Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-03-19
Straps and fatts.

- The Mexican Herald, of March
Is. makes this remark "The hold
ing and continued avowal of the
Monroe doctrine means that the Amer
lean people must pay the price of the
great role assumed, and great navy
must be completed and both the AT
lantic and Pacific patrolled by Amer
cans. A hundred million dollars spent
for five years, other expenses beng
pinned down to that amount, would
make the great republic sacred and
respected, as was little Venice in the
days of the great ages"
General Nelson A. Miles spoke at
the annual banquet of the Second
Army corps in Washington last Tues
day night. He said, in part: "No ma
tion has ever had so much to say
against war, against the maintenance
of large army, or against anything
that might lead US to conflict; and
no nation has had so much to say in
favor of peace and arbitration. No
people are as anxious to maintain
peace at home and abroad as the
American people. We would not en-
ter into any conflict without Just
provocation or righteous cause. We
are slow to take up our arms; but
when the time does come, l trust we
would not be found slumbering. l
hope there will be no war. l, as a
soldier, trust that if there is war there
will be no Bull Runs to begin with !;
but an Appomattox. We will be pre-
pared so that the conflict should be
short, sharp and decisive"
Adiutant General Corbin, on We'd
nesday, received at his office in Wash
ington, military visitor who said be
was fresh from the battlefelds of Cuba
and desired to arrange with him for
the immediate investment of the port
of Havana. He was dressed in mill
itary uniform of green cloth and said
he was ready to take the field at once.
He gave his name as Lieutenant Col
onel Jorge A. Rivera y Monez, fourth
army corps, Cuban army, and said he
had come from General Mayria Rodri-
guez, second in command. To use his
own words, he twas just from the field
and had blood on his boots," and he
gave every indication of being earnest
and eager for the fray. What he de-
sired was an army of 5000 men from
the United States with which to begin
the invasion of Cuba, and his plan was
to fire on Moro Castle and sack the
city of Havana. General Corbin treat
ed him courteously and said he would
see him later about the army of inva-
sion.
- Should the Spaniards succeed in
investing Key West, the first place
they would take particular delight in
destroying would be San Carlos Hall
and Ell Polaco, cafe situated on the
main street of the town. 1t was in El
Polaco that the first meetings of the
Cuban conspirators were held. 1t was
there, over black coffee and cigarettes,
that Jose Marti and the men who had
sworn by everything they held sacred
to continue to the bitter end, regard
less of Spanish promises of any sort
or description, met night after night.
In Ell Polaco the principal filibustering
expeditions have been planned. San
Carlos Hall was the recognized meet
ing place; but the real incubating and
Matching ground for the Cuban plotters
has been in the little cafe. 1t is q
modest rendezvous. There are no Sc
cret chambers or locked rooms and no
air of mystery about any part of it..
Everybody in Key West knows it as
"Nido Cubano," the Cuban West. The
tables at which Gomez and Garcia and
other of the military leaders sat and
ate and plotted are still there. For
Key West in general and Ell Polaco
in particular, the Spaniards have an
undying and implacable hatred.
Former President Cleveland was
interviewed last Tuesday night at his
home in Princeton, n. j., by an Asso-
ciate Press reporter on the subject OF
the Maine affair and the existing rela-
tions between this country and Spain.
He at first declined to express his views
on the matter. 81 should only be mis-,
understood" he said. IL have been
resting here quietly since leaving
Washington, and do not wish to say
or do anything which may be constru
ed in any way as as comment upon
public affairs. Finally, as the reporter
turned to leave, Mr.. Cleveland vol
unteered this statement: "Though
have no wish to be interviewed, you
may state for me that, i'll common
with others, l think every patriotic
citizen ought loyalty to support the
government during a period of trial
like the present, no matter what ext
gencies may arise. 81 Will also say
that hope the present difficulties will
be settled without bloodshed. 1t is
possible that an honorable way out
will be found eventually and there will
be no war;" Mr.. Cleveland said be
preferred TO reserve all comment on
the possible and probable outcome OF
the Maine affair until after the official
publication of the report of the board
of inquiry.