed great sympathy with the Cuban cause.
For the nrst time 1t is now known in Havana
that q Cuban lady went on board of the German
schoolship. and when invited to drink she
toasted CUBA Libre." which was enthusiast.
cally drunk on all hands.
eli that IL true" says La Yos del Pueblo. I'VE
sincerely regret that the Germans did not stay
longer In port. because 70 would have had a
chance then TO see them blown up. as they were
SO near the Maine