Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-11-24
CHEERS FOR KING.
Wey|er at Barcelona Attempts
to Explain His Conduct.
extoIs His Services and Hold Himself
Up as a Patriotic Subject.
Says Ne Is Simply Spanish Soldier and
Not Politician.

Barcelona. Nov. 29.-The Spanish steam
er Montserrat with General Weyler on
board arrived here. this morning. and
the former captain general of Cuba i'm
mediately debarked. The demonstration
in his honor which had been agitated by
the friends of the general for some days
past did not assume the proportions an
ticipated. and as ne traversed the streets
the public appeared to be Indifferent.
The general will remain in Barcelona
for two days. and on leaving here will go
to Palma, Island of Majorca his birth
place, where the inhabitants have been
preparing to give him hearty welcome
home. He will arrive in Madrid about
the middle of December.
1t is understood in Barcelona that Gen.
Weyler will hold aloof from the Carlists
and Republicans, but he desires to pose
as the champion of national production"
aims at reorganizing the Conservative
party, and in order to realize his protec-
zionist ideal, he will vigorously oppose
the granting of tariff autonomy to Cuba.
General Weyler addressing number
of his friends, shortly after his arrival
here expressed great regret at his recall
from Cuba. adding that he was particu-
larly annoyed at the attitude of certain
newspapers which declared that he ia
Vored the insurgents. Continuing, the
general remarked: Spanish soldiers,
however. have the same contempt for
these papers as they have for filibuster-
ers.' Referring to the concentration of
the Cuban peasants near the towns of
that island, Gen. Weyler explained that
he deemed such step necessary because
they were 'spies and the most devoted
friends of the enemy"
In regard to autonomy, the former cap
tain general remarked: "AntonOmy in
Cuba would be most unfortunate for ma
tional industry. The riches of Cuba are
Spanish. and autonomy means the disap-
pearance of Spanish workmen, the riches
of the island, labor there. and complete
l. bon s.1,., L.,
as much reason for Catalonia the Ba-
learic Islands and the other provinces to
ask for autonomy as Cuba.
After the crowd about Deputy Sala-
driga's house had cheered Gen. Weyler
till he appeared on the balcony, the for
mer commander of the Spanish forces in
Cuba cried: Long live the King. Spanish
Cuba and national labor" Addressing an
industrial deputation which waited upon
him later. Gen. Weyler said he had al
solved to defend the cause of national
production. Continuing, he remarked:
II have never been politician. but / am
simply a Spanish soldier. During my
stay in Cuba l did my utmost to improve
the lot of the soldier. and now l shall de-
vote myself to improving the lot of the
workmen.'
The friends of Gen. Weyler say the
demonstration was not so big, today. be-
cause he was not expected to arrive here
until tomorrow, when it was intended to
make great demonstration in his honor.
The friends of Gen. Weyler also claim
that he has shown his loyalty by calling
for cheers for the King when he appeared
on the balcony of the deputy's house.
During the day. Gen. Weyler had con-
ference with the captain general of Cata-
lonia.
Weylers declarations are generally ap-
proved here. In Il subsequent speech he
accused the United States of "desiring to
seize Cuban commerce by hunting Span
iards. who would die of starvation He
declared. amid much applause. that he
would never cease to defend Spanish in
terests in the Antilles