Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-21
Efectual Protest Against Spanish
Cruelties in 1869.
DESPOTISM OR CUBAN INDEPENDENCE
Little Regard Paid to Cabinet
Changes in Madrid.
CURRENT VIEW IN HAVANA

Consul General Lee is furnishing the
State Department with translations of Cap
tain General Weyler's proclamations and
supplementary orders relating to the con-
centration of pacif1cos. This is similar to
the action upon which President Grant
issued his protest to Spain against such
mode of warfare. The first protest was
made through the Spanish minister at
Washington, Mr.. Lopez Roberts. 1t was
not needed promptly. second and more
forcible warning was sent through the
American minister at Madrid, Gen. Sicklss.
The Spanish government Immediately gave
severe ard positive orders to stop the cru
elites"
History may be about to repeat ITSELF
In what took place during the summer of
1863 may be found the precedent for like
action in the summer of 1897. Grants first
term began in March, 1867 His first diplo-
matte incident of Importance was with
Spain. The new administration was con-
fronted with much the same situation in
Cuba that now exists. except that the cru
elites toward non-combatants were not SO
aggravated and so widespread as at pres
ent. =
Mr.. Hall, the consul at Matanzas was
acting consul general at Havana On the
Department the following proclamation, is
sued by the commander of the Spanish
forces:
FROM the Diario de Ia Marina, April %,
1869
(Translation.)
Inhabitants of the country! The REIN
forcement Of troops that have been wait
ing for have arrived: with them l shall
give protection to the good and punish
promptly those that still remain in rebel
hon against the government of the metrop-
oils.
You know that 1 have hardened those
that fought us with arms; that your wives
mothers and sisters have found in me the
unexpected protection that you have re-
fused them. You know also that many Of
those l have pardoned have turned against
us again.
Before such ingratitude, such villainy. IT
Is not possible for me to be the man that
nave been: there is no longer a place for
faislf1ed neutrality; he that is not for
me is against me. and that my soldiers
may know how to distinguish. you hear the
order they carry:
1st Every man. from the age of fifteen
upward, found away from his habitation
(hnca). and does not prove d justified mo-
tive therefor. will be shot.
I'd Every habitation unoccupied will be
burned by the troops.
Sd. Every habitation from which does
not float white flag. as a signal that its
inhabitants desire peace, will be reduced to
ashes.
Women that are not living at their own
ht mes, or at the house of their relatives
will collect In the town of Jiguani or Ray-
amo. where maintenance will be provided
inose who do not present themselves will
be conducted forcbly.
The foregoing determinations will COM
me rec to take effect on the 14th of the
present month.
Ell CONDE DE VALMAsEDA.-
Bayamo, April 4. Us Dtf,.I -.
he
ton Fish. Within five days after the in
closure reached him he sent, by direction
of President Grant, to the Spanish minister
at Washington, the following:
President Grants Protest,
(Mr. Fish to Mr.. Lopez Roherts.)
Washington. May 10, 1863
Il have the honor to inclose a copy Of a
proclamation said to have been issued by
General Count Valmaseda in Cuba, In the
interest Of Christian civilization and COM
mon humanity, l hope that this document
rs a forgery II 1t be indeed genuine the
President instructs me- in the most forcible
| manner. to protest against such a mode of
warfare. and to ask you to request the
spanish authorities in Cuba to take such
steps that no person having the right to
claim the protection Of the government of
| the United States shall be sacrificed or in
| Jrred In the conduct Of hostilities upon this
| basis
No immediate response came from this
protest, which, presumably. was forwarded
! by Mr.. Lopez Roberts to his government.
The new administration at Washington
waited several weeks. Then a letter of ex
plicit instructions was sent to the new
American minister 1T Madrid, Gen. Sickles
| This letter concluded as follows:
This Stopped the CrueIties.
Letter from Fish to Sickles, at Madrid.
| August 10, 1862
You WILL also, in the name of the Pres-
dent, solemnly protest against any longer
| carrying on this war in Cuba in this bar
! barous way. For now nearly a year the
| Insurgents have maintained themselves
! against all the forces which Spain and the
| Catalan volunteers have been able to put
! in tie field against them. In the Judgment
| of the President. in which l believe the
whole civilized world will coincide, the time
has come when this struggle should be car
ried on in more humane way. To shoot