The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-11
rnE WAR CUBA.
The GrcRt nluf the Government Au-
thOritIcS Are Trying TO Make.

Havana, April S.-Via Tampa. April
l0.--The farce OF holding elections In the
Island OF Cuba will be enacted sunday.
The autonomists and reformist parties
have dcfied the Government and refused
To take part The Union CONSTITUTIONS al
party Will therefore have walk over.
The decision TO hold elections was a
bluff. All the worll ana the wise men
at Washington were expected to ac-
cept elections as prol.s tina; no state
of war exists In Cuba. Conyrcss dill
not wait 10 see the blum calle |. Sena-
tor Hale should come down and W.
ness the manner in which al American
people cast their ballots for representa-
tives In the Spanish cortes. The Island
of Cuba Is In the throcs of such II war
as only Spansdrds and Spanish descen-
Gants can give another. a citizen rnIIst
move backward almost century tn ilhd
parallel. 1t Is not a war of army against
army. as the North fought the South
II Is not like the recent clash between
Japan and China. 1t is not even us re-
spectacle and open n conflict rs King
Menelek Is giving to the Italian forces.
II is a rcconQuest of soil. A people seek
ing TO restore power by eXterminat tion
and yet not having sufficient force tu
accomplish their purposS, except by
pieCe-mcal. 1t has no counterpart i'm
modern times. In some respects II may
be compared to the operations of the
Turk against the Armcnians, hut in
justice to the Spaniard. It must be said
that no such Wholesale slaughter has
been attempted. The restrai llnp inau
ences from without are stronger here
than beyond the Bosphorus.
Elections at this juncture are. how
ever exactly in accord with American
ideas. The insurgents who desire no re-
presentation IN the Cprtes, nccupy the
ln,. ,f t.,la L..
and Pima Del Rio provinces. there are
fully 10000 men in arms against the
Crown of Spain. Martinez Campos was
recalled for failing to crush them. Cen
cral Weyler has not won a decisive
battle since his arrival. yet he has Off
cially declared the Western provinces
clear of all except small bands more like
highwaymen than insurgents. He has
ordered owners Of estates to begin grind
ing. threatening them with imprison-
ment In case OF refusal. He has cabled
Madrid guaranteeing the peace and
quiet of this end OF the island by the
time set for the elections. He has stop
ped at nothing TO accomplish the results
which he predicted but the insurgents
are stronger In men, in arms. in d!sci-
! pllne, and In hope than ever before.
Gomez is moving le!surely through
Santa Clara province with personal
escort OF 5000. Lacret. with 5000 fresh
men from the East has invaded Havana
province within week. In Matanzas.
Camaguy, and Santiago provinces. the
rebel forces are constantly growing
The recent landing of expeditions has en-
couraged the patriots and when the news
of the action of both houses Of Congress
is fully known IL is claimed many influ-
ential Cubans in the cities who have
taken no part Will go to the field
The Spaniards occupy all OF the cities
and large towns. Every place is occu-
pied by the troops and has forts or block
houses erected for the safety of the SOL
d!ers in case of attack or late, the in
surgents have become more and more
aggressive and not day goes by with
cut several reports OF towns and forts
being attacked.