The heads of the Government then decided that Spain ought to increase her navy, so that she should be ready in case of trouble. An endeavor has been made to raise funds for this purpose, and one of the Spanish Senators has suggested that a public subscription be opened for the purpose.
A meeting of the Carlists has been called to protest against the interference clause of the Message, and the Spaniards generally are much annoyed over it.
General Weyler has not allowed the opportunity offered him by the present unpopularity of the United States to pass him by.
He has been doing his best to convince the people that his recall was due to our interference, and that, had he been allowed to remain in Cuba, the island would have been pacified in a very short space of time.
He and his friends have been working industriously to raise him to the position of a popular hero, and, taking advantage of some of the President's remarks about the cruel methods of warfare employed in Cuba, he says that he feels proud of the fact that the President attacks him, as it is a proof that his conduct was displeasing to Spain's enemies.
Following up these remarks, which were published in all the Spanish papers, Weyler determined to visit Madrid and pay his respects to the Queen.
He and his friends evidently hoped that there would be some popular demonstration in favor of their idol.
A holiday was chosen for his arrival, so that the lower classes might be free to greet him, and a party of his admirers, several hundred strong, went in a body to the depot to receive him.
Sagasta, learning of these arrangements, feared that some hot heads might make an attack on the American embassy, and sent a special guard to protect it.
He might, however, have spared himself the anxiety. The people took very little notice of the great man's arrival, and made no demonstration whatever. His arrival in the city seemed to be of very small importance to any but his own personal friends.