Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-08
AMERICANS IN HAVANA.

The Rev Edward W. Abbey, a Pres
byterian minister, sends a letter from
Havana to the New York Evangelist, in
relation to the treatment of Miss Clara
Barton and her mission, and of Ameri-
cans generally in Cuba After describ-
ing his landing, he continues:
The usual Spanish politeness was
everywhere manifested. The fears of
mistreatnent, which had 50 predomi-
mated in the states, were found TO be
groundless. A few hours LATER l ex-
pressed my sense of disappointment in
this regard to our excellent consul Gen.
Lee, when he laughingly replied: "Well,
you just go out on that balcony, and
shout Viva Cuba two or three times,
and you will have excitement enough
YES" added Capt. Sigsbee, VINO was
present, land l have no Maine out
there to do any goodn'
In other words, 1t may be said that
the American is as welcome in Havana
today as ever he was, and al least up to
this time has little cause to complain
of his treatment. But if he is disposed
to interfere either with tongue or hand
with the affairs of the government, he
will doubtless realize what these thou.
sands of soldiers constantly paradine
the streets singly and in companies art
here for. Spain is hot maintaining ar
army of 100000 man on this island fol
the purpose of allowing outsiders to re.
vile the government or take hand in
aid of those in rebellion against her au-
thority.
But whoever conducts himself with or
dinary discretion will be as courteously
treated on these streets of Havana as
Spaniard will be on the streets of New
York. He will wonder why the people
in the United States have such fears OF
personal danger to "Americanos" here
since he discovers nothing to Justify it
Not that the Spanish officials cordially
love our nation, or that the Spaniards
here approve of the sympathy we ex.
tend the Cuban insurrectionists but the
American will not be made to feel by
word or sign that he is not as welcome
and free to come and go as would be a
Spaniard in the seatS3
wish to state these facts, for the rea-
son that the situation in Havana seems
to be so utterly misunderstood in the
United States, and also because it helps
to explain what Miss Clara Barton
| meant when she said: 81 feel humli-
ated by the way my countrymen speak.
| I had seen statements in the newspapers
before leaving home, to the effect that
her mission would doubtless prove a
failure, and that she would probably be
sent out of the country, or, if she re-
IldlIGU,
they would place obstacles In her way
to make even her charitable work i'm
| possible.
DESTROYS of knowing the facts in this
regard, 1 called upon her today to learn
the exact status of affairs. / found her
with a staff of assistants pleasantly To-
Gated. and the work under her charge
well under way. Almost her first words
were those above quoted. She desired
that whatever could be done should be
done to rectify the feelings of our people
in this matter She was even then read
ing letter from the editor of leading
New York newspaper in which she was
requested to give the actual state OF
things.
Why said she, every one from the
governor general down, has offered all
possible assistance instead Of placing
obstacles in our way, they have been
forward in coming to our aid instead OF
sending us out of the country, we have
lshad such a reception and such facilities
placed at our disposal for reaching out
in the relief work, that we have been
surprised at the result already accom-
plished"