New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-25
WEYLER'S GLANCE OF TUNE.

General Weyler. now makes 4 specIous Offer
Of amnesty TO the Cubins II they will surrender
That has IA very different sound from his threat
OF two months ago to wipe them out" But 1t
will have no more effect than that did The
men who were not scared by his mcnaces will
not he scduced by his Establishments Why
should they be, ut this time OF all times? They
have been defeating his armies, crossing his
dead lines" ut will. and running with ease his
naval blockade. Their prospect OF success is
brighter than ever before. There Is every en-
couragement for them to persevere. There Is
no reason why. with the prize OF victory almost
within their grasp. they should falter and for
sake their cause.
The fact is, and the Cubans know 1t as well
as General Weylcr himself, that this offer of
amnesty Is a cry OF distress. 1t IL the Spanish
commanders last desperate resort He knows
he has failed to suppress the instruction, or
even 10 hold his ground against 1t. lie knows
and he knows that Spain knows 1t, too. that he
has not done as well rs Martinez de Campos
did He knows he Is In imminent danger OF
recall The fighting season Is past. The season
OF rains and yellow fever is at hand 1t is now
or never with him. If he cannot end the war
at once, he must put his army into camp. or
further operations. meanwhile abandoning all
the island outside Of his Notifications TO the in
surgents. To do that would be to set himself
down n hopeless failure. and probably to insure
his recall In disgrace.
General Wcyler took command In Cuba early
in last February. lie said that while 1t might
take couple OF years fully to pacfy the island
he would drive the rebels all out Of Pinar del
Inv nj Natap hafo
the end Of March. Thus he would save the
tobacco crop and half the sugar crop of the
island Spain rushed troops and ships over by
wholesale to assist him. The army In Cuba was
swellcd to nearly 100000 regulars, besides many
thousands Of militia and guerlllas, and the fleet
to forty-two vessels OF all classes And now
instead OF the end Of March, 1t is near the end
of April, and the insurgents are still In full pos
session Of all those three provinces, outside Of
n few fortified cities and Spanish camps. Such
Is Weylcrs success No wonder he has changed
his tune.
The wellnformcd and judclous correspondent
Of THE London Standard" at Madrid reports
that despite General Weyler's efforts to protect
the plantations, the Cuban sugar crop this year
will be barely 10000 tons, against 100000 In
average years. So much for the economic side Of
the case. The political side is worse still. General
Weyler favored dissolution of the Cortes and
new election, In order to give the Canovas Minis
try strong majority. Accordingly, that course
was pursued. But with what result? All par
ties In Cuba save the hidebound Reactlonarles
protested against 1t and refused to participate
In the election. SO the Government simply
packed the Cuban representation with Its own
creatures. mostly from Madrid And now there
Is welngh universal cutlery against the Gov
eminent for the dishonesty farcical character
OF the elections. 1T Is no wonder" adds the
correspondent. under the circumstances, that
there Is an undercurrent Of discomfort In the
comments Of the Madrid and provincial press
ION the military and political outlook in the
Spanish West Indies" We should say not.
And we fancy there will be a good deal more
discomfort before there Is less.