that it had been frightfully mismanaged, not so much by Weyler as by Gen. Martinez Campos, who was the first general sent out by Spain to conquer the insurgents.

In the opinion of Don Carlos, General Weyler is the right man for Cuba.

He refuses to believe that he has done all the cruel things he is accused of, but says that his sternness and severity were necessary for the occasion, and that Spain should be very grateful to have found such a leader at such a time.

When asked about the chances of a Carlist rising, he said that the people were urging him to take up arms and come to the rescue of his country. He hesitated to do so because he felt that it would be a cruel thing for him to plunge his beloved country into the horrors of a civil war at a moment when she was already beset with enemies.

He declared that it cost him a great effort to remain deaf to the call of his people, but that if matters did not improve, he should feel it his duty to come forward and save his country.

In his opinion the United States is only interfering in Cuban affairs because she wants to annex Cuba. Were he on the throne of Spain he says he would grant such a liberal form of government to the Cubans that they would feel it a privilege to remain under the rule of Spain.

The opportunities for Don Carlos to regain the throne of Spain were never so favorable as at this moment, and, in spite of his statement, it is quite probable that he will obey the wishes of his friends, and do his best to secure it.

The evidence in the Ruiz case has been laid before our Government.

After careful consideration the State Department has decided that Spain is in the wrong.

General Woodford, the new minister to Spain, has therefore been instructed to present a claim to the Spanish government for $75,000 damages to be paid to Mrs. Ruiz. Our minister is also instructed to say that his Government has concluded that, under the treaties existing between America and Spain, all the proceedings against Dr. Ruiz were illegal, and that Spain is absolutely responsible for his death. Under these circumstances Spain must pay this sum of money to the unfortunate widow.

General Woodford is to add that while the United States would be justified in demanding a much larger indemnity for Mrs. Ruiz, the friendly feeling that our Government has for Spain has induced us to make the sum as moderate as possible.

An endeavor was made on the part of Spain to compromise the matter with Mrs. Ruiz, but she refused to treat with the Spanish agents, saying that she preferred to leave her claim in the hands of the United States Government.

Congress has also taken action in the Competitor case.

The Competitor was an American schooner which sailed for Florida in April, 1896.

According to the story told by the captain of the vessel, he was no sooner out of sight of land than the passengers took possession of the ship, and forced him to change his course and carry them to Cuba.

Their luggage consisted of supplies and ammunition intended for the insurgents, and thus, against his will, the captain was forced to undertake a filibustering expedition.

The Competitor was sighted by the Spaniards, and captured by them, but all but five of the men on board escaped.

Three of these men were Americans who had sailed the ship.

The prisoners were taken ashore and tried by court-martial. They were accused of piracy. They pleaded that they had not undertaken the voyage to Cuba of their own free will, but had been forced to do so by the passengers. They insisted that they were innocent of any intention to wrong Spain.

In spite of this they were sentenced to death. They declared themselves to be American citizens, and their sentence was suspended until the truth about their nationality could be learned.

It was found that they were really Americans, and so the Government immediately sent a protest to Spain, and the three men were sent to prison until an answer could be received.

After a long time word came from Madrid that the men were to be granted a new trial. Ten months have gone by since the new trial was ordered, and still these prisoners have not had justice done them. They have been kept in close confinement in the Cabanas prison, and have been punished as much as if they had been really guilty, but their trial has been put off for one reason or another until it now appears as if the authorities did not mean to give them an opportunity of securing their freedom.

The schooner has also been held all this time by Spain, and her owners are anxious to have her returned that they may have the use of her services once more.

After waiting patiently for nearly a year, Congress has at last taken a hand in the matter.

A joint resolution has been passed, empowering the President to take such steps as he thinks fit to secure the release of the prisoners, and to have the boat restored to her owners.

The resolution also gives the President authority to employ such means and use such power as he may think necessary to accomplish this purpose.

The Spaniards are angry at the action we have taken in both the Ruiz and Competitor cases, but their especial anger is vented on our consuls in Cuba.

General Lee has been informed that if the Spaniards were revengeful instead of noble, he would not long be allowed to remain at his post and foment trouble between Spain and America.

The consul in Matanzas has been forced to fortify the Consulate in consequence of the threats which have been made against the Americans there. He has done this to afford a safe shelter for the Americans in Matanzas in case trouble should break out.

While the authorities in Cuba are feeling angry with us on account of the Ruiz and Competitor cases, the Government in Spain has a fresh cause of annoyance against us.

This has arisen through a despatch sent by the Spanish minister in Washington.

Señor Dupuy de Lome writes his Government that he has received full information in regard to the instructions that have been given to General Woodford.

He says that the minister has been instructed by the Secretary of State to tell Spain that the United States thinks the war in Cuba has lasted long enough, and that the Americans cannot stand quietly by and allow the struggle to go on as it has much longer. Our minister is to inform Spain that if the war is not soon brought to a close the United States will interfere, and that, under any circumstances, warfare, as carried on by General Weyler, must be stopped instantly, as the United States will not permit it to continue.

The Spaniards are highly incensed at this, and are feeling very unfriendly toward General Woodford.

If this statement is really true, it is a pity that it should have been made public, because it has been definitely stated that the President will not allow any unfriendly act toward Spain until it is absolutely sure that General Woodford is unable to make a peaceful settlement.

Our minister leaves for Spain very shortly. At first it seemed as though there would be a long delay before he could be officially received by the Queen Regent, because the Court had left Madrid and gone to San Sebastian for the summer.

It seems that the Spanish court observes very little ceremony during the summer season, and as the reception of an ambassador is a very important and ceremonious affair, the Queen Regent decided to put it off until the return to Madrid.

This delay was very annoying to us. The Cuban questions are too pressing to be allowed to wait until the autumn, and no business could be transacted with the Spanish Government until we had a property recognized representative there.

Happily for us, Japan has helped us out of the difficulty.

The Mikado has sent a special mission to the Spanish court to