The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1897-12-01
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER /, 1897
SPANS CONFESSION OF DEFEAT

Gen. Blanco's endeavors to bribe
the Cuban commander-in-c chief to
leave the island, and his efforts to
get the insurgents to accept his
scheme of home rule, mean that
Spain has hoisted the flag of distress.
Whether the report be true or untrue
that Blanco told the head of relig-
Ious order that ssonly Divine Provi-
dence is able to save Cuba,' it is
evident that the new captain general
thinks that he himself is hardly equal
to the task. No such efforts as he is
making to conciliate the Cuban pa
triots were made by either of his two
predecessors. Campos tried to crush
them before the rebellion extended
to dangerous dimensions, and Weyler
supplemented the fighting plan of
campaign with the starvation of non
com batants and the assassination of
patriot leaders. Each scheme failed,
and another Spanish soldier is at the
head of affairs, and another device
for bringing the Cubans into subjec.
tion is being tried.
Probably Blanco will have the
same i'll fortune as his predecessors.
Thus far he has certainly been un-
successful. Gomez refuses to accept
a Spanish pension and leave the ISL
and. The insurgents in general re-
ject home rule. One reason why the
autonomy proposals are likely to have
no effect is that the insurgents do not
think Spain's promises would be per-
formed. Blanco is probably honest
in his efforts to secure Cuban sub
mission. He would endeavor to
carry out his pledges, but he would
very likely be overruled by the home
government. There is the consider
alton which will defeat all Blanco's
efforts at compromise. The Cubans
have profound distrust for Spain.
They know that Spain violated its
promises at the end of the rebellion
of 1S68-78. and they feel that it
would do this again if permitted.
Thus no sort of an adjustment which
recognizes any sort of control by
Spain over the island stands any
chance of acceptance. Absolute and
eternal separation from Spain is what
the insurgents are fighting for, and
they will probably agree to nothing
less.
Viewed in any aspect, the outlook
for Spain is dark. The rebellion has
been under way two years and three
quarters. Spain has sent more than
100000 troops to Cuba, and has tried
three commanders, and yet the in
surgents appear ito control larger
part of the island than they ever did
before. They seem to be more con-
hdent of success than they ever were
IN the past. Men and supplies reach i
them from this country, and will
continue to reach them until the war
ends. The United States performs
its duties as neutral with vigor and
intelligence, but cannot guard its
entire coast line at all times. If it
had a navy as large as England's
some filibusters would elude its yig-
llance. Spain is practically bank |
rupt- It's recent efforts to float loans
are said to have been failures. A
year hence she will be weaker rather
than stronger. This consideration
nerves the Cubans to continued re.
sistance. AS the outside world views
the situation, Spain's chances for re-
gaining It's authority in Cuba are
hopeless. The conduct of Gen.
Blanco IS an evidence that this truti,
is beginning to dawn on the minds of
the men at the head Of Spain's gov
ernment.
The receipts from the penny-ln-