The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-16
Tic Prnspect in Cuba.

Minister de LOme's press agent in
Havana is becoming indignant at the
Cuban insurgents because of their OBJ
stinacy in refusing to buy the autOn-
omy gold brick He writes in a fit of
"Blanco and his lieutenants have sub
stituted Cor the policy Of severity and
punishment that of plaCation and in
diligence. They are offering the Cubans
not only forgiveness for the past, but
liberty and government for the
future. II .the insurgents d. not ac-
cept this, it .wjll he because they do
not want a regime of law and order
and political cmancipation.' 1t will he
because the hrigand's career suits their
taste better than the restraints of in
dustry and civilized society. 1t will he
because they arc,rehcis by choice and
against apy enlightened order of
things; because they would rathcc sub
sist by plumber than by toll; rather he
marauders than peaceful citizens. If
they really want government here
is Spain Offering il to them. If they
Go not want if, then thev are nero
hypocritical and impudent prctcnders."
Talk like this may influence Ameri-
cans who are ignorant of Cuban his
tory, who do not understand the wrongs
which Cubans have suffered from
Spain's hands, VINO are unaware OF the
proved Righteousness of past peace
offers madc by Spain and the prCD-
able falsity of the present overture; in
short, who imagine that the Cuban in
surrection has no justification and that
the word of Spain is an asset OF sub
stantial value. But it is the very
quintessence oC impudcnce and pre-
sumption to those who arc informed
on the subject suggesting much the
same spirit as tEat displayed by His
Satanic Majesty when he took it upon
himself to rebukc sin. II the offer OF
autonomy had been made first, with
a disposition to meet the Cuhans half
way and adjust details to the satisfac-
tion Of all concerned, then refusal
by the insurgents to consider terms of
peace would have sacrificed much of
the sympathy which they now COM
mand. But to extend the olive branch
only after two years of Weylerisrl, with
its indescrbable inhumanity and its
Wanton disregard of the rules of civil
lied warfare, and to propose as basis
of compromise a hocus pocus scheme
of alleged home rule which. even if not
cancelled by Spain before made effect
i've, would leave Spain again in pos
session of the kernel while the insur-
gents would have only the she'll is in
any honest view simply to add insult
to injury-a fact made plain by the
tactics used by Blanco in his efforts
to seduCo the insursenr leaders into
surrendoring.
And EOW a word as to the character
of the Cuban insurgents. On this point
it is possible that American public
opinion has been misuformed. The
persistent rc-iteratiCn by Spanish
agents of the charge that they are
mere ignorant mulattoes chiefly, who
are i'm revolt mainly because it frees
them from the ordinary restraints OF
civilization; or that the few leaders
among them who possess rudmentarN
knowledge of soldiership are mercen,
aries, ready to sell their swords to the
highest bidder, may possibly have sue,
Ceeded in causing such an impression
to prevail in certain quarters, especial,
inasmuch as little effort has been mad,
to counteract it. But all the facts be
lie this charge. For more than tw,
years these alleged mulattoes and mer
cenaries have resisted within an are;
about the size of Pennsylvania a fore,
Of trained regular sodiery nearly sever
times as large as the total British
strength fought by our revolutiOnar,
forefathers, and resisted so well tha
out of Weylcr's magnificent army o
100000 men 100000 now occupy un
marked graves. The directing spirit
of the insurrection are among tn
brightest and keenest minds in thi
country, men who have cOped Wit
SPANS best diplomats and strategist
and come out victorious every time
They are following plans laid after lon
and careful study-plans for who's
execution preparations We're bein
made wears before the first blow wa
struck. Gomez, the commandment
chief, has repeatedly rejected prinCel
hiibes from Spain and with the mem
Ory of his only son slain a year ago /
consequence of Spanish treachery
implaCable. The nOn-return of the re
cent bevy of spies sent by Pando t
sound him is a suggestive bit of evi
deuce in nOnt, They never will re
tlun. Their bodies dangle from fores
trees. Garcia, the military genius {
the insulTeCtion, and next to the maI
tyrs Mari and Maceo, the create,
Cuban of his time, bears in the sea
on his face the proof of his devotio
ana courage. Bafied and betrayed q
the end of the Ten Years war, and ur
willing to submit to capture he sent
bullet crashing through his own hea,
but fate-may we not say ProvidenC
--decreed that his life should he spare
for the present task. In the easter
provinces Garcia heads an army of 20
600 well disciplined men, and his efic
iency as a commander is attested J.
the fall of Victoria des las Tunas, IL
capture of Guines and Guisa, the +,
peated defeat of Weyler and Pand
and lastly by the seige of Byam
which is now in progress, with even
prospect Of terminating successfully
Americans wonder why the Cuban
don't fight more battles pitched in Il
open. Garcia does fight in this mal
ner, because he has the men and II
ammunition to warrant the taking
such hazards. But the smaller con