The record-union., 1896-12-14
EFFECT OF MACEO'S DEATH.

The stories of the death of Maceo,
the Cuban leader, are very conflicting.
Most of the accounts agree that he was
killed, and that the killing was the re-
suit of treachery upon the part of Wey-
Ter and his subordinates. 1t is alleged
that he was led into trap on the plea
that a conference was desired with him
by Weyler regarding a cessation Of hos
tilities, and that at a moment when
Maceo was advancing with his staff to
meet the officer sent to arrange for the
conference he and all his officers, ex-
cept one, were shot down. The only
he has come to Havana and given
himself up, and is treated by the Span
ish with great consideration.
On the other hand, it is asserted by
some Of the Cuban leaders that Maceo
is still alive, having escaped the con-
tenplated massacre, while the Span
ish on their behalf insist that he met
the fate of soldier in fair fight.
We think that as the evidences stand
it may be accepted that the Cuban
leader is dead, and that he was en-
trapped and led to his fall by treach-
cry. There seems to be enough of
mystery about the affair, enough of
exuberant rejoicing on the part of the
Spanish, and to have been enough of
expectancy on the part of the Spanish
officials just prior to the tragedy to
warrant good deal of credence for the
story that Maceo was trapped and mur-
dered.
On any other hypothesis we must
conclude that the Cuban General was
most unwise and unsoldier-like in ex-
posing himself, knowing as he did the
inestimable value Of precaution on the
part Of one on whom so much depend
ed. He knew that his displacement by
death or wounding would imperil the
cause for which he was fighting, and
that a live leader is everything to rev.
olutionists situated 50 peculiarly as are
the Cubans, who looked to Maceo as
their chief hope and reliance.
But assuming that Maceo is dead, and
that he met his death in a treacher-
Gus manner, what will be the probable
effect upon the Cuban cause? 1t has
been said that there never yet lived a
man who could not be replaced In
a general sense that is true, but there
are exceptions to the rule. If men
dropping out of the activities of civ
ilization from places of leadership
could not be replaced. progress would
come to a full pause. But in revolu-
tons, where struggling cause is large
ly dependent upon the trust OF the peo-
pie in the wisdom, courage and expert
ence Of a leader exalted above all 9TH
ers, his displacement may leave an alb
soiute vacancy, one not be filled in a
long time.
What would have been the effect OF
year of the American revolution? Sup
pose he had died, even just at the close
of the war. when the whole body OF
the American officers was on the eve
of rebellion against Congress and
Washington himself, at that critical
period when he saved us from domestic
woes by an immortal appeal to the Off
GERS that turned them back to loyalty
and love for the leader and his cause?
Suppose, also, that his death had been
the result of deceit and treachery Now
Maceo stands to the Cubans much as
Washington stood to US. His loss as
the result of a fair fight must there
fore greatly dispirit them, possibly turn
backward the tide of their devotion for
a time. But If there is a rally from the
first shock, as Cubans assert there will
be. and if Maceo fell before treachery
then will not the Cuban insurgents be
rendered more desperate when the re-
action sets in. as 1t seems likely to do
and will not the war go on with greater
fury than heretofore?
The loss of Washington would have