The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15
FREEDOM FOR CUBANEAR?
LIGHT ON GEN. LEES REPORT 10
President CLEYELAND.

SCAR can Cru.b the Pntriots-Gen.
weyier'a euprone Enort-Does hhih'pter
Dupuy de LONE Fear n Rupturef
A reporter Of Tue SUN had an interview yes
terday with the owner of ono of the LARGEST
sugar plantations in the island of Cuoa. This
gentleman came to tho United states with the
purpose of studying for himself the true stnto
of public opinion in this country with regard
TO tho war in Cuba, and the chance OF inter
ventiou by the American Govrnment would
put an end TO the struggle.
~ am afraid OF talking TO YOU" said the
Cuban sugar planter TO the reporter, because
n my name appears in your paper, although !
am n Spaniard by birth and have always kept
nv fidelity to the S ,anish flag. serious tro ibles
would come to me and to my properties IN
Cuba. For less than that DIR. Jose Rafael
Montnlvo aud Don Juan OnAte, two promi-
nent Havana citizens. have been deported to
| Chafarinas in Africa by Cen. Wcyler. The
SrN published n few days ago the news of the
deportation OF both gentlemen, but what has
not been published IL the trifing cause OF their
heavy punishment. Senior Onate received n
letter from Now York in which a friend sont
a clipping containing an article from TIM
sun in benalf of the Cuban cause. The author
of the letter told Senior Onatc to read the arti-
Gle TO DR.. Montalvo. The letter was opened
In the Post Office at Havana, and both gem
tlemcn werc arrested as sympathizers Of the
revolutionists. You can judge what would
happen to me II, instead OF reading an article
OF THE Sun, my name is printed as the source
of anti-Spanish information"
After being assured that his name would
not DO made public, the gentleman sad:
I'm the first place / approached Gen. Lee as
soon as he returned from Havana to see
whether I could find out something of the
opinions OF the American Consul-General
about the Cuban revolution. ] was well ac-
q~uainted with the fact that n Cuban lady called
on Gen. Lee ut Havana the day before he
started, and received from him advice which
betrayed, In my opinion. the real sentiments OF
the American reDrese native. The lady's hus-
band is a personal friend of Gen. Lee. When
the latter asked his visitor what her husband,
who Is In this city, intended TO do in New York,
the wife answered:
" lie intends giving up all hopes OF a quick
settlement of affairs here. and To Start in some
other business in America
"'Tell him. replied Gen. Lee promptly.
mot to DO it. and to wait. because the end of all
this Is very near
Gen. Lee.' procce sded tue sugar planter.
could not refer to an end by the triumph OF
the Spanish arms. as he knew perfectly well
that euch a solution would not be In any way
agreeable to the lady and her husband. sup
pose that he referred TO American interview
tion-which is the only reasonable thinS under
the present circumstances and nothing, after
4 navy n ~ a. 'S.AStt iiih1NA's ASAAAAS
me to believe the contrary"
And did yon obtain more defnite words
from Gen. Leer' asked the reporter.
"Of course. Gen. Lee" answered the gem
tleman. did not tell me what his report in
Washington to President Cleveland was going
10 be. but / did not find any ground for the
surposition printed the day after bis arrival
that he was a sympathizer with the Spanish
Government. Whist ] know is that Gen. Leo
while in Havana invited to his Office all the
most prominent persons in the capital after
giving them all guarantees that the interview
world be absolutely secret. and that they
would not incur any danger in expressing
their opinions freely. l can assure you OF
this because l was myself one of the individ-
uals called by Gen. Lee to his office.
About 100 representatives OF all the spheres
of activity in Cuba were interviewed by tho
American Co.sui. Bankers. sugar mel. TO-
farmers. lawyers. every one. gave his views
about the situation; and Gen. Lee. proceeding
caretnlly. consulted as well the spaniards as
the Cubans. Not a single one reported in In
vor of the Spanish Government. not a single,
one failed TO agree with the opinion that the
Spanish army was unable to viii the war. and.
that even in case It could win. such an end
would b." a misfortune for the country. as,
Cuba could never pay the tremendous debt,
which Is increased every day under the spanish
rule. Even those who never were noted for
any political opinion. even those who pass for
true supporters OF Spain. express ed themselves
After having thus the knowledge of public
opinion among the peaceful inhabitants Of
tho real state of the insur gent army and its
ability TO resist successfully the enormous
himself Of the irst DEGREES in which Gen.
VIEWER promised a pardon to every ipsursent
worthy and able agents. communicated with
the insurgent leaders Maceo and 'guirre. In
agreed to pass before all ewes as traitors to
their cause, with the real aim Of doing a: i'm
lives. surrGnderipR to the troops Of the Butch
err. and were carried TO Hayana trtunphaqtiv
found means of meeting them secretly. From
their lips he could Learn what the spanish Coy
both arr les the war will he endless, and that
the Cubans are resolved to die rather than TO
give up the struggle.
Who can doubt now that all this valuable
President Cleveland Now. as to what tho
president is inclined to do. l hay" some more
10 your paper. 1t is what can lie called in
English circumstan ial evidence. and comes
from one who has nothing less than Senior
You know that the special correspondent
Of great ability. came TO Washington some
months ago. apparently for his health's sake.
wrongs OF the Spanish Government. has never
been an open triend OF the revolution. advo-
As an Engli-hman. he is less inclined To favor
Gals. and IN Washington il is well known that
he is on. of the favori;e friends OF senior Dn-
puy de LONE. Now. the English c, rrespond-
ent WAS found some days ago or his way
lack TO Cuba, and when asked how il was that
he returned so soon to the island, he answered
When / left Havana nothing could indie
cate any change in the usual course OF things.
The war was paralyAHd. and ! was perfectly
sure that nothing extraordinary could han.
pen. II only Spaniards and Cubans were%oiug
to continue the fight. But now | feel ;haL
sometling more interesting will come, and |
20 there to DO on the spot
AFTER hearing these words / began 10 in
vestigate what extraordinary event that news
paper man expected. and ! discovered from ,
very good sources that great fear OF what 4
President Cleveland will say on Cuba in his
next message 10 Congress. prevails in the Span
ish embassy ut Washington. Gen. Weyler
has been informed that unless Maceo is crushed
during the present month Mr.. Cleveland viii