New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-19
ANNEXATION THEIR HOPE.
DRIFT OF SENTIMENT ON THE IsLANr
OF CUBA.
nR cyoNGosro AND THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
FTcTRs TALKING OF HOME-PREPA-
RATlONS FOR WAR.

y1cTRs TALKING OF HOME-pREPA-
RATIoNs FOR WAR.
Havana An-u ~ Via Vera Cruz. Mexico).-1n the
midst OF the complicated political situation one fact
stands out clearly and stubborny. IN spite OF ''o
claims and counter-claims OF the insurgents ana
Autonomists and that is that the better class Vi
neople particularly among the Spanish residents
here grow daily and more in favor OF the an
nexation OF Cuba TO the United states as pelhe te
only safe solution OF the crisis and as the only pan
which will guarantee the safety OF their persons an'
the integrity OF their interests.
Much has been written during the last three years
regarding the dificul,es experienced by the news
naper RESPONDENTS and others In their dealings
with the Spanish censor and other officials OF ti'e
Government having Jurisdiction in their cases. me
following incident will tend 10 throw further ieht
upon this particular feature or Ire az 'he 'uoai'
capital There lively scene yesterday Ihor"-
ing a. the censors office. DR.. Congoso. the sccre-
tary-General OF Cuba and formerly Cohsui TOT
Spain at Philadelphia, paid visit to the censor,
and. accidentally or otherwise. he there happened
70 meet seNor Corso a reporter of the Union Con-
sttucional"
AFFRAY IN THE CENsORs OFFICE.
.S,ome here child" said the Secretary-Genera! 10
the newspaper man; u want you TO understand that
the next time you put my name IN the papers WI.
give you such a kicking that you won't 90 II again
You will do nothing o: the kind answered senior
have only said that news Is kept In the once OF
the Secretary General and is not given TO the news
papers in proper time
you lie" cried the Secretary-Genera.
.eyou lie yourselsr' retorted the journalist
This was more than the Secretary-Generai OF Cuoa
could stand so he promptly hit Senior Corso IN 'he
face. landing his blow IN spite oi ''e '""''' - Wv
scribe 10 defend himself.
a, this stage OF the hostlities. Sehor Mendez' 'he
censor. interfere1. and stopped what o'hefwl.e
might have developed into an interesting niue
scrimmage.
Spanish honor. however. had been outraged nnu
so Senior Corso sent Senors Lopez Bazo ana 1''-
adv as his seconds to Dr. Congosto. ard the lat
ter appointed rs his seconds Seniors Fernandez &c
rastro and Jover. The secretaIy.GeneTai ;h
70 give me dsvelopments are await
ed with interest 49,. .-or.s o@co
soon spread all over Havana ana n'tie saS, a. a.
talked about last night in spite OF ne acueless 90
me affair was fully discussed and the newspapers
freely criticised the conduct OF Dr.. ConGos'' ~ ne
ing unbecomng 10 an officer OF MS RANK
DESERVING TO TIE INSURGENTS
AS 10 the situation generally. there IS lte chAhse
at present 4 number Of employees az dlNere'',
classes have recently joined the insurgents. and
others nave left the island without petlss,o' o ,
parties drea5ing tho outcome OF an insus'"' 80
So far as Autonomy is concerned. the officials o,
the Colonial Government nave d!eaoS vo ia.' year
ir 10 neoolc would he so thoroughly convinced
~ ifs irpotency that they would rebel against H.
The sugsesi:on OF plebiscite does not meet with
favor IN AutOnOmiSt circles u D'lIS po,"I ~
that the disciples Of Autonomy hsye no Tray 2
popular vote throughout the isIdhd mum ~, ,bc1
the viii do even II the means o weie at ' p,
disposal The Conservatives would hgnt ne , P'Sff
he wealth OF the island. tney would not he likely
to allow, they put H. lnsol,nCe 20 s1rra Id
Which does not exist in any Other country IN the
The work Of terrifying the coasts Of Cuba from
Spanish point Of view is gong Ine Se,at Of The
effectively Eaiuray nG' 10 heSome public prop
erty but Il is understood that the planting OF toI
edoes has bs wn the disposal
of the Spanish engineers and rnl1aty ssayn IL
Said 81 day to who will work al the iortnii-
cations there are not many wornsn 2 S9e OF
dos say they would rather die OF hunger than
"S ar an1ticipa,ed by almost everybody General
Paudo the Spanish Commander-n-Hhef IN the
field has reIGrngd nene b nsurges 70 arrange
terms for peace. and many people here predic I'M
HroVe Witch thev have held all along namely.
that they will accept anything short or lnde-
pendence.
TURNING THEIR THOUGHTS ON HOME.
The Spanish officers and patriots OF Spain pretend
TO have received of the arinistce with feel
ines Of perfect disgust the officers going 20 far as
TO say that they feel insulted az being praGucaiy
considered impotcnt TO end the insurG,cto5h ~
/
awakening TO the fact that matters are reaching
q uont which indicates that their stay IN tuba is
likely 10 be Of short duration. ~ the clubs the
oIlcers are already talking about getting ready 10
leave and they are discussing their future pros
poets In Spain. whers heir pay IL considerably Jess
imam II is nero and rejecting upon tho fact
that promotion will be very slow when once the
war In cuba ~ over
In the provinces a feeling OF alarm prevails
among the better classes. and families which can
afford 10 do so chartering vessels 70 get away,
while Others would very much Ike to do so II they
, cou!d but are hesitatng between the certainty or
Spanish vengeance In some shape or other u th.y
20 and the possibility o. being able 10 placate the
( Victorious Insurgents II they remain.
After the United States Consul General. General
Lee and the newspaper correspondents left Ha
vana the press began attacking them. paying par
ticuIar attention to General Lee. who Is terribly
hated here among the Spaniards. who believe that
he more than any one else. rs responsible Tor
great deal Of the hard feeling existing between tho
tinted States and Spain. Tho Spaniards call him.
nor the General OF the United States. but
he consul General Of the rebels. The General.
tt cannot be denied, Kissed by the crowds,
among which we're many soldiers. when he left
havana the Spanards also indulgng IN many
Offensive and insulting cries. But, it should be
added these adieus did not appear TO disturb the
American General In the slightest degree