The herald., 1898-02-28
FIRMER ATTITUDE
WOULD PLEASE THE SPANISH
EDITORS
POLICY OF SENIOR sAeAsTA
Is the Personification of Prudence
But Invariably at Variance
With Fortitude
PRESS special Wire

Associated Press Speciai VIZ
MADRID, Feb. 15.-(Correspondence OF
the Associated Press.) Several OF tne
Madrid papers blame the weakness OF the
Spanish government in Its recent action
with the United States.
| Eel impartial quotes several passages
from its own files for the year 1896, IN wnich
II warned the government to assume
firmer attitude.
I'm those days" It adds, 'the United
states were not nearly so we'll prepared for
a conflict as now. while We were more or
less as we are today. In the meantlme'
thy have steadily progressed, while we,
who could have done much have uone pu'
little. What is strange, inexplicable. de-
serving pardon neither from God nor MS
tory, is that time has been wasted and
money squandered without endowing the
Spanish nation with sufficient resources
to inspire respect and avoid humiliations
which may bring in their train war and
disaster"
Ell Espanola is even more outspoken. II
says: "Senor Sagasta's government Is
the very personification of prudence, only
1t has been prudence invariably at vari-
ance with fortitude. In the Dupuy de
LONE affair. arising from Yankee turpi-
tude the government has shown such evil
denCe OF COWdTulCe anu illiCHitlS as " dP-
pear nothing more than petty council
under the protectorate Of the United
States"
All the Spanish newspapers agree that
no further mention need be made Of the
Dupuy de LONE affair, as 1t has now prac-
ticaly ceased to exist. The papers are
much more occupied with the demonstra-
tion at Barcelona in connection with the
torturing Of prisoners at Mont Juich. the
erh hat elonhanf and hill. and
the Dreyfus case. than with politics.
Several of the Madrid papers reproduced
the opinion of the Italian newspaper La
Perseverance,. "That the United States
should be satisfied with the resignation OF
Senior Dupuy de LONE" and that nothing
should result from the unfortunate Incl
dent to trouble the good relations between
the two countries"
The cardinal archbishop of Valladolid
has published a pastoral letter blaming
America for the prolongation of the Cuban
war He says: 1.-The hypocritical friend
ship of the United States fosters the re-
belion and wastes Spain's resources, In
order the better to attack her when weak
ened" He exhorts all true Spaniards to
unite In defending the rights and honor
of the nation" The letter has caused
widespread comment.
The Correspondence Militaire, organ of
the army SAYS: THE prevailing impress
sion is that war between Spain and the
United States will break out in April
A former captain-general OF Cuba (pre-
sumably Marshal Martinez Campos), jim
terviewed by a representative OF the Cor
respondencia Militaire. is reported as say
ing: "I never entertained doubt that II
the rebellion was not suppressed before
1898 war with the United States would be-
come an accomplished fact. Unhappily.
my prophecy will be fulfilled.
'I have the consolation of having done
all In my power to avert it. and therefore
do not regret the blame which has been
heaped upon me. All that Is now possible
is that we should all unite to meet the
danger that threatens the country"
WON'T ARBITRATE
MADRID. Feb. 27.-Senor Sagasta, COM
menting upon an alleged interview with
Prince Bismarck In which the latter is rep
resented as suggesting that the Cuban
trouble should be submitted to the powers
for arbitration, expressed his astonish-
ment that such an idea could emanate
from Prince Bismarck. and declared en-
phatically That nothing save being ignor-
ant of the question could inspire the notion
that Spain would suffer foreign intrusion
or submit to arbitration to her indisputable
right of sovereignty. Nobody" said the
Spanish premier would listen or dream of
such proposal"
The 1mparcial in an editorial today
blames Spanish weakness in the Allianca
Venidito. Competitor and other affairs as
encouraging the United States In their
present bellicose attitude.
1t counsels the government to awaken to
the reality of situation which the good
sense of Spanish people understands and
is ready to meet.
SPANISH BREAD RIOTS
LONDON. Feb. 2S.-The Madrid corre-
spondent of the Times SAYS: There is an
appalling scarcity of food In many prov
inces Of Spain. The price of wheat is un-
precedentedly high. Bread riots are of
daily occurrence at Salamanca and 1t is
feared that martial law VIII be pro-
claimed
minister to the United States, has started
for Gibraltar en- route for New York. He
Is fully empowered to continue the recip-
rocity treaty negotiations. The govern
ment Is anxious to secure firm basis for
commercial and political relations with the
United States before May l, In case the
pacification Of Cuba should not have made
progress before the rainy season COM
mences.
1t is an open secret that both the home
and colonial governments consider the
preservation of friendly relations with the
United States as no less important in the
pasfication of Cuba than the military op-
erations and the unofficial negotiations 10
induce the insurgent leaders to accept
autonomy.