The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-25
WeyIer's VenomOus Yelp.

WeyIer's VenomOus Yelp.
The interview had on Friday at Glen
fuegos, Cuba, by Oscar Addington with
Captain General Weyler may have
been accurate or it may have been
evolved from the correspondents in
ner consciousness. but in either event
1t expresses what the Spanish COM
mander very probably thought. 1t
tallies so closely with the utterances
made on the same day by the prime
minister of Spain before the Spanish
chamber of deputies that we may not
unreasonably accept it as true.
Weyler first charged the senate with
jngoism in passing the Morgan reso-
luton, alleging that its purpose was
to embarrass President Mckinley and
divert the attention of the American
people from their 'fast-approach!ng in
ternal crisis" whatever that may
mean; and then he continued: "The
few scattering bands of Cuban dyna-
miters, railroad wreckers, horse and
cattle thieves, plantation burners and
hold no port and possess no seat of
civil government, have no right to eX-
pect recognition. Such distinction at
President McKinley's hands, issued in
the face of my own proclamation Off
cially declaring the greater part of
the island to be already pacified would
hold the Washington executive up to
he ,.i1 ,f h.
and cause a prompt and healthy out
burst of sympathy for the Spanish
cause, especially from neighboring Old
World governments also possessing col
onies in the West Indies. In brief,
recognition may aid the Cuban Junta
in placing a few bonds in the United
States, but will at the same time as
sure the successful issue of our pro-
posed new Spanish loan in Paris, Lon
don and Vienna and enable us to carry
on the war with renewed vigor."
Ir that event, it might pertinently
be inquired why Spain, through its
representatives at Washington, objects
so strenuously to the belligerency pro-
gramme. In fact, this question seemed
to present itself to Weyler's own mind,
If the interview from which we are
quoting be genuine, for he immediate
ly afterward remarked: Personally,
i shall be glad if recognition comes.
Our position will then be more clearly
defined. 1t will work a virtual abro-
cation of our special treaty with the
United States, place Yankees resid-
ing in Cuba in an identical position
before the courts with other foreign
residents, and 1 shall be troubled less
by the constant complaints and often
ridiculous demands from American con-
suls 1t would also relieve the Spanish
government of all responsibility for the
destruction of foreign property not ac-
tually within the line of Spanish de-
fenses and further simplify matters
by assuring us the right to board and
search American vessels whenever sus-
pected. For once / shall heartily re-
joice that the emptiness and hypocrisy
of the United States governments oft
reiterated professions of friendship
shall be finally unmasked. l have al
ways had little confidence in the sin
cerity of its assertions"
slap like this at his good friends.
Cleveland and Olney, was most ungrac-
ious. Surely they have earned Wey-
ler's confidence and gratitude, if such
things can be earned by persistent CO.
operation. The main interest for us
in this interview, however, lies in its
OF
vas. undertakes to escape self-evi-
dent facts by deliberately shutting his
eyes to them. The proof that he has
not ''pacfied" Cuba is supplied by our
own consuls, by all visiting observers OF
the Cuban campaign and most of all,
by the continued presence in Cuba of
an enormous military force. A "paci~
fication" which continues only so long
as the Spanish army keeps its rifles
aimed is as much like belllgerency as
anything can be.
Putting this bragsaIt's yelp beside
the equally arrogant talk of Premier
Canovas before the deputies, and re-
membering the tone Of the Duke OF
Tetuan's reply to Secretary Olney's
offer of mediation last year, it be-
comes clear that attempts to coax
Spain to let go of Cuba offer absolutely
no promise of success; and we have
left the fast approaching necessity for
decisive stroke by the American ex.
ecutive, which will end this miserable
business forthwith, though it take mus
kets and war-ships to do it,