Spain is thought to be willing to agree to some arrangement of this character.  The rebellion in Cuba is costing her between eight and ten million dollars a month, and it is supposed that she will be willing to get out of her difficulties if she can find a way.

The stumbling-block in the way of home rule is that there has been created a debt of many million dollars as a result of the war.  If Spain does not make the payment of this enormous sum of money by Cuba the condition of granting home rule, the matter may soon be arranged.  Should Spain insist on the payment of this money, Cuba will have to fight until the end, for it is quite impossible for her to meet any such demand.

There are reports that General Weyler will be recalled to Spain.  Some say that he has already been ordered home; others that he has sent in his resignation, but that the Queen Regent will not accept it until she sees what the United States is going to do.  If trouble should come with this country she will probably keep Weyler in Cuba.

There is now a very strong party in Madrid which demands the removal of Weyler.

There was some excitement when the news reached this country that Gen. Rius Rivera was to be shot.  The news came from Havana, and roused a storm of indignant protests against such a shameful practice as shooting a prisoner of war.

The Spanish newspapers have been saying very unkind things about us since the Senate passed the Morgan resolutions, but in spite of this it would seem that Spain is really anxious to keep our good will.  No sooner did the report about General Rivera reach us, than Senor Dupuy de Lome made full inquiries into the matter, and sent word to his Government that the reports were absolutely false, and that the authorities had no intention of shooting General Rivera.

In regard to the Ruiz matter, it is said that our Government will claim that Spain is responsible for the doctor’s death, whether he died from injuries received in the prison or not, because they kept him shut up, without the privilege of communicating with anybody, ten days longer than the law permits.

It is expected that our Government will claim $150,000 damages for Mrs. Ruiz and her children, and will demand that Fondeviella, who was in charge of the jail, shall be punished for keeping the unfortunate man in this close confinement for three hundred and fifteen hours, instead of the seventy-two hours named in their law.

The authorities in Madrid are beginning to think that too many Cubans are claiming the protection of American citizenship, to save themselves from punishment.

When Dr. Ruiz was arrested, he claimed American citizenship, and it was on account of this claim that General Lee became interested in his case.

By referring to page 473 of THE GREAT ROUND WORLD, you will see that Dr. Ruiz was born in Cuba, came to the United States to study, became naturalized, and then went back again to Cuba, where he entered into business as a dentist.  His case was so complicated, that the authorities in Cuba thought they had good ground for disbelieving him when he claimed to be a citizen of the United States.