The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-08

ing. General Pando was to carry out the
plans. He took the field ostcnsibly for
military operations, in reality to arrange
terms with the rebels to whom overturcs
had been made. After week in the fell
the surrender Of the Cuervo brothers
with 100 Of their followers and the prom
isc that 200 more would come in was re-
ported \ reputable eye witness of that
surrender" an American, gave me an
account ,of II. He counted just twenty
five men i'm all and he heard of no others
who were expected. When the event was
first reported the insurgents sought to
discount it by saying that the Cucrvo
brothers had never operated with them.
This was untrue The force Of the sur
render Of the ,Cuervos was weakened,
however by the fact that General Gomez
had ordered them to report for court
martial for some breach of discipline in
a raid on GuincS.
Gcnerai Pando has since been TO other
parts of the island and is continuing his
military operations. The telegraph may
carry occasional tidings of his successes
and here and there the yielding of a Cabe-
ella, or chief of. a small band. may be
rcported but until Gomez and CaliXto
Garcia give the word there will be no
end to the insurrcction as such. Picking
it apart piecemcal by persuasion or 9TH
crwise seems fruitless method. The re-
suits secured are not lasting. Trcachery
has caused some bands to be broken up.
General Castillo, who was in command OF
the insurgents I'm Havana province, was
undoubtedly betrayed to his death "A few
weeks ago. other officers have fallen in
the same way, yet there is always some
one to take their place.
The reported surrcnders are also decop-
tive. The insurgents are taking adVan-
tage of the invitations of General Blanco
to resume their allegiance by having their
sick for whom they are unable to care
give themselves up. Moreover, the pre-
scntadCs, or persons who give themselves
up, do not always stay presented. Often
the men go out i'm the field again. though
these men are not numerous enough to
make a serious difference on either side.
In going through the official reports /
have been able to find no change from me
WCyler regime. The prescntadoS are 5till
chiefly made up of women and children, or
of men "sin armas"--without arms. They
are worthless as an index of pacification
or acceptance of autonomy. The insur-
gents so regard thom. Their reply -
BancO'S oVerturCs was to burn the cane
fields within sight of Havana. This Las
been stopped under orders from heau-
quarters since New York parties opehcu
negotiations for grinding the sugar cane
on the payment of fixed sum.
Even the Cubans whom Blanco has
released from prison take no stock IN
pacification. Most Of the pardoned
suspects, according to Mr. Pepper are
treasuring the memory Of a great
wrong, and many of them, too, OF great
suffering. They do not seem to look
upon their release as giving the gov
crnment . claim on them. Instead,
they want restitution. a group was
pointed out to me this morning, all of
whose members were just back from
Africa. 4 chance Introduction to one
of them later gave me an opportunity
to ask his purposes. 7 had assumed
that he would support the new policy.
You are mistaken he said, two years
ago ! was an autonomist. For that I
have had twenty months imprsOn-
mcnt. Wcyler was responsible for it,
but Wcyler was Spain. He may be
Spain again Why should We talk of
autonomy when we are so near inde-
pendenCe " Others are asking the same
question / do not think. however, that
many of those who have been released
will take the field with the insurgents.
The majority of them are likely to re-
main passive
SO much tor the political success of
| autonomy up to date. I'm the mean
| time" adds Mr.. Pepper, while wait
| ing to give autonomy a fair chance, a
| long wait is not necessary to judge
| the results of the promised policy of
succoring the starving people. No con-
| hicting or antagOnistic elements have
| to be harmOnized in order to give re-
| lief. That is matter of good admin
| istration and prompt measures to meet
an emergency which concerns human
| lives Both are lacking. The palpablc
| evidences that the DEGREES and orders
| for the benefit of the recommendation
| does exist except on paper, are not yet
! apparent. They are still dying OF
| hunger and disease due to neglect"
This is the testimony of a competent
and trustworthy observer. 1t is not
| encouraging to the Spanish dream OF
| peace. But a few weeks hence it will
he possible to judge more confidently
of the fruits Of Spain's new pro.
| gramme. If the United States is tc
remain passive pending the outcome OF
the autonomy experiment 1t might dc
worse than to utilize the interval il
preparing for decisive intervention
when the failure of Spain to restore
peace shall. as seems inevitable, soor
become manifest
The endless chain. the endless drail