Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-14
THE CUBAN QUESTION.
BUT WHO ARE THE GUILTY PARTIES?



question are now before the American
people. one is whether the Maine in
qulry shall become n diplomatic Incl
dent between the two governments,
subject to the usual course when an
international dispute arises over facts.
The other phase 10 the military and
political condition of the island, with
reference to intervention.
Captain Sampson and his associates
by prolonging the investigation for
weeks might find much further cumu-
lative evidence of an external explo-
sion.
The comparatively narrow space in
which the divers are now working con-
tinues to furnish proofs of an explo-
sion from without, but this leading
fact was established two weeks ago.
The clearing away of the debris has
added little to the knowledge first OBJ
tanned. The belief that the Maine was
blown up by torpedo IL held by ex-
perts who have watched the progress
OF inquiry. This brings the naval court
TO the most difficult part of Its task.
Under Admiral Sicard's Instructions,
the board Is to report what persons,
not connected with the navy, are re-
sponslble for the loss Of the Maine.
WIN what Is conclusive evidence to
the minds OF the members that the loss
was due to foul play. they are still
without conclusive proof of the identity
OF the conspirators. That the explo-
sion was not the work of a single
fanatic is pretty well established. Be
yond this the board may not be able
TO go, because the cooperation of the
Sphnlsh government cannot be had so
lohg as Spain holds to the theory of an
accident.
Since Captain Peral. the president of
the spanish board. gave out his inter
view mat is accepted as the Spanish
oihcial view. No help can be expected
from the authorities in discovering the
cohspifator while they are claiming
mat there could have been no con-
spiIuSy because the Maine explosion
was que to mysterious accident.
An analysis of Captain Perars tho
DRY need not be given here. 1t ia
enough that If his scheme of raising
the nun by meanss of the floating dock
We're Feasible, months would pass be-
iore final report could be made. Tho
mud at the bottom has not prevented
lhe american divers from making an
examination of portions of the wreck
which the board thought necessary.
me pertunctory labors of the Spanish
dlVefs have not prevented them from
nnding uneNploded ammunition. in.
parts OF the ship which an internal
explosion could have hardly left intact,
Ihey nave also discovered that the tur.
ret was blown from port to starboard,
along with other incidental evidences
of an external explosion. Neyerthe
less, no admission of the possibility of
foul play will come from the Spanish
hoard. The matter as now presented
is that the American court while prob
ably not feeling justified in Indicating
SUSPICION IN the 10 bn
spiracy have shifted the evidence
which Its members are ready to sub
init to the world in support of the claim
that the Maine was destroyed by foul
play. When that evidence shall be
made public can be Judged better in
Washington than Havana.
General Blanco's autonomist govern
ment so far as an autonomist govern
ment exists, are rejecting the instruc-
tons from Madrid in encouraging re-
sistance to American Intervention on
the ground laid down In the Presi-
cents message, An abstract Of Min
lister Moret's speech is published here.
and one and all classes are exhorted
to unite. No result follows, because
while Spain might be deceived by the
colonial minister's pretensons, the
people in Cuba cannot he misled The
claim that the Spanish arms arc max
ing progress only draws attention to
the failure of the military operations
and to the knowledge that In what lit
tie fighting Is now going on the in
are generally successful. Sem
ntor Proctor carried back some clear
IDEAS regarding the military cam
paign, They may he useful to the
administration and to his colleagues
In the Senate.
Two months ago the decision of the
party to take part in the
elections might have had influence.
Now 1t is of little consequence. because
while at that time the prospect ex-
sted that autonomy might last till at |
ter the election OF Cuban congress, |
It's possibility no longer exists. The |
government proposition was that 1t |
should have two-thlrds of the con- |
yress and the conservatives one-third |
the action of their |
central committee the mass OF the In |
bitterly resent the scheme
md exhort one another to refuse all |
in the government so |
onG as autonomy is not repudlated. |
they denounce Apezetegguia and his |
blowers as traitors to the Spanish
government. The intransigeant news
,apers complain of the press censor
hip and ask General Blanco to modify
t 10 that the questions supposed to
ne Mt issue in the elections may be
RELY discussed. They will not be
;ratifed.
The autonomist cabinet with its in
ernal dlssenslons has sunk completely |
lut of sight.
The political and military condition of
spanish sovereignty In Cuba today is
described in "A single word.
II is a condition of paralysis and the
United States is feeding its starving in
labltants. knowledge OF the desperate
ituatlon apparently is serving the OFF,
'ial classes TO excite feeling against
he United States as n means of COW
ring up their International weakness.
The presence of the Spanish warships
erVc this purpose. The ball ut the
spanish casino In honor of the officers
# the Oquendo and Vzcaya gives an
for an exhibition Of loyal-
y fully as intense as that shown by the
,opulacc when the ships arrived
The press censorship does rot inter
ere with the Weyler and other papers.
.xhortlng Spanlards to De on their
guard against the Americans and /,
orestall the blow which they saw the
United States intends to strike in the
This sentiment spreads while tho
sual courtesies are exchanged between
he commanders of the MONTGOMERY
nd the Spanish ships. These eo,irtc,
les do not prevent unusual precautions
" the Spanish man-of-war In the har-
or nor--do they result In givinp. the
Ulcers OF the Montgomery shore leave.
The question has been raised whether
when the consular reports are trans
nitted to Congress, demonstration