The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-14
CUBA IN WEYLER'S CLUTCH.
PERSECUTION or INNOCENT PER-
SONS IN FULL SWING.

htcute with Any Onc-DepOrtatiOn
to the Penal Colony and a Living
Death often FOIIOws-The Island "A
Scene of widespread Devastation.
Havana, Sept. II. via Key West, Fla,
Sept. 1S-"The revolution is In the cities,
not in the country" is the popular say
ing among the rabid spaniards, and Gen.
Weyler not having the courage to take
personal command of the troops in the
field, is venting all his fury on harmless,
inoffensive citizens, whose only crime
consists in being mere spectators, and
not participants, of the ruin and desola-
ton which is laying this country to waste.
Ever since the arrests of Miguel viondi,
Gen. Sanguilly's eminent counsel, and Dr.
Casuso, the noted physician, 1t was seen
that an era of prosecutions had been in
itiated, especially against prominent citi-
zens, and those that were in a position to
leaye the country Immediately did so, but
others who could not afford it, or were
confident that they were shielded by their
innocence and their high respectability,
remained to become prey to Gen. wey-
ler's rage, and the Spaniards everlasting
hatred at everything that bears the stamp
of Cuban origin. And when there Is not
sufficient proofs TO indict the party ar
rested, the government resorts to infa-
nous tricks in order to justify it's rea-
sons for the arrest of the same, Take for
instance Oscar de Los Reyes case. This
noted lawyer became suspicious TO the
government and not having any incrim-
mating proofs against him, the police
when searching his house introduced
amongst his papers an anonymous letter
he had received two months ago, of
compromising character, which he had
shown to several naval officers and Span
ish volunteers Of his acquaintance, and
then handed over to the chief Of police
in person. And this very same letter has
served to substantiate the charge against
him and condemn him to perpetual banish-
ment TO the African penal colony Of Ceu-
ia, there to rot and die in It's foul dun
! geons.
Now comes the Wholesale arrests of
/ prominent citizens, which has caused a
| commotion in the city and struck terror
to all the Cuban residents of the same.
/ Sunday last the news flashed like light
/ ming that Jose Antonio Gonzales Lanuza,
| the eminent lawyer and profound jurist,
holding a chair in the university, and
| an orator of remarkable powers; Alfredo
| Zayns, another lawyer of local reputation,
brother of the unfortunate revolutionary
! chief, Juan Bruno Zayas, killed in
| treacheIous ambush; Hubert oe Blanc,
| q Hungarian musical composer of fame,
pianist of considerable ability, and d.
| rector OF our conservatory OF music; AL
| fredo Hcrns ndez, naturalized American
-1sx. eor,n
tho Cardenas merchant, recently arrested
on board the American steamer Seneca,
| and cane planter Of considerable means;
! the brothers Hernandez Lamas, men OF
good social position, and finally Pedro
Becerra, formerly judge at Jaruco.
| All these persons were taken to the
police headquarters and held "incommu-
nicado," that is, locked up in a small.
| close cell, eaC h independent without be-
| ing allowed to communicate with anybody
| from the outside world, not evsn their
parents or Ie.ations, thus for days, weeks
| and even months until the authorities
deem ct to remove the instructions inn
/ posed on them. What Is the charge
| against them? Nobody knows but the
government will surely find some indlet-
ment by the proceeding already mention
| cd.
| The news caused such a tremendous
sensation In the city that the local press,
gagged as it is, has given expression, In
a m5ld and cautious manner, TO Its dis
approval of the measure.
| Whilst this is occurring In the cities,
! there comes from the country so many
tales Of misery. hunger and bloodshed,
that the pen qlDyers and falters in giving
| the horrible details. Stories OF famished
( people, especially women and children.
| held back by the troops around their
| camp kettles in order to prevent them
| from taking their scanty rations; news
| of rebel hospitals captured, almost daily.
4 by the Spanish troops, which " officially
reported in the most glowing terms, and
without the least semblance Of shame at
\ the dastardly deed, as glorious victories
over the rebels. stories Of buteheries COM
mitted by the Melguizos, Fondevielas.
and Molnas, on peaceful, law-abiding
citizens many of them reported, but
! others in oblivion for lack OF proper de-
| tails AIolinas last deed was the killing
| of eighteen laborers and -four women at
/ the sugar estate, Las Canas" near AL
fonso XII, in Matanzas. Peasant huts.
| farm houses and sugar estates have been
| burned by the rebels Of the Spanish
troops. The great sugar estates "Olayi-
9a," belonging to a Frenchman, "Batalla"
I owned by Tavio, rebel chief, Jesus
| Maria" 'Moralito" and others too nu-
merous to mention, were burned by the
Spaniards.
When an these tales are heard or read.
I n ccftdlu lfQlbAAttOii 10 AclN AilttN tfiT at
/ tentlon Of all the civilized world should
be centered on the Cretan and Armenian
atrocities, and that CUBA, civilized and
/ Christian country. should be left TO its
fate, with nobody to lend her a helping
/ hand TO finish with this terrible state Of
things.
And during all this time, what IS Gen.
| Weyler doing? Practically nothing from
a military standpoint.
The insurgents, in full possession Of the
! fields are organizing, drilling their forces
| for the next winter campaign, Gomez In
the far east preparing for his next inva-
sion OF the western provinces, and de-
| ternined with the ample resources he
has now at his command, TO strike de-
cisive blow at Spanish rule In Cuba; Ma
/ Geo perfectly well entrenched In the fast
ness of the Cuzco mountains In Pinar del
Rio ready to receive the onslaught Of all
the Spanish forces. which II Is said VIII
/ be thrown on him as soon as the new re-
endorsements arrive from Spain and will
no doubt repel, as he formerly did, when
they tried to dislodge him from the Cacar-
| ajicara and Rub hills.
a. has