Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-11-23
WHEELING W VA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 81 1897

The Cubans protested that they were
sincere, and repeated the excuses they
had already made for their non-com-
pliance with the requests of the Span
ish general. The latter, although
somewhat disappointed, it is under
stood, will continue his efforts to come
to an understanding with the insur-
gents, and the military authorities be-
lieve the best way to do this is to in
flict upon the enemy signal defeat,
which Pando hopes to accomplish.
On the other hand, it is believed the
insurgents have similar plans, though
from an opposite direction and with
a totally different object in view. If
current reports among the friends of
the insurgents are to be believed, the
revolutionary leaders hope to strike a
decisive blow at Spain before Congress
meets, as an encouragement to their
friends in the United States who are
urging recognition on the part Of the
United States government of the bel
ligerency Of the insurgents of Cuba.
DR.. Jose Congosto, formerly Spanish
consul at Philadelphia and now secre-
tary general of Cuba, is continuing to
lose ground in public favor as a result
of some extraordinary statements
which he has made to the Spaniards
here. Senior Sontaz GuZman sonsid-
ers himself and his family much in
suited by certain remarks of DR.. Con-
gosto, and it is said that the new Sec
rotary general has not heard the last
of the affair. Congosto is also al
legged to be displaying considerable ig-
norance of administrative affairs and
to have, in consequence, failed to full
fill many of the duties of his Office.
Finally, the utterances of DR.. Con-
gosto, if correctly reported, are likely
soon to be sharply resented in Mad
rid. He is alleged to have remarked
that Spain until now followed a pol
icy of spoilation in Cuba and that the
insurgents were justified in acting as
they have done.
While this may be perfectly true,
such a remark from a prominent Span
ish official is not likely to pass without
notice at the Spanish capital, especially
as, it is added, the employees Of the
Secretary Generals Office protested
against the remark annd have taken
further action in the matter.
Regarding political utterances,
statement made by Marshal Blanco,
shortly after his arrival here, is being
much commented upon. 1t seems that
when the superior of a religious order,
residing at Guanabacoa, near this city,
called upon 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"
retorted: IT We must confide only in
divine providence, and have no other
means to conquer the insurgents, then
we are lost"
The sympathizers with the insurgents
have been making considerable capital
out of this incident, claiming that the
remark of the Captain General indi-
Gates that he has no faith in the sue
cess of his mission. Further proof of
this state of mind upon the part of
Wal ClieSl olouSo NPPSpi . " NC lui II SuCu
in a statement which is attributed to
him when he replied to the welcome
of the Merchants Association.
Upon that occasion the Captain Gen
eral is said to have asserted that Spain
could keep up the fighting until after
April next and if by that time the
Spaniards were unable to restore peace
at any price he marshal Blanco) would
return to Spain.
incidentally this sentiment is credit
ed to several other generals who have
arrived here recently from Spain.
The answer of the insurgents to
Marshal Blanco's decree favoring the
resumption Of grinding sugar cane has
been the burning of immense caefields
in the sugar district OF this province
in the neighborhood of San Felip. A
day or so ago the sky in that direction
was red with the reflection of the
flames.
Very shortly after the previous dis
patch regarding the peace negotiations
of Gen. Pando as closed it became
known that two of the prominent ex-
insurgent leaders referred to as having
been in communication with the Span
ish commander had been induced to
start fer ManZanillo in another effort
to induce the insurgent leaders of San
tiago de Cuba to arrange for peace on
the basis of autonomy being granted
to Cuba
Official dispatches from Matanzas an
nounce the release of Sonora de Roca,
mother of the insurgent, Jose de Roca,
and several other prominent people who
have been imprisoned there for some
time past.
POISONED BY UNKNOWN PARTIES.