The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-23
BLANCO's PEACE POLICY.
WeyIer's Successor Trying to End the
W.. h. urihinnr E.uhn. Ienders

General Pando as already cabled, started
by train from this city on Saturday last in
order, according to the official announce
ment, to take charge of the campaign
against the insurgents. He was accompa-
MED by his full staff and was escorted by
company of artillery. But ii is stated on
very good authority that General Pando
has been commissioned by Marshal Blanco,
the captain general. to enter into communi-
cation with the insurgent leaders with the
view of arranging for peace. This state
ment is based on an accurate knowledge of
all the facts in the case. General Pando
did not leave this city until he had taken
steps calculated to further the object
which Marshal Blanco has in view. Gen
eral Pando, after a consultation with the
captain general. first brought about the
release from confinement of Damian Cabal-
lero, who has been imprisoned on the Isle
of Pines for some time. for, 1t is alleged.
acting as a spy for the insurgents and
bringing about a disaster for the Spanish
troops at Cacao, province of Santiago de
Cuba.
General Pando furnished Cabailero,
who is godfather of Rabi, looked upon as
being the backbone of the insurgent move
meut in the province of Santiago de Cuba,
caused him to be landed at Manzaillo,
province of Santiago de Cuba, where a
good horse was placed at his disposal Cen
eral Pando's peace emissary was also fur
nished official documents empowering him
to act in behalf of the Spanish commander,
and from Manzanillo Cabalero made his
way secretly to the Jiguani hills, where
General Rabi has his headquarters. Gem
eral Pando instructed Caballero to offer
General Rabi a high place in the Spanish
army and a large sum of money, to be
distributed among the other insurgents of
that part of Cuba, and in addition a large
amount of money for himself in the event
of his succeeding in arranging terms for
peace. Besides this, Caballero was instruct
ed to inform the insurgent leaders that the
Spanish authorities undertook honestly to
establish the new autonomist regime if the
leaders of the insurgents would accept the
propositions made them
Although Caballero has not returned from
Santiago do Cuba, confidential advices
which have reached the Spanish officials
here seem to Indicate that Caballero has
so far been unsuccessful. 1t is said General
Rabi has replied that he believes a sue
cessful ending of the war in favor of the
insurgents is approaching; that the Cubans.
with the aid of the United States, will gain
their independence, and that therefore, he
prefers to continue fighting the Spaniards
until the final victory is won. Caballero
also negotiated with General Duvalon, the
French leader of the insurgents. There
seems to be no intinlation as to the result
of Caballero's negotiations with General
DunValon, although it may be judged, from
the attitude assumed by General Rabi, that
the peace negotiations are likely to fall fiat
in Santiago de Cuba,
General Pando, in the meanwhile, act
ing after consultation with Marshal Blanco,
has put other irons in the fire in the hope
OF prevailing upon the Insurgents to come
to terms. He has been, and still is, in nego-
tiation with three leaders of the Cuban rev.
olution, and has been endeavoring to in
duce them to go TO dinerent insurgent
about peace, on the promise of Cuba being
accorded really autonomous form of gov
ernment. These three men were also Of
fered money for themselves and were to
have been furnished with large sums of
money to distribute among their friends.
But it is understood that they have hitherto
| declined to become agents of General Pam
| do alleging as their excuses that they have
no influence with the insurgent leaders of
the present day, and that they would be
| risking their lives il they ventured into the
| insurgents camp.
In some quarters it is believed that this
| reluctance to accept the overtures of Gem
eral Pando is due to the fact that the in
| surgentS are anticipating some strong steps
| in their favor when the United States Con-
Il generally
| General Pando is somewhat mortified at
| the nOnsuccess of his plans up to the pres
| ent, and has informed the three ex-insur-
| gent leaders referred to that he doubts
| their sincerity, and he indirectly gave them
| 10 understand that he was of the opinion
that they were opposed to the sovereignty
or Spain over Cuba and had no desire to
assist the Spanish authorities in their effort
to bring about peaceful settlement.
The Cubans protested that they were sim
cere and repeated the excuses they had al
ready made for their noncompliance with
the requests of the Spanish general. The
latter, although somewhat disappointed. it
is understood, will continue his effort to
come to an understanding with the insur-
gents, and the military authorities believe
the best way to do this is to inflct upon
the enemy signal defeat which General
Pando hopes to accomplish.
On the other hand, it is believed the in
surgents have similar plans, though from
an opposite direction, and with totally diff
Ierent object in view. If current reports
among the friends of the insurgents are to
be believed the revolutionary leaders hope
to strike decisive blow at Spain before
Congress meets, as an encouragement to
,,reir rneir friends in the United States who are
qIgIlg recognition on the part of the
United States government of the belliger-
ency of the insurgents of Cuba.
DR.. Jose Congosto formerly Spanish con-
sui at Philadelphia and now secretary gen
eral of Cuba, is continuing to lose ground
IN public favor, as result of some eX
to the Spaniards here. Senor Santos GuZ-
man considers himself and his family much
lnSulted by certain remarks of DIR. Con-
gosto, and it is said that the new secretary
general has not heard the last of the af-
fair. Congosto is also alleged to be dis
playing considerable ignorance of admin
istrative affairs and to have, in conse-
quence failed to fulfill many of the duties
OF his office. Finally, the utterances of
DR.. Congosto, if correctly reported are
likely soon to be sharply resented in Mad
rid. He is alleged to have remarked that
Spain had until now, followed a policy of
spoliation In Cuba and that the insurgents
were justified in acting as they have done.
While this may be perfectly true such
remark from q prominent Spanish official is
not likely to pass without notice at the
Spanish capital, especially as, it is added,
the employees of the secretary generals Of
flee protested against the remark and have
taken further action in the matter.
Regarding political utterances, a state
ment made by Marshal Blanco shortly after
his arrival here is being much commented
on. 1t seems that when the superior of
religious order, residing at Guanabacoa,
near this city, called on the new captain
general in order to welcome him to Cuba,
Marshal Blanco, during the course of the
conversation which followed said: "Only
divine Providence is able to save Cuba.
ed: IF we must confde only In divine
Providence and have no other means to
conquer the insurgents, then we are lost"
The sympathizers with the insurgents
of this incident, claiming that the remark
of the captain general indicates that he
has no faith in the success of his mission.
Further proof of this state of mind upon
the part of Marshal Blanco appears to be
furnished in a statement which is attributed
to him when he replied to the welcomeu of
the Merchants Association. Upon that oc-
casion the captain general is said to have
asserted that Spain could keep up the fight
ing until after April next, and If by that
- dc n raC