The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-20
SPANIARD ON CUBA'S SIDE.
ALCoRTA, FORMERLY 4 SPANISH
SOLDIER, OFFERS HIS SERVICES.


Settled In Cusa Ansr the last War. and No
came m ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS from Cuba.
ne went 60 spain. ana was Arrested for
Conspiracy-Sumpcd His Baii and Came Hero
Ono of the passengers who arrived here on
Sunday from Havre on the steamer La Gas
cogne was Senior Leandro Gonzalez Alcorta, q
Spaniard who sides with the Cuban patriots.
Toward the close of tho ten years war Alcorta
was taken to Cuba as a private, and fought on
the Spanish side. At the end Of tho war Alcor-
tn's battalion was detailed for garrison service
In Havana, and he managed, while fulfilling
his duties as a soldier. to renew his studies at
the university, and finally became q lawyer.
He was later appointed teacher Of philosophy
a. tho Provincial Institute of Pinar del Rio,
and soon acquired considerable practice and In
fuonce. Ho married the daughter of Senior
veles Caviedes, leader of the Incorporating
Spaniards in the province, but he never figured
In local politics.
When the Reformist party was organized by
some disscnticnt Spaniards in 1893, Alcorta
was elected President Of the Provincial Com
mitteo Of the party In Pinar del Rio. In
August, 1895. shortly after the uprising of tho
Cubans at Barre, Alcorta resigned the leader
ship Of tho Rcformists and declared that nosh-
ing short of complete autonomy could save the
island from total ruin. He denounced Gen.
Martinez Campos, whose policy. he said In q
pamphlet, was In opposition.t 10 the Generals
liberal antecedents. He criticised Campos be-
cause he yielded to the uncompromising. Span
iards and ordered Mujica, Acebo. and other
Cuban leaders to be shot. He pointed out
Campos's inconsistency, which led him to pa
tronize the Spanish Conservatives in Cuba, al
though fully persuaded, rs he had often re-
peated. that the only way to save Cuba for
Spain was by recognizing the right of the Gu
bans to self.government-
Having been ordered to quit the island, Al
corta went to Spain and started the publication
of La Pas, q weekly newspaper devoted to tho
advocacy Of the establishment Of home rule in
Cuba. La PdE was summarily suppressed in
were brought against its editor on the charge
Of conspiring against the sovereignty of Spain.
He was kept in prison until about a month ago,
when he was released on bail, which he jumped,
escaping to France.
Alcorte will offer his services to Senor Es-
".Why, being a spaniard, do you side with the
cubansi" Aloorta was asked yesterday.
cause ' their " cause sai Is i the cause of Of justice. Be-
sides, 1t is the cause Of my children. who. like
Is Ey . T spsn Esrs ae SSgn in Sn mS eh Al lSns % ai oa nos
country. because they know that in the name
of Spain the ivcs Of thousands and thousands
Of their brethren have been taken and an abyss
between Spain and Cuba has been opened which
uOCnlnR Gun Over DTlQRc.
There is another reason why I side with the
Cubans. j advocated autonomy as the only
mems to ! n Cuba al and T. Spain u united Sx
the very men who only a few months ago would,
in the name Of patriotism, have had me shot as
that they are the same patriots of old, the charge
OF treason Is still hanging over me. Why am !
tm %ai ! asked sii feF the Hs' same e once, Which
sagasta is Offering, now that II Is too late.
r.f %whss !, Is the es,S feeling prevailing in Spain with
a rule my countrymen know well enough
that SPANS rule in Cuba is nearing its end.
overcome the rebellion, but so far without sue
cess; IT, There 70 is no probability that at these e, e,
Treasury exhausted, but the people are tired Of
war, and would not consent TO the sending Of
any more soldiers to Cnbs. 1t would be diff
sending 10000 men to Cuba In October. He
and had spoken only alphabetically. The fact
Is that he wished to sound public opinion.
alyzed. There are over half a million estates
s saaes. TSo g. Sya.s the T10n %anyta ssT srso@ Thos st
rotten goods arc now exported to Cuba. are
well aware that they will have to close their
factories as soon as tho remittances to pay the
army in tho island arc discontinued, as they
will be soon, because the Government cannot
raise $40, 900, 900 q month by constantly ap.
willingly leave its home, OBLIGATIONS unpaid in
order to have money with which to meet the e1.
fear of q revolution.
Most Spaniards, high and low. would well
come a conflict with the United States, which
might afford Spain an opportunity to surren-
der the island and thus get out of the scrape
without having to negotiate with the rebellious
Cubans."
Another passenger on La Gascogne was An
tonic Bravo y Correoso, q lawyer OF Santiago
de Cuba, who was deported to the penal settle
ments OF Spain in Africa in September. 1895.
Through the influence of the Autonomist party
he was allowed to remain in Madrid. Nc ,es-
capped to Paris about four months ago. and has
since been travelling through France, Italy.
and Switzerland.