The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-14

at is plain that the American minister.
ment In paper. The paper lEl Impair
ciaD was owned by q cabinet minister Sc
nor Gasset Artime. General Sickies
ewsd that the Were an shot or
garroted. or course that Is not true; that
is simply a belief. an opinion. And he
says also that the Impartial, which never
ed, but that so many prisoners had been
made. was owned by one OF the members
Of the cabinet.
DISTORTED. DE LONE SAYS.
From these facts an article in the
American Cyclopedia has been written
by strong enemy OF Spain: the sense
of the dispatch OF the American minister
has been distorted from the expression OF
statement In a newspaper that the. pris-
oners were taken the conclusion is drawn
that theS were executed. and because the
ter Of the cabinet the assertion is nd-
vanced that cabinet officer admitted that
they had been put to death. That has
been said in the United States senate,
and indorsed by vote OF that high body.
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. in
speech made on Feb. 25 quoted from the
Liberal, of Madrid. an interview sent by
cable from Cadiz. Spain, at the time Cen
eral Weyier embarked for Cuba. The
translation which has been given to the
senator from Massachusetts is u fraud.
My attention was called TO II by teie-
gram from Mr.. Taltavul. correspondent in
the United States Of the Liberal, from
Madrid and "a former member of the Cor
tes. This distinguished gentleman wired
TO me: General Weyler never said In any
interview or conversation published In me
Liberal that he would exterminate the
hAf hA
would clean out the western provinces OF
cuba Of filibusters. and that he would en-
terminate the small bands Of bandits
II have now before ME the text Of that
interview But even taking II as granted
that General Weyler said what Is printed,
the words that the person who has fur-
nished documents TO Senator Lodge have
made him say are not exact. lish-ral
Weyler said: al llegar n Cubarme pro-
pongo, en- primer terlnino, limi'iaf de III
busteros las proVincias de Ia Habanl.
Pfnar del Rio. Matanzas Las Nfllas;'eh-
tendendose que me refiero por ahora a
las gruesas partidas que las invaden. pes-
pues Quedan las peQuanas pardidas de ban
didos que eXtermiure paulatinamrnte. The
exact translation is: ON my arrival in
cuba ! propose in the first place to clean
bana, MutanZas, Pinar del Rio and Las
Villas: be II we'll understood that ] refer
for the moment to the large bands when
have invaded them. Then will remain the
small bands of bandits, which | VIII eX-
terminate gradually
Nobody can believe that General Wey-
Ter by the word eNterminate meant to put
To death; but even If that sense Is applied
to his word, II is necessary to under
stand what those bands of bandiis in Cuba
are and have been. ! would like TO know
the opinion that the American planters.
respectful law abiding citizens. who are
working for their own interest, and for the
prosperity of Cuba. have in that respect;
what would be done in this country with
the people who have been kidnapping ana
blackmailing the honest tOilers living out
IN the country; what treatment they think
deserve people like Manuel Garcia, Mira
bel, Alatasas. Perico Delgado and others,
who were in the field before and who
would be afterward. TO those apply the
words of General Weyler., The paper to
which | refer Is al the disposal of the
senator from Massachusetts and OF any
body who wants to see It,
TREATY NOT VIOLATED.
Senator Lodge also said that the
Treaty of Zanjon had been violated. This
statement can only be made by persons
who have not read that treaty, and who
do not know the laws actually in force In
Cuba The Treaty of Zanjon only said
In Puerto Rico will be promulgated and
applied to Cuba. They were Immediately
promulgated, and since then many re-
forms. In liberal sense, which it will
accorded to both islands.
MANY conclusions have been derived
by the senators whom | have mentioned,
and by others, from proclamation about
to be given to the people of Cuba by Cen
eral Weyler. The authority that the pro.
clamation was going to be issued is only
telegram OF press association.
II remember that one of the greatest
France said that If a line written by the
hand Of Il man was given to him he could
convict him and hang him. but | have
never seen that man can be condemned
by the intentions that newspaper sup
poses he has.
q. II cannot understand how every rule of
war are so criminal. so cruel and so tyran-
nical when they are applied TO Cuba. !
nave before my eyes u, summary of
charges OF inhumanity in connection with
the war of the rebellion In the United
States against both sides. taken from
American history. | am sure that many
or them are false, most of them eXagger-
ated. some necessary and others una
voidable. But, taking only as an illus
tration and for the sake of argument
what ! see In that list. cannot under
have been able to use such harsh, unjust
and offensive language against Spain.
IN an English paper of those days I
read the. following opinion Of the Ameri
can civil war: Stripped of its trappings,
1t 3 a mere quarrel for territory: the an
tagonists are acting like Delawares and
Pawnees. War to the knife. pushed to
absolute determination, Is what they have
resolved on, and the people breathe a
language of massacre and determination.
This charge was no more justified than
the charges which are brought now
against Spain.
II said nothing when that language was
used In the press, but | believe il Is my
duty. although against the convention
alities of my position, to appeal. as have
said, to the honest common sense of the
American people when those words are
uttered from the capitol ot the United
States. Nothing Is done in Cuba that has
not been done and has not been deemed
necessary In other countries when at war
1t would be possible and easy for me. If
had the time to quote many facts not
different from those which now arouse
public sentiment against Spain. ! will
only ask OF persons wanting an impartial
and honest opinion to read what the com.
mander-in-chief of the American armies
OF both sides, and what those of the ar
mics of France and Germany have deemed
necessary for the protection of their SOL
dlers and the carrying out OF the wars IN
which they have been engaged
CJ'BA'S REPLY.