The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-08

with the Cubans, but that he has been
too dilatory, too unsuccessful in achiev-
ing the ends sought-the speedy sup
preston of the rebellion" There must
be a change in commanders. 1t would
seem, as there Is q change in admins
t~ration. even in parties who coatrol. A
new cabinet, with new ideas and plans
must mean a new policy and a new
commander in Cuba il better result
are to follow in the future for the SUI
premacy Of Spain. The best thing,
therefore, that the brutal soldier can
do is to retire with such bloody laurels
he may have reaped in the most infa-
nous campaign of misery, disaster and
cruelty that has marked modern his
tory since the bloody work of the luke
Of Alva in the Netherlands towards
the close of the seventeenth century.
The enforced retirement or dismissal
Of Weyler may not mean n abandon
ment of the war really, although the
latest dispatch indicates a change OF
policy, which il true, may mean a ces-
sation Of hostilities and the p~acifying
Of Cuba by great concessions on the
part Of Spain. While Spain b~oastfully
talks Of ability to make war with the
United States it is believed all over
Europe that she is really unable to SUBJ
due the revolution in Cuba. The report
Is that General Campos will return TO
the island as commander and h a a
pacific plan will be adopted to retain
Cuba, if possible with Offering very
much to the patriots. With A~zcarraga's
fall and the dismissal of the bloody
butcher from command the Cubans
will take heart and be ready to con
tinue the great struggle if such shall
be the inevitable. The downfall of
the Weyler party at home is a positive
confession of failure and rejection by
the people.
The murdered Canovas never repre-
scented the views of the superior party
now %incOntrol. His successor failed as a
consequence to propitiate the opposi-
ton. The new minister Sagasta may
be able to carry out plans that will pro-
pitiate Cuba and satisfy under the very
difficult circumstances the Spanish peo-
ple-the majority. If the new govern
ment holds the attitude towards Cuba
that the Madrid dispatches of the 4th
instant clearly indicated then Campos
will be put in command in Cuba that
he may carry out the plans he pro-
jected ten years ago-granting to Cuba
autonomy, but not independence, the
debts to be hers, and the Spanish tariff
to be the law.
That Spain is beset with troubles at
home and of her own making, has been
certain for some time. If she protracts
the war she ma find herself in h
midst of a widespread revolution with
in her own boundaries. The people
dread the dissolving Of the cortes fear
ing that it will be a signal for a general
uprising. The Baltimore Herald gives
this brief view of the situation:
I'm her search for a new prime min
lister, therefore, the queen-regent has
been confronted with a situation of
peculiar perplexity. She instinctively
feels that she must retain the present
cortes, or her sons throne would be in
danger and it has not been easy to
yield to the inevitable by calling the
liberals to power, and thus to provide
for a radical change of policy regard
ing Cuba. They are in the minority in
the Spanish parliament, and even a
political house divided against itself is
in danger of falling"
The public debt of Spain is large. 1t is
put at ST. 5O, 900, 900, which is much
more than half Of the war debt of the
United States at the close of the great
war between the states. The interest is
heavy and must be met. The Cuban
val costs 81, 900, 900 each month. So a
change is absolutely necessary, for it
is reduced to three things: bankruptcy
and ruin; a pac%ification of Cuba; or a
revolution at home. If the people shall
oppose concessions to Cuba that may
bring peace, then it will be war, bank
ruptcy and finally a great revolt at
home. That appears to be the outlook
at present. The queen-regent is doing
her utmost to hold on to Cuba and to
prevent an uprising at home. The
clouds thicken, the situation grows
more critical.
Badness is either hereditary or
caused by sickness, mental exhaustion,
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