My present information is that most of the Spaniards will refrain from voting, and nearly all of the Cubans.
| * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
The feeling in Havana, and I hear in other parts of the island, is strong against it—the Cubans desiring an independent republic and the Spaniards preferring annexation to the United States rather than autonomy. On the night of the 24th instant there seems to have been a concerted plan over the island to testify the disapprobation of the people to the proposed autonomistic plans of the Spanish Government.
It culminated in this city about 2 o'clock in the morning of the 25th, in the principal square of Havana, where a mob assembled with cries of "Death to autonomy!" and to General Blanco, and shouting "Viva Weyler!" These men came to the square with stones in their pockets, and some of them armed with weapons.
They made a demonstration, too, against the office of the Diario de la Marina, a paper published in this town favoring autonomy, but were dispersed by the military police and soldiers,
| * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
I am, etc.,
Mr. Lee to Mr. Day.
No. 733.]
Havana, December 28, 1897.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of the following telegrams:
Lee, Consul-General, Havana:
The following was given to the public, in pursuance of an arrangement this day made with the Spanish minister to that effect: "By direction of the President, the public is informed that in deference to the earnest desire of the Government to contribute by effective action toward the relief of the suffering people in the Island of Cuba, arrangements have been perfected, by which charitable contributions in money or kind can be sent to the island by the benevolently disposed people of the United States. Money, provisions, clothing, medicines, and the like articles of prime necessity can be forwarded to General Fitzhugh Lee, the consul-general of the United States at Havana, and all articles now dutiable by law so consigned will be admitted into Cuba free of duty.
The consul-general has been instructed to cooperate with the local authorities and the charitable boards for the distribution of such relief among the destitute and needy people of Cuba. The President is confident that the people of the United States, who have on many occasions in the past responded most generously to the cry for bread from people stricken by famine or sore calamity, and who have beheld no less generous action on the part of foreign communities, when their own countrymen have suffered from fire and flood, will heed the appeal for aid that comes from the destitute at their threshold, and especially at this season of good will and rejoicing, give of their abundance to this humane end.—John Sherman." Please cooperate with the local authorities to this end.
Lee, Consul-General, Havana:
Wire immediately character of supplies most needed for Cuban relief. Will money be of more service than food, clothing, etc.?
