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An Irrepressible Conflict of Testimony: Senor

He seemed to be confronted by a situation for a moment only, when he said, sadly and earnestly: "I am your friend, Senor, but I should have to kill you." I was talking with an intelligent Spaniard who has a large business house here in town, and he was asking me: "What in the world is the matter at Washington? Is Mr. Cleveland going to desert Cuba at the crisis? Can it be the action of Congress upon belligerency is to meet with his disapproval? Why haven't we heard that is all fin--" At that moment another Spaniard came up. "Senor, allow me to present my friend--. As I was just telling this American gentleman, Spain will find every loyal son shoulder to shoulder, fighting till the last drop of blood is shed to avenge such an insult to our national honor as this uncalled-for interference of America."

Since I have come to have more or less friendly relations with the second senor, I have found that he is a physician of considerable prominence, and when we met accidentally, when we were alone, his first question was: "Do you think there is any danger of the Congress modifying those resolutions if there is a joint session?"

There was an attempt at the Spanish palace after the explosion that broke the monotony of the movements of eminent officials with a shock that rent solid masonry, to create the belief that it was caused by a gasoline engine which had suddenly collapsed. It is surprising, however, to those who know the desperate temper of the Cubans, that dynamite was not set off in Havana long ago. The use of it has been freely talked of for months, but confined to the destruction of railroads. There is a circumstance going to show that the shock of an explosive in the palace was caused by some one who was unfamiliar with the surroundings or shaken by timidity--at least that he lacked knowledge or nerve, and was not of the nature of the Russian or Spanish bomb throwers. The explosion took place in the corner of the palace most remote from the apartments of the captain-general. If it was meant for him, there was inferiority of purpose or information. There is a Key West story that introduces as a possible factor another force of civilization-poison! There is a rumor that the Spaniards have turned loose mules loaded with poisoned provisions, and an insurgent general says: "Known Spanish troops poison wells, and, to break up camp, leave poisoned provisions behind in the hopes of their falling into our hands. In the last war this was a common thing."

The better way is to disbelieve much that the combatants declare until there is a demonstration of the infamies that should be incredible. The captain-general has issued a proclamation ordering severe measures to be taken against the press, and that penalties be imposed upon newspapers publishing articles lessening the prestige of the Spanish nationality, the army or the authorities, and empowering the governors of provinces to suspend the publishing of any papers continuing to infringe upon their orders. The captain-general is not, however, strong enough to suspend the law of precedents, and order that his country shall be served by the freedom of the press to publish live news. It will take more than one revolution to arrive at that beatitude.