The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-19
IN CUBA RESUME.

From the Rochester post-Express.
desperate war for the independence of
cuba began In 1865. At the end OF ten years
treaty of peace was negotiated between
the leaders of the Cuban people and Gen
eral Campos, Spain's greatest general. He
promised all the reforms in government
that the Cubans desired. But every prom
ise was broken, every pledge was violated.
Spain re-established her military govern
ment over all parts of the island: the Old
reign of tyranny was resumed. The con-
dition of the people grew rapidly worse,
In 1883 the consul-general or the United
States at Havana sent to our secretary OF
state report in which he said: THE en-
tire population, with the exception of the
official class, are living under tyranny
unparalleled at this day on the globe.
There Is a system of oppression and tor
ture which enters into every phase of life,
eats into the soul of every Cuban, mOrt-
ies, injures and insults him every hour,
impoverishes him and his family from day
to day, threatens the rich man with bank
ruptcy and the poor man with beggary.
The eXactions of the Spanish government
and the illegal outrages of its officers are,
in fact. intolerable. They have reduced
the island to despondency and ruin
The situation of affairs continued to
grow worse. Taxes were higher, the mil
itary government was more oppressive
the incompetence and dishonesty of the
officials made them detested. The liberty
lONlnH people OI Iubd saw ttlul tutlt W dS
no hope except in another revolution. 10
end not in Il treaty to be broken. but in
complete independence. Accordingly the
present revolution broke out in February,
1895, year and a month ago. The insur-
gent armies have been remarkably sue
cessful. They have been able to secure
control of two thirds of the island, though
there were 100000 Spanish soldiers opposed
to them, under the command of SPANS
ablest general. After the insurgents had
driven the soldiers of Campos to take ref
uge In the strongly fortified cities, after
his efforts to suDdue the rebellion ON the
lines of civilized warfare had failed, Spain
recalled him, and sent General Weyler in
his place--a man who had no feelings of
humanity, who IL not only Il butcher but
a heartless tyrant. He began at once TO
issue prOclamations that showed that his
character had not been misjudSed. One or
the first was a practical duplicate of that
which President Grant and Secretary Fish
regarded as "infamous' when 1t was L.
sued by the Count Of Nalmaceda In ls6S.
General Weyler ordered that every male
person over Ii years Of age found away
from his habitation should be shot. tie
ordered that all unprotected women should
retire to the garrisoned towns, perhaps 10
be insulted by the soldiers Of Spain. tie
ordered that all uninhabitcd dwellings,
should be burned lie declared that those
IN the insurgent army who did not sur
render within fifteen days should be treat
ed rs bandits and shot. He directed that
all Officers OI llle soIliUiNl NY siio"iu ~
Jealous In carrying out his infamous or
ders--that they should go, on with the
butchery and report promptly 10 hini-th,
chief butcher. II IL clear tn.tt General
Weyler's purpose is 10 conduct the war In
the same inhuman way that made the
war of twenty years ago one of the most
horrible blots on the history Of Spain
on the 18th of September, lS9J the peo-
pie of cuba who are struggling for free"
dem formed q provisional government
under a constitution previously adopted
The following officers were elected: Presi-
dent Salvador Cisneros Be,ancCurt: vice
president. Bartolome Maso; secretary Of
war. Carlos Roloff: secretary OF foreign
affairs. Rafael Tamayo; secretary OF II
treasury. Severe Pima: secretary oI the IN
! terror Santiagos Cani2ura4: g-neral-ln-
chief of the army Maxine Gomez. Th,se
! are some OF the most distinguish Gill
| Zens Of cuba. The pres,d'Nt IL the same
one who laid down the scepter Of govern
ment In 1878 in response - the spa nisA
| promises that were soon broken. He comes
| Of q family that has furnished many eX-
| amples of greatness IN the legal and sci
| entifc history of Cuba. His estates were
coniiscated In isGs and ne men renoiihced
| his title of nobility. The Vice-pres.den, l.
a tried patriot who has rendered distin-
| gushed serves in the cause of liberty. Tho
secretary of war was born IN Poland. but
Went to Cube at an early age. IN 1863, al
| the head of a number OF young men. he
Joined the revolutionary army and won
| n high RAM. by reason Of his bravery and
! military talent The assistant secretary OF
| war is Mario Menocal, well known In this
| country as the engineer of the Nicaragua
| canal The other officers are men scarcely
| less DISTINGUISHED in Cuban history.
! ill
In their desperate struggle for liberty
| the people of Cuba looked with the eyes
| of hope to the republic OF the United
| States. They felt sure of our aid ard ouI
| sympathy. We have been slow to act: but
| now there is a prospect of q declaration
| bf the congress of the United States that
| a state OF war exists In Cuba. and that
| this country should be absolutely neutral
| between the belligerents. There are IL f. :.
who regard a recognition of "A state Ot wil
| in Cuba as likely to invite war with Spain
| But there Is no danger Of this: indeed
| there is no reason why Spain should feel
! offended There are many precedents
| The last great pre- oedent was during tn,
| civil war In the United States. We have
! waited year TO recognize bell!Hrency III
| cuba; but Spain waited only few week
! before she recognized the bel'gerency oi
| the Confederate states. The Cuban patri
cts are lighting for the same rights that
! our forefathers fought for ani won and
! that we are enjoying today. 1t would be
strange indeed If Amer!ccrs had 10 Gym
pathy with Cuba.