The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-17

what has been published by the Amerl-
can press regarding Spanish rule In
Cuba, the cruelties Of the war, the de-
yastatlon and poverty OF the island and
the hopelessnesS OF the Spanish cause,
Moret points out that the governments
intent upon reaching solution OF the
conflict by devastating the island, by
destroying the production, the industries
and the riches Of the country, is a mis-
taken policy, He graphically details how
the programme has been carried out, and
how the population has been concen-
trated in the cities to die by starvation
and disease and their homes and planta-
lions burned. He shows how Weyler's
boosted 'pacificatlon" OF the various
provinces has been a failure, Peace, he
declares, can never be obtained In such
a way, The pacfication boosted OF by
Weyler has not occurred; the fighting in
the country is stlll of daily occurrence,
says Senior Moret and he continues;
While all this Is going on In the country,
what happens In side of the cities and
towns? There men and women. snatehed
from their rural residences are huddled
OF cultivation" allotted to every city. No
vegetables or food OF any kind are TO be
obtained In these zones. Famine threat
ems. Through conglomeration and want
disease appears, and with II death. Those
who died In Holguln In April last NUM-
bersd 1886 persons, The population Of Hol-
gum was only 1900,
The Spanish Statesman then proceeds
to show the deplorable condition of the
Spanish troops, and wants to know how
long Spain is going to permit such sit
uation to last. He thus shows how Ut
terly impracticable Is Weyler's policy Of
determination and devastation:
am going for one moment to admit
that General W0yler's methods are crown
ed with success; that there are no more
insurgents In Cuba. What OF i? Does
were ever obtained bitter disappointment
would come soon to awaken us. The In
habitants now concentrated In the cities
would In no case be allowed TO return to
their former places OF residence In the
country unless an army OF occupation 200.
900 strong were maintained: and thus all
our efforts will have proved fruitless so
far as the glory and welfare OF Spain are
concerned. Instead, We shall feel remorse
for having, without glory or profit, de-
stroyed the Island which had been con-
fided to cur care, and also for having cast
a blot upon Christian civilization and eX-
posed our incompetency to govern,
As soon as the reign OF terror be stopped
md the reconcentrados OF the present day
return TO the country, the struggle will be
renewed, for the hatred which tostered
will bring forth men who will call them
selves the avengers Of the outrages OF yes
terday. Call them bandits. adventures,
desperadoes, whatever you wish, but they
will none the less emerge from all parts
Of the island ready to fight.
This will not be all. Once property Is
destroyed, there will he no production, no
trade Who will then pay the taxes?
the army, pay the debt, and rebuild the
country? New loans must he raised TO pay
which additional taxes will have to be
levied upon penlnsular production. The
peace will not be worthy OF the name, for
a situation thus maintained will not bring
with II the blessings OF peace, Cuba Will
be converted into a curse, into burden
urbearable for Spain.
This is pretty plain talk to come from
such source, and 1t Is not surprising
that II has created a sensation in Spain,
where Moret stands very high, not only
with the people but as a political leader.
II Is a contention that the army in Cuba
has done all that 1t can do and that the
suppression of the rebellion has not only
been failure. but that even should 1t be
suppressed now. Spain would be the
loser, since the island would be an ex-
pensive burden for many years to come.
He declares further that the time has
now come for justice to step in and take
the place of violence and devastation.
More than that he sanctions the right OF
the Cubsns to revolt, and demands for
them their rights. which he says should
be granted at once,
When such men as Moret begin to raise
their voices in Spain 1t is an indication
that the people are growing disguised
with the government policy and that
there is yet a ray of hope for the Cuban
patriots. 1t may be that the day Is not
distant when they will be left in possess
sion Of their devastated land to begin the
slow and almost hopeless work Of regen-
grafton. and to build upon the smoking
ruins 4 new Cuba in which liberty will
reign.