The copper country evening news., 1898-02-16
.SPAIN'S HEAVY BURDEN
Her Many Troubles Not Half
Understood.
ON HER KNEES TO UNITED STATES.
Unable to Pay The Army, and Credit Is
Observation-Disclosures at the Mercy of His
Generals = sagasta Is Powerless = DIR.
Ruizs Widow To Get $4,000.

Exhausted-Bianco at the Mercy of His
Generals = sagasta Is Powerless = DIR.
Ruizs Widow to Get $4,000.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 16.-[Special. l-Spnin
must pay $4,000 TO the widow of Dr.
Ruiz, the American citizen who was butch
cred in Jail at Guanabacoa, a suburb
of Havana. Among the last official acts OF
the late spanish minister, Dupuy de LONE,
was to send TO his government the demand
of the United States government that this
sum be paid within a reasonable time. Mr..
dc LONE did not like to send the message,
but he had no alternative President Me-
Kinley reached a conclusion some time ago'
that this claim must be paid, and De
LONE was sounded. He said his govern
ment was always willing to pay just
claims, but that it must have time to in
quire into them, and SO on. In other
words, he was preparing the usual Span
ish programme of delay. But it did not
work in this case. The president insisted
that this demand must be satisfied. The
original claim had been put in last sum-
mer, and Spain had made no sincere move
ment toward satisfying it. The time for
haggling had passed and the hour for set
tlement had come.
1t is expected by the officials of the state
department that this claim will be paid
within few days. At Madrid General
Woodford, acting under instructions from
Washington, has insisted upon payment.
Mrs. Ruiz not long ago wrote to the state
department that she was wholly without
resources and that II the Spanish govern
ment was ever going to do anything for
her and her children by way of recompense
for numbering her husband while he was
held incommunicado In Spanish prison
it should be urged to do so at once. Upon
receipt of this appeal President Mckinley
gave the order to "collect that claim at all
hazards.
Spain In Bad Way.
If Spain does pay the claim In accord"
ance with the expectations of state depart-
ment officials, that act will be taken as
proof that the Spaniards are still upon
their knees to the American government
and anxious to avert our displeasure at al
most any cost to themselves. The Spanish
never pay anything unless they are forced
to do so or are convinced they are going
to gain something by 1t.
1t Is no secret in state department and
administration circles generally that Spain
has virtually been on her knees to the
United States for some months past. The
troubles of the Spanish government are
not yet understood and fully appreciated
by the world. They are not known in
Spain. If they were, revolution and re-
bellion would probably follow. From
member of the cabinet who is thoroughly
familiar with the situation in all its de-
tails have learned some interesting facts
concerning the woes of poor Spain.
Biancos Unhappy Position.
"Tbey are unable to pay their army"
said this member of President Mckinley's
official family. "They have practically ex-
hausted their credit. They do not know
how they are going to pay the interest ON
their national debt. In Cuba the army is
supreme, and the government cannot carry
out any policy which the ring OF army OIL
GERS does not approve. Blanco Is at the
mercy Of the generals he is supposed to
command. In Spain the government lives
over a volcano. They do not know at what
moment revolution, either of force or by
political upheaval, is going to ccme upon
them. The country is divided into many
political parties, and they are pulling in
many different directions. Sagasta Is sim
cerely desirous of maintaining peace with
the United States, but he Is afraid to call
Ills SOui nlo wv IL.
81 feel sorry for him. On one hand he
Is compelled to crawl in the dust before
the American government. He lives in
constant dread lest we change our policy
to one of active Intervention. That would
seal his fate His government would prob
| ably 90 down in As hours. But on the
| other hand he is compelled to do every
thing in his power to satisfy the jingoes
| and American haters of Spain. The result
| is that when he makes diplomatic move
| he finds it necessary to do two things. In
| the first place and actually he must curry
| favor with the United States by comply
| ing with our demands, no matter what
! they may be. Then no must turn round
and make his own people believe he has
| done nothing of the sort. Thus it happens
| that when Sagasta writes note to the
| United States government he virtually
| gets down on all fours and crawls before
| us, and then tells the Spanish people that
| he has replied to us in most vigorous
| fashion, stoutly upholding the honor OF
| Spain. That is tight place to put man
( In who Is the responsible head of nation,
| and sometimes wonder how much longer
| the strain can be endured
Trying to Avert War.
"Do you think the present Spanish min
istry is doing everything it can to avert
war with this country"
"Undoubtedly. We have had many evil
dences of this We know that they will
submit to almost anything we ask of them
IL we only make our demands In such way
as to assist them In fooling their people.
It is a great game of deceitfulness all
: round. You may have noticed that the
notes which have passed between the two
| governments concerning Cuba have not
vet been made public. This is because
Spain has requested that they be kept Sc
cret time longer. We have no objection
Co their publication, but Sagasta has rep
resented to us that II these documents
reach the Spanish public he will not an
f., swer for the consequences.
From Bully to sycophant.
"Do you think Spain has changed her
tactics, and instead of trying to frighten
the United States by talking war Is now
trying to appeal to our sympathy
THAT is exactly what do think. That
this is their present game. am well con-
vinccd. They tried the soaring business as