Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-04-07
HOPE FOR RIVERA.
Secretary Sherman Gives the Span
ish Minister a Blunt
Hint,

Chicago, ILL.,, April "a dispatch from
Washington says that Secretary Sher-
man has protested against the execution
of Gen. Ruis Rivera, the Cuban leader
in Pinar del Rio who was recently cap
tured by the Spanish forces.
Gen. Rivera was wounded in the en-
gagement in which he was taken, and
the news from Havana is to the effect
that he is likely to be tried by court
martial and shot during the next forty
eight hours.
President Mckinley and Secretary
Sherman discussed the Rivera case, and
the latter at the Presidents suggestion
communicated with Senior de LONE, the
Spanish minister.
Secretary Sherman, in his blunt way
told the Spanish representative that the
execution of prisoners of war was alb
horrent to the American people. In the
Rivera case this repugnance to the muir
der of men captured in civilized warfare
was aggravated by the fact that the
prisoner is badly wounded.
IF we had shot officers of the Confed-
eracy captured in BATTLE" said Secretary
Sherman, I'VE should have been de-
nounced throughout the civilized world
as savages and barbarians, and in nc
country would the denunciations have
Secretary Sherman did not presume to
make 4 formal protest against the exc
cutiOn of Rivera. 1t was not a matter
in which this government felt competent
to interfere as government. He could
readily admit Semblance of justification
for Senior de Lome's contention that Ri
vera was a subject of Spain, had yiolat-
ed the laws Of his country and must en-
dure the consequences.
1t might even be held that actual in
reference on the part of the United
States between Spain and her subjects
would properly be held a provocation to
war, being something which no self-re-
specting nation could brook in peace
At the same time, Secretary Sherman
wanted the Spanish minister and his
government to understand that the ex-
ecution of Rivera would not tend to pro-
try Already public opinion was much
exercised over the threat to shoot the
prisoner, and if that threat were carried
into execution the indignation throughout
the United States might be so great as
to embarrass the government.
1t is not doubted that Senior de LONE
has communicated the substance of this
informal protest to his government, and
there are reasons for believing that the
Spanish authorities viii cable orders to
Havana which Will save Rivera's life.
The Madrid government is just now eX-
coedlngly eager to curry favor with the
Mckinley administration, though Minis
ter de LONE says it is hard enough to be
compelled to turn loose every American
citizen who violates the laws of Spain
without having the interference extend to
the relations between Spain and her own
subjects.
At one time during tahe conversation
between Secretary Sherman and Minister
de LONE the latter denied that Rivera had
the rights which belong 10 one taken III
civilized war.
Perhaps that is true said Secretary
Sherman. promptly, for YOU don't seem
to have such a thing rs civilized warfare
in Cuba
How Rivera was Captured.
Key West Fla. April 3.-Reports
from Havana state that Gen. Rivera was
captured in Il hospital and not in battle,
as official reports alleged. Rivera had
been wounded in skirmish two days
previous to his capture and when seized
was receiving treatment IN q Cuban hos
pital. He had with him his staff and
100 men. The attack on the hospital
was made and it was surrounded by 1900
Spanish troops under Hernandez Nelasco.
Rivera, though wounded endeayored to
cut his way out, but fell, pierced by two
more bullets.
Rivera's men attempted to carry him
away, but were cut down by the Span
iards.
Rivera is in prison and is not allowed
to see anyone. He is improving.