The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-08
IN HONOR OF WEYLER.
A Grand Denomination in Havana-Depu-
tations Address Him-Cheered by an I'M
mense Crowd-His Speech to the People.

tatfOns Address Him-Cheered by an I'M
mense Crowd-His Speech to the People.
HAVANA, October Elm spite of Cap
tain General Weyler's prohition, a
notable demonstration took place here
today in his honor. The bourse was
closed, as were also the principle stores
and tobacco and other manufactures.
All the main streets were gaily decora-
ted. The various professions united at
Central park and then moved together
to the plaza in front of the captain
generals palace, where as many as
10000 people were gatehered. Several
bands discoursed patriotic music. The
plaza and the throughfares leading into
it were densely crowded.
A number of sdeputatiOns went to the
palace, where they were received by the
captain general. According to the Off
cial accounts they assured him that it
was the desire of all the loyal inhabi-
tants of the island that he should con-
tinue at the head Of the government
and carry on the campaign against the
insurgents. They also expressed "confi-
dence that the government was inspired
with altogether too high designs for the
welfare Of the country to withdraw the
Industrious chief who had subjugated
the insurrectiOn."
CaptainGeneral Weyler, after thank
ing the Regulations for their assur-
ances, saiA he accepted the cOmand un-
der difficult circumstances and without
conditions. The success of the cam
paign could be estimated and properly
appreciated by the country, from the
visible facts. In the course OF seven
months four important provinces had
been pacifed and he was confident of
being able to pacify the two remaining
provinces at the proper time with forty
battalions ready for the task. He said
he expected to be able to pacify Puer-
to Principe and Santiago de Cuba at
an early date, for the rebels there
know me and fear me and will not re-
sist me-"
II believe the war should be ended
with war, Shere as everywhere else, and
not with shameful dealings, disgraceful
to my nation and all the more so. in
view Of the terrible conditions of the
rebels. I have followed the policy of
the illustrious Canovas. I would like
to please those who are today demon
strating in my honor by remaining in
Cuba, but the delicate position in which
Ihave been placed has compelled me to-
day to request the government to dis
pose OF my position In Whatever way
it may think convenient, and however
the matter may be decided, shall al
ways be prOfOudly grateful to the loyal
inha abitants of Cuba who in such elo-
quent terms have expressed their abso-
lutte approval of the policy I am follow
ing to bring the wOr to a. close. l
care little for the criticism made by
section Of the Spanish press whose
newspapers have been found in expe-
ditions landed in the island, or for
the calumnies Of the disguised and un-
disguised insurgents of the towns"
When Captain General Weyler ap-
peared on the balcony of the Palace he
was, according to the official accounts,
"frantically cheered'' by the crowd,
after which the various professions pa
raded through the principal stree is for
two and a half hours, shouting for
Spain, the queen regent and the gov
ernment. The entire demonstration
was orderly and is officially described
las without political color"
General Weyler in acknowledging
their expressions of confidence said
that the criticism and attacks made
upon his military conduct were with
out foundation, as it had always been
his plan to finish war with war in ac-
cordance with the customs OF all Euro
pean nations and even of the United
States. General Sherman, he declared,
while on the march destroyed all the
resources of the south that lay IN his
path; and the Washington government
| finished the war with war and not with
| treaty.