The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-12-03
SPAIN WOULD FIGHT,
If We Recognized the Cubans,
So Weyler Intimates.
HE Is NOT AFRAID OF M'KINLEY.
Ho Deuies That Spain Has Played the
Tyrsnt with Cuba-CIains to BE Well
Satisfied with His Present Campaign.
Goes to the Front Again.


personal command of the Spanish
forces operating against the insurgents.
Before leaving he was interviewed by
your correspondent. lie expressed
himself as entirely satisfied with the
campaign in PInar Del Rio. He then
said
Il went over all the northern hills
and occupied the insurgent positions
without any serious resistance on the
part of the enemy. CaCarajcara and
Rubi, which the insurgents claimed
were impregnable, were occupied by
our troops after dislodging the enemy.
At Rubi he offered the greater resist.
ance, but yielded after few hours
fighting. We found no trace Of Maceo's
people after that, although all the other
points were reconnoitered by small dc.
tachments from our columns. The
southerly points were also reconnoitered,
and the positions where the rebels had
encamped are now in possession Of our
troops There remains still to be recon.
noitered the ranges Of the hills in the
eastern part of the province Macco
has nothing left for him to do but TO
bNdNltl lll6 lOllONtlN lulO hluull parties
in order to enable them to escape our
columns which are now hunting for
them, since they offer no resistance and
refuse to accept meeting with our
troops, who are chasing them in all di.
rectiOns. l am confident of soon pacify.
ing Pinar Del Rio"
The rebellion in the other provinces
he said he hoped to soon crush. as there
were no hills like in Pinar Del Rio and
there were no leaders like Maceo. The
rebels under Gomez and Garcia were
destroying and burning merely to de.
tract the attention of the Spanish troops
and not attention would be paid tO
them.
"Do you believe President Mckinley
will follow the policy of President
Cleveland in regard TO Cubar' he was
asked.
Mckinley represents public wealth
and the producing elements OF that
country aud | cannot believe that
man who represents the work, virtue
and prosperity of his country can carry
out a policy which would compromise
the interests entrusted to his talents
and discretion as public man. Hence,
think that Mckinley will be guided
by just and equitable policy, without
passion and with prudence such as is
counseled by the interests of the Amer.
lean people and the cordial relations
long existing between Spain and the
United States"
General Weyler denied that he would
confscate rebel property, for there was
very little to confiscate and that was
mOrtgaged to friends of the Spanish
cause.
He said he would not allow the sugar
crop to be gathered before February or
March, as the rebels would extort the
money from the planters that they oh.
tanned for their crop to aid them to
carry on the war. In this he had the
support of the planters and the mcr.
chants from whom the planters Dor.
rowed money TO handle their crops.
"lt is reported that the Spanish min.
lister for war intends to send another
large contingent of troops to Cuba in
January" said the correspondents
II don't know" replied General
Weyler II only think, | can assure
you, that the nation is prepared to make
all kinds of sacrifices, both in money
and men, as has already been proved, !
to conquer in this undertaking and
make Spain's sovereignty respected be.
fore and above everything All the
money spent and to be spent will be
Spanish money. Cuba has been asked |
for nothing, neither for men nor for
money. Her pride in her great national
historic traditions alone impels Spain. !
and she will defend Cuba and will ex,
haust her last dollar and her last man
in so doing. This is not only the feel
ing OF the government. hut also of the !
Spanish people,a is shown by the daily
n n N hf1g gI I1G GF1n Ennn
the nation"
"Do you think, general that the REQ.
ognition Of the belligerence of the in.
surgents by the United States would be
taken as an Offense by Spain?"
''lt would be strange if any act di- |
rectly aimed at a recognition Of any
challenge of Spain's right to sover-
eighty here, which our people look upon
as being beyond question, did not evoke
an explosion OF popular feeling which
it would be impossible to check, excited
and ardent as public sentiment is now
on the Cuban question in Spain"
Finally the correspondent asked Gen |
eral Weyler if he would agree to q
truce in order to bring about an ex.
chanRe Of views between himself and
The Cuban leaders. He answered:
THAT would be out of the question. |
Such step would give the insurgents
mn importance which 1 cannot concede
to them"
"The Cubans abroad complain
strongly Of Spanish tyranny. and at.
tribute the revolution to the subjection
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 statement OH this sub
ject?"
"Tbey must offer some excuse for the
treason and destruction to which they |
have dedicated themselves since takink
MP arms. After the termination of the
last war Cuba was conceded full liberty.
with rapidity OF which few examples
are shown among other people, the gov.
ernmeDt inaugurated regime granting
ample Cuban representation, availing
itself of the provisional laws until the
members ratified them. establishing the
night OF the Cuban people upon an
equality with the European Spaniards
In the colonies. Almost simultaneously
the present Spanish constitution was
promulgated, recognizing the equality
Of white and black, Cuban and Span.
lard, in this region. The provincial and
municipal laws are alike in the prov
inoes of Spain. There il absolute free
dom OF the press, public meetings and
association and public judicial proceed
ure In short, the Cubans have all the |
liberties that are enjoyed by the Span.
iartis IN their native country.
''As to the social question, the pat !
ronhto or patronship OF slaves was dc. |