The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-21
THE SPANISH PRESS.
Madrid Papers Trying to Smooth
Down the People.
GEN. LEES RECALL WAS NOT ASKED.
1t Was Merely Intimated as a
Friendly Act.
THE PANIC IN FINANCES
slump In Spanish Securities IL the
subject of Considerable Alarm.
France Makes a Demand.

VIII -" eACeptloHS' mas uuriHS the past
few days been trying TO convince the peo-
pie that there never was any request for
titzhush Lees recall from Havana The
facts in the case. however. are exactly as
cabed TO the Associated Press Senior Sa-
gasta, in conversation with General Wood
FORD, did suggest that friendship and good
VIII between the two countries would be
promoted were General Lee to be recalled
and after consulting his government Gem
eral Woodford did inform the premier that
such step would not be considered. Moth
irg would have been known of the affair
mad 1t not been some one in the Spanish
foreign office confided The information to
the official nows agency of Spain, the Fab
ria agency.
The fact that this agency published 1t and
the censor allowed 1t 10 be telegraphed by
them abroad is. to these familiar with the
methods in Madrid. conclusive evidence
that it was correct. 1t was only when tho
effect that this news produced in Amer
lea was cabled back here and after there
was fall on the bourse, that there was
any question of its authenticity.
The Globe, the Spanish ministerial or
gan, in leading article today says IL can
only mislead those who are ignorant Of the
traditional sensitveness of the stock ex-
change, adding that neither the govern
ment nor public opinion should pay greater
attention to the statement than 1t merits.
The present blow" it continues, comes
from America and it is due to two absurd
rumors that the United States refused 10
remove General Lee al the request OF tho
Sr t.fcI,
person than his holiness, Leo XIII, had.
through his secretary of state, committed
himself to favorable statements with re-
gard to the Cuban insurgents. The fret
has no basis whatever, the government
having neither officially nor indirectly
suggested Lees removal; the latter, we
opine. arises solely from Cardinal Casca-
jares' pastoral But 1t is we'll known that
the said pastoral has not been well re .
ceived at Rome
The impartial refers to the Lee rumors
and to the government denial of their
truth as accounting for the fall in prices.
1t declines to decide on which side the
truth really Lies.
Commenting however, on the tranquil
lily of the government and especially Of
Senior Sagasta. 1t says.
I'VE presume the ministers have reas-
surfing information which discounts in their
minds the panic reigning in financial cir.
ces."
But 1t adds. "if they have not, what
frightul responsibility lies upon them. We
dc not wish Is admit IL, nor even TO thlnA
of it. for If the day should come when wal
is inevitable and the present government
TRANQUILITY turns out to be unstable. the
foreign question will be as nothing as 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 neglecting 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 political party
of an opportunity"
With respect TO the affair of General Lee
the impartial says: 1T is quite clear tho
government 10 determined to live as d.
yorced as possible from public opinion and
Il carries out this plan with consistency
worthy of better cause. AZ this very mo-
nent when the whole of Snsin--or rather
the whole Of Europe--is rejoicing at the ru-
mors OF complaints addressed by the Span
ish government to that OF the United
States, your minister Of state labors 20
prove that nc such complaints have ever
been made and that the government has
not even incidentally occupied itself with
the affair.
People doubt the truth Of these state
ments. We do not We prefer TO credit
them rather than suspect what must other
wise have happened. namely. that the gov
ernment niads the complaint, but in the
face of the insolept refusal of the Yankees
Ia make satisfaction we had not the corr
age to abide by them. Nevertheless the
rumors. We must admit, look true. All
the world believes in their authenticity,
and these who do not find that II is Ike
ly that they are true
nm NIL
ting In Havana"
Referring to the quotation slump In
SPANISH is, the Liberal characterizes as
absurd the action attributed TO the pope,
..his lofty prudence being recognized all
the world over" Nor does IT credit the
Lee rumors with being the real cause Of
the fall.
THE real origin" 1t says. is to De
found in the prominent state OF alarm uli-
der which Spanish and American people
have lived for some time In tho tension OF
mind in which both endure. in the ol,ua
OF suspicion 'xith which they are sur
rounded in the feyerish excitement which
leads them to take precautions against a
rupture and in the aggressiYeness which
peryades all unknown strangers. step ~
step. almost unconsclousiy. we and they
have reached step OF armed peace. not
lfes rrnous ard probably more demoialis-
ing than actual war. While things con'inue
in this pcsitjnn we may at earh step ex-
nacf similar falls without the necessity Of
. concrete fact hrinsing ihsn aNois-
doubtediy our relations With the United
states are daily accommodating themselves
40 the strict dictates Of prudence and "
gence: but does the government roniiy be-
licye that the nation can without suffering
irredeemable icsh put mp for few months
more with this anxuishing indecision and
cu< ryatiug unccrtaintvf'
The Liberal is Of the opinion that the
clouds continue to gather. II adds: "a
fresh cause OF alarm about which much
Is faid, but listi. Is kpavr. vas added
yesterday. II is rumored that the bank
al France has threatened our government.
derns nding that II shall settle the dues-
ton Of payment (auxilioD az railway COM