Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-11-28
SPANISH TYRANNY
As It Is Explained by Captain Gen.
eral Weyler.
BE DECLARES IT DOES NOT EXIST.


Objections Replied to In Detail. After
. Statement of the Recent Operations In
Pinar del Rio. Which Patriot Palma
says Is Collection Of Falsehoods.
Havana, Nov. IS. General weyler
was interviewed just previous to his
second departure for Pinar del Rio to
take personal charge of the campaign
against Maceo, and asked by the Asso-
ciated Ress for an authoritative state
ment Of the operations in the noun
tains Of Pinar del Rio during the past
few weeks. General Weyler was
courteous to the reporter and gave an
extended account of what the Spanish
troops had done. His statement did
not differ materially with the dis
patches sent out from the military Of
fees here. and in effect was that his
troops had met no serious opposition;
that they had driven Maceos forces
from some of their strongest positions
with ease and with no considerable
loss. and now occupied all the strategic
points formerly held by Maceo. In
short Maceo could do nothing now but
separate his army into small bodies,
troops.
Talks About Civil Matters.
Changing the subject from military
to civil conditions the correspondent
asked: THE Cubans abroad complain
strongly of Spanish tyranny. and at
tribute the revolution to the subsection
OF the Cubans by despotic government
under which they were not only de-
barred from liberty, but also from pub
lie employment in their own country.
Can You make a statement on this sub
ject?"
They must offer some excuse for the
treason and destruction to which they
have dedicated themselves since taking
up arms" replied the general. After
the termination of the last war. Cuba
was conceded full liberty by the metro
polls and with rapidity of which
few examples are shown among other
people. The government inaugurated
q regime granting ample Cuban rep
resentation, awaiting itself OF the pro-
| visional laws until the chambers rati-
fled them. establishing the right of the
Cuban people upon an equality with
| the European Spaniards in the colonies.
Almost simultaneously the present
| Spanish constitution was promulgated.
| black, Cuban and Spaniard, in this
| region. The provincial and municipal
laws are alike in the provinces OF Spain.
| There is absolute freedom of the press.
| public meeting and association. and
public judicial procedure. In short, the
| Cubans have all the liberties that are
| enjoyed by the Spaniards in their ma
| tive country.
The Question of Once-Holding.
| CAS- to the social question. the pa
tronato or partnership of slaves was
| decreed, which widened the scope of
the abolition measures and reduced the
| time appoited for the gradual and total
| abolition of slavery. All this is recog-
nized by liberal Cubans and prominent
men who since that date have been
representing Cuba in parliament, and
who have not left the island. in spite of
the present rebellion. and who remain
on the governments side. Now you see
| what tyranny Spain has exercised in
Cuba"
| But" insisted the correspondent.
1.-THE Cubans complain that they are
deprived of holding public Office
This is another VIGOROUSLY unjust
assertion" said General Weyler. THE
| Cubans are left out, not through
| N'PoAA . eSiohhy t"Aeh ShPhdSiSJs pus
because they do not seek to hold Office.
During slavery times all the wealthy
people were not found among the bour-
goisie. But even from the earliest
times there Is no denying the fact that
Cubans have held the offices OF comp
trollers and sub-comptrollers OF the
revenue. like Pinillos and Ramirez. be-
sides similar important posts since the
| treaty OF San Juan was signed. 1t Is
oue =" Spoii w CuDans ioiu puphc Oh
| HSe' roi eAoHp'e' SdhAto Hdrcid- VINO
naraonaS haiS e. oeEoo - .s;. al =.
| e. DanL ~ C...;,1. IRA. - ~ y.
employ of the state in the Phil,,nnine
| ;.,o,d, nrorr ,o.ao-. - a.