The herald., 1897-06-08
|CALHOUN'S
COMMENTS
On Conditions and Affairs
in Cuba
WErLER's HORRIBLE POLICY
WILL MAKE THE FERTILE ISLE
A DESERT
Except in the Cities People Have Dis
appeared, and All the Houses
Have Been Burned
WILL MAKE THE FERTILE ISLE
A DESERT
Associated Press Special wire.

Have Been Burned
Associated Press Special Wire.
i NEW YORK, June 7.-william j. Cal
houn. sent to Cuba to investigate the
cause Of death in prison of DR.. Ruiz
an American citizen, reached this cit,
on his return today, accompanied by
George W. Fishback, his secretary and
Charles M. Pepper. Washington news
paper correspondent. who went to Cuba
with the commission. Ramon o. Will
Jams. formerly United States Consul
General to Cuba, came on the same
steamer. Calhoun said that the commits
sion held three sittings between May
20 and June at Havana, Regulus and
Guanabacoa. The papers examined in
the cases were chiefly military records
The final report will be made to Wash
ington by General Lee.
In a brief interview as to his mission
Calhoun said:
I'VE had no positive or direct proof OF
any assault whatever and the conclusion
arrived at must be based on the detailed
evidence in the report of Consul General
Lee, which is now on the way to Wash
ington. I myself will make no report
and prefer not to say anything as to my
idea of the affair until the report is
made public by the proper authorities
at Washington. shall go to Washing
ton tomorrow morning"
Calhoun said that he had been treated
courteously in Cuba by all with whom
he came in contact.
In later interview Mr.. Calhoun said:
1.-The island Of Cuyba is rapidly being
devastated by relentless, cruel'and Bit
ter civil war, 50 that in a short time 1t
will not be worth anything to any one.
"It is difficult to get at the exact sdtua-
ton there. In-the first place. there is a
severe censorship of the press. and
those who are naturally friendly to Gu
bans hardly dare to express their views
and opinions.
Furthermore, the adherents Of both
stdes are exceedingly Intense. They tell
their stories Just as they want you to
Of view the island is Iracticsiir y rscified,
and from that Of the Cubana the .irsuf-
gents never were in suoh excelleiii shape
as they are now"
Did you go to the interior Of the
island?" was asked.
Yes. went from Havana to Mstan-
zas. While both are On .as ses eoasf,
stilb to go from one point < lac ether
49,.
Of the interior country. also made sew
eral ghort trips from Havana in other
directions.
What Is the condition OF the country?"
1T seems to be entirely depopulated,
and there are no signs of any buildings
standing except at the railroad sta
tions. These, by the way. are practically
forts. was, generally informed that the
same condition OF affairp exists through
out the Cuban island from Havana to
Pinar del Rio, except in the extreme east
ern end. There Is where the Cubans get
their supplies and their cattle. They
control that section. It was that por-
tion Of the island which held out ten
years in the last war.
Cuba Is Undoubtedly magnificent
country. 1t Is rich and beautiful, and
the soil responds bountifully to the seed.
While am rot called upon to make any
formal report to the president, because
acted merely as a counsel to General
Lee in the Ruiz case, still Imay be asked
to tell Mr.. Mckinley and the secretary of
state Of the things which I have seen
and heard on my brief trip to the island
of Cuba. In this event will readily do
So"
Ramon o. Williams, formerly United
States CONSUL general to Cuba, came on
the same steamer with Mr.. Calhoun. Mr..
Williams was asked what were his opin-
ions Of the political condition Of affairs In
Cuba,
He replied: "They are just as pre-
dicted in my reports of = quarter of
century ago. Spain will have, to make
concessions. the same as England did
to her colonies. The Cubans must be
allowed to make their own laws, and
have entire control Of the expenditure of
their finances"
THE CABINET CRISIS
NEW YORK. June IA dispatch to
the Herald from Madrid says. The So
luton Of the Cabinet crisis has caused
an enormous sensation here. Premier
keeps the same Cabinet Min
listers and he also retains Weyler In
Office An impression prevails that Wey-
Ter will be recalled at very early date.
The general opinion In court circles
here Is that Canovas remains In power
because he alone supports Governor
General Weyler. to whom a brief op-
portunity will be accorded! to give effect
to his promise to pacify the two eastern
provinces Of Cuba in short time.
The Queen Regent made every effort |
to arrive at other conclusions, but failed |
Before Canovas was returned to power
on Sunday she called all the leading Sem
ators and Deputies to consultation in re
gard to affairs In Cuba. They Joined
with the Marshals Of the armyin declar-
Ing that Weyler should at once be re-
called and someone, probably Gen
Campos sent out to pacify the islans
and forestall any action on the part Of |
The United States government.
SAME OLD PoL1CY
WARRINGTON. June 7.-secretary |
Sherman last evening received the fol-