Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-01
The Feeling in Havana.
Special From a STAFF Correspondent

Special From a Staff Correspondent
HAVANA March 10, via Port Tampa,
Fla. March 31.-Havana has had its era Of
peaceful feeling. even when Madrid was
bent on war. Now, when Madrid is said TO
be peacefully inclined. Havana continues
to look forward to war with the United
States. There is no outward expression Of
the feeling. 1t might be said that the sit
uation has reached the stage where :,
frenzied loyalty has given way to tranquil
patriotism pitched on high key.
The real difficulty about Spain's yielding
Its control over Cuba is known to lie in
Spain Possibly on that account the Sa-
Sasta ministry is taking pains to mod
crate the violent sentiments of the Spanish
classes in Cuba. They are still running at
full tilt. If the people on the peninsula
can be made to see that they must let go,
and if they accept the situation without
upsetting the monarchy, the loyalists on
the island may acquiesce. They know they
cannot of themselves make war with the
United States At present they are KEEP
III the dark as to what is going on in
Madrid and Washington. The rigid press
censorship is extended even to private tele-
grams, which are also suppressed so that
knowledge of what takes place is impos-
that Spain, through the good Offices of the
United States. would concede the indie
pendence of Cuba before the Spanish
classes here could, by their action make
the concession more difficult If negotia-
tons are proceeding on any other basis,
the time Is wasted.
Sovereignty Only Maintained nv Force
The whole city understands that If Span
iEf a.,-rsar
1t can only be through superior forces. In
this respect the population here has the
advantage of the people in Spain who may
really be deiuded into the belief that the
Insurgents are seeking an armistice or
willing TO entertain propositions not based
On the full recognition of independence
They know better here, because the in
transigents know, even If they do not credit
the reports. that the Madrid ministry is
negotiating on this basis They think the
pay Is Tor more time. and that perhaps
the administration at Washington may BE-
deceived The notion of SaSasta fooling
the Yankees pleases them. They will make
no demonstrations unless they find II is
themselves who have been fooled Then
tie question will be whether the govern
ment - strong enough to restrain them 1t
cannot be answered with certainty in ad-
vance just TOW tney are showing some
seif-restraint. The Indictment of the news
papers Is not met with hostile demonstra-
tons The suggestion of the WeyIerita
organ for a general slaughter of the Arneri-
can pigs does not bring the expected
slaughter. On the surface, the city was
never more quiet. The people with whom
are included the volunteers and the army
officers, keep talking OF naval war and the
unprotected coast cities of the United
States Part Of them accept with compla-
cency the suggestions that the painting Of
the American warships black is of no con-
j. sequence. because when the Spanish
cruiser gets after them the warshtps will
turn white.
Old Spanish Brnggndocio.
There is much of the old talk that every
Spahifird Is Don Quixote and every Yam
k-e a money maker, who would never risk
the less of a dollar TO maintain the honor
OF his country. This Dragging, with its
mixture OF ignorance, national vanity and
blind patriotism, would be amusing II II
We're not so genuine The feeling is at It's
height now. The volunteers are practicins
the regular army drill. They are enroliee
as Kind of militia reserve company. They