Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-20
THE CUBAN REVOLT.
Story Of II Clearly and DiSpaSSlonately
Told.
NO PRESS CENSORSHIP PROPER.
Sensational Journalism Not Under
stood-No General Uprising 81 the
Pcoric--Thc insurrcction Dcpi"re"
Nv the Better Classes.

shades OF opinions, expressed by Npdii-
ards, Cubans. Enslishmen. Americans
the United States Consul and the Gov
ernor-GeneraI. proceeded to Santiago de
cuba. the Province where the insurgents
have made the most progress, and Is
able 10 give the facts in regard TO the
revolution and the status Of affairs on
the Island Of cuba.
In the first place the censorship Of the
press, telegraph ard cable. exists only 10
the extent that matter Of an inccndiary
or seditious nature is suppressed. Cipher
dispatches are not allowed unless the
key Is furnished TO the authorities The
newspapers OF Havana and other cities
publish the news OF military movements,
engaeements. and casualties in full. even
getting ont extras when anything or un-
usual interest IS received. They have r.
portcrs in the field, and La Cdrica,ura
has an artist who follws the army corps.
and exercises much license IN ilustrd-
ting.
when il is remembered that the entire
island Of Cuba g. under martial law, the
freedom OF the press Is remarkah'e.
The authorities, however. 10 not COM
r,heud modern sensational journalism.
and when special correspondent from
the United states attempted 10 cable his
paper story ~ a general uprising
against Spanish rule. which has taken
place only I'm the brain Of some half
witted enthusiast, or AZ account Of
wholesale slaughter Of Spanish regulars
by Insurgents. the dispatch is sent 20
the police. and the gentlemanly score
tary OF the Governor-General requests
the presence Of the correspondent and
informs him that the dispatch cannot b.
transmitted. Naturally the authorities
Go not give out news unfavorable 10
themselves. but when such news is ob-
tanned. they make no attempt 10 suppress
# unless they know IL ID be untrue.
So much Tor the press censorship.
PROGRESS or REVOLT.
As 10 the progress Of the instruction.
IT has FOR the last month been practical
~ nli. In the first place. no general
rising Of Cubans ms taken place. no
provisional government has been formed.
no stand against government troops has
been made. no engagement Of sufficient
importance 20 be- designated r battle has
occurred In every department. eXcep,
the Province Of Santiago dc Cuba, the
few men who attempted TO rebi were
promptly arrested.
The plan mapped ont by Maru and
other enthusiasts in New York WAS not
endorsed by the better class of resident
Cuhans. without whose financial aid ana
personal influence mo- uprising 10 Cuha
can succeed. I'm several localities young
men Of good families left their homes
10 join the insurgents. They were in
spred by the patriotism that tnrohbci
ia the veins of the heroes OF the Ameri-
can Revolution. but when they reported
IN the field and found their leaders 20 Boz
mulatt0es or bandits. they returned 90
the towns and surrendered 10 the au-
th0ritIcs They were treated with great
lenicucy. Some were imprisoned for
few days. while others were liberated
and sent 90 their homes at once. Troops
were rushed over from Spain and details
stationed In al cities and their towns
Volunteers 10 the number Of = 900 or 1000
were enlisted from among the Spanish
residents This prompt show OF a strong
force OF armed men has undoubtedly had
its effect upon many whose ynpathies
are with the rebels, yet who hesitate
about joining them.
SANTIAGO.
in the province OF Santiago De Cuba.
az the eastern erl OF the island. tho
case has been different. The mountain.
Gus nature of the country and the NUM-
ber Of sympath.zers have made this sec-
ton the natural place Tor the laullng or
nlibustering expeditions and war mate.
rial. The leaders who came here from
Fortune Island. jamaica, san Domingo,
and perhaps also from the United StatDs,
found men go follow thom AMI local laad-
ers 70 cooperate. Bands Of fifty. ols
hundred, ana in some eases two hundred
men, wsr. formed. Not kalf az the
mon We're properly armed. hut nearly mn
carried some sore OF wcapOn-ride, shot
gun. mach.te. or revolver
There are from 300 10 300 men i'm all
of these bands. They form no concerted
force. but move about from place 10
place I'm these mountainous districts.
far1-ing among the plantations for SUBJ
sieteuce. ana occasionally having .
skIrmish with small dctachmcnts OF
government troops. Large detachments
are avoided. The warfare Of the iusgr.
gents Is guerilla warfare. They know
every foot Of the mountains, anl cap
ture Is impossible unless thu whole zee
gian is filed with soldiers. They hope 10
tire out the Spanish troops and seek 10
proloug the conflict until tha rainy goa.
son sets in, when yellow-,ever may DO
more destruction than their bullets.
CALLEJA AND CAMPOS.
Under Gov rnor-Ganeral Caleja active
preparations were delayed. and clcmenc,
FhlflAF'A 10 diA " lAH ANl nNFfl NJ 30 .i 'tiN'T'
and pledged submission 10 the King Of
Spain. With Martinez Campos the new
G0vernor-General. in the field. person,
ally pushing active operations against
the insurgents, the outcome Will not lOuN
boz IN doubt
Had the movement been supported by
the influential Cubans. and properly lai
some show Of success might have been
looked for. The leaders are not capable
Of intelligent or systematic handling OF
men. many Of them having been outlaws
and bandits for years. Others are negroes
or half-bre us. Some bands are entirely
made up OF colored men. and the difficulty
in some respects resembles racr-wlr
Such are the people for whom more or
less sympathy I'm the United States has
been aroused. False reports of battles
fought and v.ctOri won have been mea-
lioned In the cigar factories Of Tampa
and Key West. As matter of fact, uo
city and no town has been taken. and
no battle of any character fought When
the signal for general uprising was
given, neary two months ago the gar
rison az Santiago de Cuba numbered 100
men. IL would not have been diiicalt o.
capture them. Now ther are 5.OJU Spanish
troops here.
RESURRECTION DEPLORED.
The Instruction is deul3red by the
better class Of Cubans. as Woll as all resi-
dents interested in marcantl or pro-
ducing operations. The home-rule party
and the Reform party, as well as the Con-
sentative party have denounced the W.
rising as Injurious 10 th best interests
OF cuba. Reforms, which have recently
passed the Spanish cortes have not been
put into effect Commence Is beginning
To suffer. Heavy eXpens = Tor military
operations have been incurred ana these
VIII De tackled on the already burdeusome
taxes with which the island f. sadjl-ti.
The general Cuin!on OF intelligent resi-
dents Is that the present uprising. ike
its several predecessors, Will fail, a few
more enthusiasts Will be shot, AMI the
emancipation OF the fair Island. which fl
bound 10 come some day. Will be delayed
rather than aided.
(SignCdj j. FRANK CLARK.
CURE FOR ERl sIPELas.