Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-09


place Senior Dupuy de LONE as Spanish
minister to the United States.
General Weyler yesterday gave an en-
phaic and absolute denial to the reports
that he We uid resist removal from his COM
mand in Cuba, and in certain contingencies
might espouse the Carlist cause.
officials Reticent.
Officials of the State Department posi-
lively decline to discuss the Cuban situa-
tion in any of it's phases, and the most
persistent inquiry today failed to induce
any one Of them to commit himself as to
the probable effect of the recall of General
Weyler and the appointment of General
ramon Blanco Arenas as captain general
of Cuba Notwithstanding this studied reti-
cence in the foreign office there is a gen
eral understanding on the outside that the
administration finds very little encourage
ment for substantial improvement in
cuban affairs in the present attitude OF
the Sagasta ministry so far as known.
The announcement that General Blanco
will take 10000 reinforcements to Cuba is
taken to mean that Spain has no present
intention Of changing it's policy of sup
pressing the 1nsurrection by force of arms,
ana that, while the change of commanders
may Indicate different plan of campaign
the purpose of the new captain general,
IKE that Of his predecessor, will have for
Its main object the subjugation of the Gu
bans struggling for freedom. 1t is ad-
m1tted On all sides that the change must
result to the advantage Of the insurgents,
for the reason that the condition could not
possibly be worse than it was under the
as 1.-The butcher" because of his brutal
methods of warfare.
Gen. Blanco's Record,
Gen. Blanco is one of the best-known
corps commanders of the Spanish army,
and has much better record for humanity
n hic mr.
administrative experience In the Philippine
Islands, which have lately been the scene of
more active military operations than Cuba.
he became governor general of the Philip
pines In 1894, and because of his services
there was raised to the rank of marshal in
May, 1898. During the insurrection last
year ne narrowly escaped assassination.
A plot to surprise the garrison at Manila
and murder Gen. Blanco was discovered
just In time to be prevented. Nearly one
hundred persons engaged in the conspiracy
against the life of the governor general
were arrested and punished. Notwithstand-
his best efforts he was unable. however, to
suppress the rebellion, which. instead, grew
In strength. and he received hint from
the Madrid authorities that his methods
were not sufficiently severe. The rebuke
hurt his dignity, and he resigned his office,
being succeeded by Gen. Polvieja, who was
sent to the Philippines with instructions
similar to those which have made Gen.
Weyler notorious among military men.
Marshal Bfanco enjoys the personal
friendship OF the queen regent and was
made chief of the military household,
which is his present duty. He is soldier
of the Campos order and has been called
''the softest hearted soldier In Spain" If
1t wasn't for the sending Of reinforcements
it might be hoped that he will intro
duce more merciful form of warfare into
the Cuban campaign than that Of his pre-
decessor.
Ex-Mfnister TaylOr's Arrival.
Hannis Taylor, late United States minis
ter to Spain, has arrived in Washington.
He called at the State Department today
and was in consultation for some time with
First Assistant Secretary Day, setting out
such phases of the conditions in Spain as
they existed at the date Of his departure
from Madrid, as had not been touched upon
in his official reports before being relieved
by Minister Woodford. Mr.. Taylor will
also see President Mckinley, and, 1t Is
presumed, will advise him of the probabili-
ties of the recent cabinet change in Mad
rid, effecting a change In the Cuban policy
OF the Spanish government.
Qualification I'm Ohicial Circles.
The recall Of General Weyler is received
with general qualification. both in official
circles here and among Cuban sympathiz-
ers. 1t Is not assumed that Blanco, his
successor, will necessarily satisfy the de-
Mands of humanity in dealing with the
Cuban insurrection, but the condemnation
Of Weyler's policy Of cruelty which is i'm
piled in his recall is regarded either as an
awakening Of conscience in Spain or as an
Indication OF a realization on the part of
the Spanish government that the policy
which has been maintained as to Cuba can
not longer be continued.
Whatever the fact may be- the step is
regarded as one in the progress toward the
liberation Of Cuba. 1t does not, however.
belittle the question by any means, nor Is
1t accepted without reserve as an evidence
Of sincerity on the part Of Spain In the
suggestion Of reforms In Cuba
Another Possibility Of Trouble.
The escape Of senorita Cisneros from the
Spanish prison in Cuba may lead to further
complications. Should 1t develop. as it il
expected to. that her escape was planned