The record-union., 1898-03-28
Says We Have No Real Idea Of Going 10
War.
All the Spanish Papers are Arroa
CANT and Boasting-Rumors in
Political Circles That Spain
Has Formed a Powerful Alli-
ance and Claims That There Is q
Growing Sympathy for Spain in
Europe.

MADRID, March PEI Liberals
to-day ridicules the idea of the United
States having any real idea of go
ing to war. Pointing to the defens-
I've preparations reported in the Amer
t.lcan press, obsolete monitors be-
ing sent to protect Norfolk, New
York, Boston,, Port Royal Charles
ton and. Savannah; throwing up
earthWOrks at Fort Jefferson and
arming them with long-range guns.
making arrangements with the railway
companies for the prompt conveyance
of troops to threatened points," etc..
preparations which Ell Liberal" char
acterizes as childish" it says: All
this looks much more as though Ameri-
cans expected war to be declared here,
than that she is about to declare ir
against Spain"
In political circles all sorts of rumors
are af1oat as to Spain having formed a
powerful alliance. The truth as to this,
l-if there be any truth in it at all, is
at present known to those only who
maintain a reserve. tl.
"El LIBERAL calls attention to the
growing sympathy with Spain mani
tested in Europe, as manifested elo-
quently by the press in all the great
capitals
lei Pals" Revolutionary believes
There is truth in the rumors that
Spain is entering into an alliance with
powers, in spite of the energetic de-
malls of the Government" and it states
categorically that this was the sole
reason for Senior Leon y Costello's visit
to Madrid. 1t believes that before
many days the result of this diplomatic
move will be seen.
"ImparciaF' independently to-day re-
marks that while thinking these rumors
of diplomatic activity contain much of
fancy it is of the opinion that to some
extent they are based on fact. 1t adds:
The expulsion of Spain from Cuba
would mean victory for the United
States against the countries of the Old
World and their predominance in the
Gulf or Mexico. which will be the key
of the two oceans when at length they
are connected by canal. These OBJ
jects have been steadily pursued by the
Washington Government since the last
Cuban war. To obtain them the plan
has been to avoid the danger of a war,
but to tire out and drain Spain by stir
ring internal strife. 1t never entered
their heads that Spain would recognize
the autonomy of Cuba, thus removing
all pretence for their further interfer-
ence. This has led to the altered atti-
tude on the part of the great republic
at the very moment when they had the
least Justification for their course OF
action"
Interviewed on board the Isla De
Panay at Barcelona, General Augustf,
the new Governor-Generalo of the Phil
ippines, said he thought there was
some importance7-but not very much
in the recent events there If 1t be the
spark Of a new insurrection. he believed
there are sufficient resources in the
archipelago to successfully quench 1t.
He proposes to be complacent and toll
Grant with. those who remain within
the law, but he will be rigid and severe
with those who take up arms or seek
to disturb good order" He trusts to
maintain peace by carrying out pol
icy of kindness without showing either
weakness or partiality."