The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-21
ANOTHER CHRLIST SCARE
DON JAIME DE BOURBON SAID TO BE
PLOTTING IN PARIS
Strict Censorship of the Press-ChamEe
i'm the Ministry's POIicy-views
of the London MaiIs
Correspondence of the Associated Press

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
MADRID, March S.-The Madrid press,
with few exceptions, has, during the past
few days, been trying to convince the public
that there was never any question of Gen.
Fftzhugh Lees recall from Havana The
facts in the case, however. are exactly as
cabled to the Associated Press. Senior Sa-
gasta, in conversation with General Wood
ford did suggest that friendship and good
will between the two countries would be
promoted were General Lee to be recalled
and, after consulting his government, Gen.
Woodford did inform the premier that such
a step could not be considered. Nothing
would have been known of the affair had
it not been that some one in the Spanish
Foreign Office confided the information to
the official news agency of Spain--the Fabra
agency. The fact that this agency received
1t and that the censor allowed it to be
telegraphed by it abroad, is to those fa-
miliar with methods in Madrid conclusive
evidence that it was correct. 1t was only
when the effect this news produced in
America was cabled back here and after
there was fall on the bourse that there
was any question of denying it's authen-
ITCHY.
The Globe, the Spanish ministerial or
can only mislead those who are ignorant Of
the traditional sensitiveness of the stock
exchange, adding that neither the govern
ment nor public opinion should pay greater
attention to the phenomenon than it merits.
''The present blow" it continues, 'comes
from Paris and is due to two absurd
rumors, namely, that the United States
government refused to remove General Lee
at the request of the Spanish government
and that no lesser person than his Holiness
Leo XIII. had, through his secretary Of
state, committed himself to favorable state
ments with regard to the Cuban insurgents.
The first has no basis whatever the gov
ernment having neither officially nor in
directly suggested Lees removal; the lat
ter, we opine arises from Cardinal Caca-
jare's pastoral. But it is well known that
theg said pastoral has not been well re-
ceived at Rome
The impartial refers to the General Lee
rumors and to the government denial of
their truth as accounting for the fall in
prices. 1t declines to decide on which side
the truth really lies. Commenting, how
ever, on the tranquility of the government,
and especially of Senior Sagasta, it says:
I'VE presume the ministers have reassur-
ing information which discounts in their
minds the panic reigning in financial cir
cles But" it adds "if they have not
what a frightful responsibility lies upon
them. We do not wish to admit it. nor
even to think it, for If the day should
come when war is inevitable and the pres
ent government tranquility turns out to be
neglect and want of foresight then the for
eign question will be as nothing compared
to the home one started in our midst AS
we have already pointed out, the most
dangerous thing which can happen is that
the nation should imagine the government
is neglecting either the defense of our
honor our interests. For that will leave
the road open for some ambitious man who
has name or a political party of some
strength"
ACCUSED OF LACKING COURAGE
With respect to the affair OF General Lee
the Pals says: TT is quite clear the govern
ment is determined to live as divorced as
possible from public opinion, and it carries
out this plan with consistency worthy of
better cause. At this very moment, when
the whole of Spain-or. rather the whole
of Europe-is rejoicing at the rumors of
complaints addressed by the Spanish gov
ernment to that of the United States our
minister of state abors to prove that no
such complaints have ever been made and
that the government has not even incl
dentally occupied Itself with the affair
People doubt the truth of these statements
We do not. We prefer to credit them rather
than suspect what must otherwise nave
happened. namely, that the government
made the complaint. but in face of the inso-
lent refusal of the Yankees to make satis-
faction, had not the courage to abide by
them. Nevertheless. the rumors, we must
admit, look true. All the world believes in
Al <sotk.
are of the opinion that they ought to be
true" The Pals says: General Lee may
now quietly continue plotting in his Havana
consulate"
Referring to the quotation slump" in
Spanish fours the Liberal characterizes as
absurd the action attributed to the Pope,
his lofty prudence being recognized ali the
world over" Nor does it credit the Lee
rumors with being the real cause of the fall.
THE real origin" 1t says. 'is to be found
in the prominent state OF alarm under
which the Spanish and American people
have lived for some time. in the tension OF
mind both endure; In the cloud Of suspicion
with which they are surrounded: In the fe-
verish excitement which leads them to take
precautions against rupture and i'm the
angry restlessness which pervades all un-
known dangers. Step by step almost un-
consciously. we and they have reached a
state Of armed peace. not less ruinous and
probably more demoralizing than actual
war. While things continue in this position
we may at each step expect similar falls
without the necessity of a concrete fact
bringing them about. Undoubtedly our re-
lations with the United States are daily Ac-
commodating themselves to the strict die
tates Of prudence and diligence; but. does