Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-07
THE CRISIS AT HAND
Continued from FIRST Page.)

should have well-regulated opposition
The autonomists are quarreling little
among themselves. 1t is like a cat fight.
in that the fight is evidence that the cats
exist The quarreling of the autonomists
shows there are enough of them to quar-
rel. but the whole matter of the elections
is simply an incidental topic 1t serves to
divert the public mind momentarily from
the developments which are thought 10 Ice
leading up to the crisis.
Olney's Gift Discussed.
Another momentary diversion has been
caused by former Secretary Olney's gift
OF 500 to the reconcentrados. True to
Spain to the last, Mr. Olney makes his
gift through the Spanish minister in Wash
lngton. The channels TO which other
Americans intrust their bounty are not
good enough for him. Mr. GOWN one of
the autononlists cabinet. takes the gift
as text for lecturing the insul gents. The
former Secretarys course is accepted here
by the Spanards as an intentional slight
to Consul General Lee. and gladdens them
accordingly. In recognizing that there is
suffering IN cuba. Mr.. Dlney has advant ed
from the ground he occupied when he was
using his official position to browbeat and
discredit the consuls who insisted on tell
ing the truth.
Mr.. Atkins of Boston has also advanced
For two years Mr.. Atkins of Boston has
been telling in Washington that there was
no lnsurrection in Cuba. because he was
apie u GRIM cane on ms plantation. His
political influence with two administra-
IONS mas been considerable and he has
thereby been able TO get very heavy de-
tails of troops from the Spanish military
authorities. Mr.. Atkins was one of those
who persstently declared that the stories
OF suffering ami starvation were eXagger-
ated- Well Mr.. Atkins of Boston now ad-
mits his mistake and he also contributes
800 to the reconcentrados He does IL
through the consul general More signifi-
cant than this is Mr. Atkins discovery that
autonomy makes no progress. In spite of
the strong grounds and the fortihcations
the insurgents have been busy on his plan
tations around Cenfuegos. They have burn
ed cane and blown up trains with dyna-
mite 1t is perhaps a reprehensible way.
yet 1t seems to have convinced Mr. Atkins
of Boston that the instruction is alive and
that autonomy has not been accepted.
Havana I'm Serious Mood.
The Havana populace. which may be said
to include the volunteers and the army of
officers. gives signs that it is thinking of
something serious. maybe of the crisis
When Mazzantini. the celebrated hull
fighter. was here in December he monopo-
lized the public mind. I was told then that
ms popularity was safe barometer that
H. when he returned in February, the
manifestations continued unchanged it
would be evident that the people were not
thinking of political affairs. MaZzantini is
back. He is received with the respect
which is accorded an eminent artist in any
profession, but the manifest ations of his
popularity are not overwhelming. His
name is not on every tongue. and in order
TO draw the crowds he has had to reduce
his prices. Havana really seems to be
thinking of something more than the bull
fight: the crisis is apparently on its mind.
PEPPER.
Col. Funston Talks ON Cuba.
ST. LOUIS. February I.-Frederick Funs-
tnn In ic
artillery. and who held until the close of
last year the highest position occupied In
the Cuban insurgent army by an American
since the death Of Col Gordon, passed
through this city last night on his way to
his hcme in lola. Kan.
Eighteen months continuous service in the
insurgent army the associate and conf
dante of Generals Gomez and Garcia gave
Col. Funston an insight into the affairs of
the island that few have had. The most
Important information furnished by Col.
Funston is a verification of the report tina.
hostilities are nearing an end.
Il fully expect to see the war terminate
in less than six months" said he. The
Cubans are confident that the conflict will
not last until June, and l do not doubt THAI
the insurgents will come out on top. They
are willing to make almost any kind of 4
fair agreement with Spain to indemnify
her for the expenses of carrying on the
War. The Spanish army Is on the edge of
desires to continue the war, the army will
refuse to prolong the conflict many
months"
No Hope of intervention.
Asked what the feeling is in Cuba con-
corning the attitude of the United States
Col. Funston said that the insurgents had
ceased to hope for intervention on the part
of this country.
An injury to his left leg, caused by his
horse falling upon him. was the indirect
cause of Col. Funston's return to America.
While on his way 10 receive treatment he
was captured by the Spanish. and for some
days lay a prisoner in dungeon al Port
au Prince. He secured his release on the
provisO that he would never return to
Cuba until the present hostilties are ended
This, of course, precludes the possibilities
of his assuming again his place in the
Cuban ranks.
Thinks Peace Is Far on.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, February 1.-Dr c.
n. Thomas of Illir OILS. who has just re-
turned from Cuba where he has been
studying the existing conditions on the
island for several months past, is now in
Cleveland, and ir speaking of the war said:
From the pre- sent indications the war in
Cuba will continue for long time to come.
The Spanish will never grant the Cubans
their liberty as long as they can possibly
help it. The Spanish are not only a proud
but very patriotic people. They realize
that 400 years ago they were the greatest
and most powerful nation, and ruled one
tenth of the land on the globe
Treaty between the Cubans and Span
ish is absolutely out of the question. The
hatred between them was strong before
the war; and such terrible suffering as
both sides have endured since the war
commenced has intensified this feeling.
The talk of Cubans accepting home rule is
SIMPLY ridiculous. Equally absurd is the
idea of Spain granting Cubans home rule
as We Americans understand home rule
Plan of the Insurgents.
THE policy of Cubans is not to fight i'm
portant battles. They justly say yellow
fever is destroying the Spanish army fast
enough. Their plan is to wear out Spain
financially, and the Spanish nation is so
weak financially that she finds it impos-
sitle to raise the necessary $4,000 900 an
Euaily to carry On the Cuban war, and an
additional s25,0O0,O00 each year to pay the
interest on her great debt.
THE reports about awful suffering among
Cuban women and children are to some ex-
tent correct. In the large cities the suffer
ing is not near great in the interior
L..l.-.