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.