Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-09-08
CANOvAS
Ee Inspired the Horrid Crueitles
Pract.ced In Cuba.

se Inspired the Horrid oruelties
Pract.csd In Cuba.
The tragic taking of Of Senior Cano-
as, the Premier Of Spain, cannot blur
he historical fact that he was THE mon
,ter who inspired the barbarities In
Juba. He was the archfiend behind
he butcher Weyler, and supported him
all his atrocities toward the Cuban
patriots. The undoubted fact that Can
ovas acted only in accordance with his
training and his conception Of patriot
Ism does not change the nature Of his
conduct nor ameiIOrate its hOrrid saw
agery.
He was the instigator Of the most
iwful scheme of wholesale assassina-
ion the civilized world has seen for
years in civilized land, and the great
strength Of his character and his dOmi-
nation of his official associates serve to
render his cruel nature more cOnspicu-
Gus. There has never been an attempt
to deny that Weyler In his present pO-
sition has been creature and tool Of
Canovas. 1t has even been limited that
the two had some sort Of secret bust
ness alliance. possibly in connection
with division Of spoils. But the bus
mess considerations are not material to
outside spectators Of the Cuban trag-
edy. The fact that Weyler was the
agent who executed the DEGREES of Can
Ovas, his chief, is the fact that stands
out with awful plainness from the rec.
ord Of this conflict.
| There have been the most serious
complaints against Weyler from his
troops, from his officers, from the more
humane Spanish citizens in Havana,
from thousands Of prominent citizens
in Madrid, and these complaints have
been of such magnitude that any man
less strongly fortified In his position
must have been overwhelmed. But
Weyler has withstOOd them all and has
not abated by one jOt his policy Of in
humanity. There is nothing Of inher-
ent strength in Weyler to Justify such
successful resistance. He has not been
the man of power who has disconcert-
ed his foes. Canovas alone has been
his bulwark and to Canovas alone does
he owe immunity from the wrath of
his outraged people.
Bue there is a worse phase yet of the
situation. Canovas has not only pro-
tected Weyler but he has been his spon-
sOr in way that shows that on Ca
noyas has rested the chief responsible
ity for the cruelties In Cuba. Canovas
has been cognizant of the character of
Weyler's campaigns. The whole world
has been told with infiEite and horrible
} detail of the butcheries perpetrated by
that man. The burning Of hospitals,
the killing of women and children, the
murder of cid men, the assassination
of non-combatants, the torture of sus-
poets in prison, the assassination of
prisoners, the whole category of atroc-
tiles has been laid bare to the world
faithfully and with horrible circum
stantial evidence.
These have been the apparent acts
Of Weyler, but the man who must be
held responsible in history Is Canovas.
Weyler was CanOvas creature and sub
ject entirely to his will. If Canovas
he had objected to those butcheries. if
he had not desired reign of barbarous
methods in the carrying on of the Gu
ban war, a word from him would have
changed it all. He could have com.
PEELED a cessation Of the cruelties in n
day, or If Weyler had dared to disobey
he could have stripped the butcher of
his command in an instant.
| Canovas has escaped exposure before
4 ho, hn mi ho in nfn ha re
tell the truth about him. The Cuban
patriots in the United States have moi
dared place the responsibility where II
belonged lest Weyler should be ordered
to be more cruel and bloodthirsty. De
nunciations have been poured out
against Weyler, but the real villain was
granted temporary immunity in the
hope that some political exigency
would cause the recall of Weyler and the
substitution of a less savage command
cr The American press has followed
this same course, heaplng execrations
on Canovas' tool and hangman instead
of on himself, on whom 30 per cent OF
| he blame must rightfully rest.
Canovas selected Weyler to do this
| cruel work because he knew Weylel
wa snaturally inhuman and savage
and Canovas was the villain ON whom
American denunciation should have
fallen. hot, vitriOlic, and sulphuric
| The Italian anarchist had rid the world
| of one of the har1est-hearted creatures
| that ever disgraced 1t. One thing is as
sured, no subsequent Spanish Premier
can escape responsibility for the acts
was naturally inhuman and savage,
Of the general in command I'm Cuba. II
atrocities are kept up by Weyler or n
| successor to Weyler the successor to
Canovas will be made to feel the wrath
" civilization.