The record-union., 1898-04-12

Havana knows that the American flag
is down from the consulate; that Lee
and all the other consulate officers have
| left their affairs are in charge of the
British Consul, and there have been an
exodus of Americans. Next they will
| learn that all financial houses having
connections with houses in the United
States will do no further business while
the present strained international rela-
tions continue and the vessels plying be-
tween American and Cuban ports have
suspended their voyages. The effect
of this viii soon be felt in the scarcity of
provisions. 1t was anticipated on Sat
urday afternoon when dealers all over
the city began raising prices. In these
circumstances even the Spanish classes
| in Havana may have sober season Of
| reflection as to the meaning of war with
the United States.
| The answer of the Cubans to the pro-
posal of an armistice will be by large
numbers of them joining the insurgents
| in the field.
| SPANISH IN CUBA SLOW IN RE-
ALIZING THE CRISIS.
NEW YORK, April ia dispatch to
the Tribune" from Havana says: The
Spanish classes in Cuba have been
| slow in realizing that the crisis was
really upon them, in spite of their pa
triotic ardor and their demand for war.
| They have not thought it would come
to that point. The prospective with
drawal of Consul-General Lee and
other American representatives from
the island was known for forty-eight
hours. Yet their actual leaving has
been the first convincing evidence that
the Cuban question could only be set
tied on the basis of independence. For
the first time they realize the full sig
nificance of the action.
The withdrawal of the Consuls in ad-
vance of the sending of President Nc
Kinley's message to Congress is oppor-
tune It prepares the public for the
full meaning of the message and the
Congressional legislation that may fol-
low, and lessons the danger of an out
break. While the future in Havana is
a blank, the probability is not of an
immediate disturbance. With Lee and
the Americans gone there are no per-
sons ON whom resentment Of any kind
can be visited. If war comes, the first
news of Spanish reverses might cause
an outbreak. But that cannot be fore
told with certainty. The community
may be so bewildered and benumbed
that it will give no signs. The foreign
Consuls are not apprehensive of a Sc
rious uprising at any stage of the de-
velopments.
If any Americans who remain in Ha-
vana should suffer it will be their own
fault. Both the National Administra-
ton and General Lee have done their
full duty in warning them of possible
danger, and in affording them the
means Of getting away. Every Amer
lean in Cuba has had a chance to leave.
The Presidents message to Congress
will be the signal for many Cubans To-
join the insurgents in the field, without
waiting for actual hostilities to begin.
Their courier messenger service will
communicate with Gomez at his head
quarters in Santa Clara Province. Co
mez has been urged to take advantage
of the situation, and with his newly re-
cruited forces make an aggressive
movement. His plans are not known
but all the news which comes from
him is that he hopes the recognition of
Cuban independence will be accepted
without actual hostilities between the
United States and Spain.
In Havana the authorities are arrest
ing Cubans in large numbers and i'm
prisoning them in CabanaS fortress ON
charges of conspiracy against the Gov
ernment The purpose is to terrorize
the Cuban population so that acces-
sions to the ranks of the insurgents
will cease. The plan does not succeed.
In some parts of the island Spanish
property owners are declaring they will
remain neutral" if there is war with
the United States. This shows how
utterly hopeless is the prospect of re-
tanning Spanish sovereignty in Cuba.