The times., 1897-07-18
ID +I1t||ll 3 IL !

theater of warm Cuba, one" corps d'armee'
or acclimated troops, such as met at the
Apponatox surrender, If properly equipped
and supplied, could in detail batter the
life out OF the huge, disorganiZed mob
under the command Of the Spanish hyena
While Weyier has made a desert of the
country within reach Of his scacoast forti-
fications i'll CGba Libre, that is, i'll four
fifths OF tie island, food grows ON every
bush. There are hill locked valleys which
the Cuhans hold, and where their catIle
Craze in safety. Here they have even
planted quick growing crops, like sweet
potatoes, which ripen five or six times
year. or such conditions, Gomez, the
Liberator, has taken scientific advantage
He is mot only man born To command,
but one who is abreast OF the military
science OF the day, far as it can be
applied TO the peculiar warfare upon which
he is engaged His mastery circular
movements never fan to puzzle those WHO
would bring his army TO bay, and, worn
out by the chase, the Spanish columns
never succeed in cCrnering him The half
grown and immature boys, the raw re-
cruits which Spain has sent TO the island,
serve but as fodder for fevers and other
diseases to feed upon. With half ratons,
scant clothing and little OF no pay, AMI
that IN q deprecated currency, the sol
diers are capable of doing only one days
work in seven, but the wonder to me IS
that they are able or willing 10 shoulder
a mUsket at all.'
The author explains the ill-cCncealed
Indifference with which otherwise loyal
Spaniards on Ghc island regard the Ultimate
Success - their arms Ii Spain Were every
where successful and the revolution snuffed
out, The interest ca the Spanish debt on
Cuban account, already would amount to
S3o,00o,u 800 per annum. The military
party would Insist upon All army of uc
egration of 90. coo men. This army would
cost the island at least SIS 000 600 a year
Add Sl0,o00,90o for civil and judicial
administration, Cubas share of the naval
budget and there would be an annual bur
deh OF Sl15, 5000 900 on the island Under
the most favorable conditions OF peace
and deai sugar, cuba never has been able
60 produce more than thirty millions in
taxes ~ one who knows Cuba expects
that for ut least five years after the war,
however IL may end. the island will &c
able TO carry budget OF more than twelve
millions The conclusion arrived at by
so Spain, on the verge of bankruptcy
herself, would have TO make up IA dciicit
of ut least 81 90, 100000 TO retain her last
colony, which is, OF course, an absurcity
Even England or France could hardly stand
such an annual drain, even supp0Sing that
they were SO uuwise as to care To do so =
OF the universal sentiment OF the Span
ish element on the island, Mr.. Bonsal gives
To him by one OF the leading tobacco
planters in Santa Clara province; a man
Of high position. education and culture.
The only way to end this Cuban ques
tion is the way Gen. Weyler is going
about it. The only way for Spain 10
retain he sovereignty is To exterIninate
butcher. if you like-every man. woman
and child upon it who is infected with
the contagicn and dreams OF Cuba I.ibre'
We tried other methods the last time, and
see the result. What the contagion is dn
not know. II is something in the air these
Cnhans breathe. No one is safe from the
infection. / never see even my own half
grown boys start 10 school in the morning
hut what I hold my breath and say, VIII
they, too, suCcumb to the infection? Who
knows tut that they, too, viii start for
Tie ioAg grass toda W y
IT is hard to pass by any single rage Of
Stephen Bonsal's book without quoting it.
We must content ourselves with whettiny
the appetite of our readers for the con-
piete work. Let US record it here that
there lSnot an outrage, atrocityor butcherv
heretofore reported by correspondents Of
The Times, and printed in our columns, OF
which this narrative does not contain the
confederation, The equivalent or worse
1t tells US how the Spanish residents Tho
leaders OF the volunteers and mercantile
class, continually urge the government TO
sanction general massacre of Cubans in
the towns and cities, that their exteTmina-
tiGn may cat off the aid they are able 20
give to their brethren in the long sra $"
With haTrOwinG detail it gives us the
hideous truth OF the outrage OF helulcSs
women and gin children and their butchery
afterward; OF the pitilcSs starvation ard
murder or innocent peasant men, women
and children, and OF the fiendish tortures
regularly applied TO Cubans CT both sexes
and all ages to make them betray tIeir
country or their kindred. Mr. RonsaI
warns the United States that, when the
last day comes and the banner of Spain
suilen!y IS fuTled for final departure.
some strong hand Will have 10 be exten.,el
over the country to save the GefenseInss
ones from last carnival of demoniac rage
eTson, aE'i massacre.
In glorious contrast with the friphtful
rapacity, lust and blood odthirstiness Of
Neyler and his Spanish fiends, we have
a picture of holy devotion TO country ana
liberty, displayed by the brave sons and
daughters Of Cuba Libre! Daily they are
tortured to death with ingenious modern
lefInements upon the most horrible lie.
vices and tools OF medieval cruelty. ana
they suffer the untold agonies OF their
persecution to the end without betray-
ing their cause or their friends. In spite
of these awful temptations to revenge; in
spite of the systematic murder of Cuban
prisoners of war, Mr. Bonsal declares that
the patriots never have even maltreated
Spanish prisoners, although they do hang
Cuban traitors whenever taken.
Every morning there are military execu-
tions on the csplanade at the Cabanr
Fortress Mr.. Bonsal saw one. The hand
PLAYED waltz music throughout the cere-
nony. 1t always is done, an old sergeant
told him, to drown the cries of the vic
tllhs' said the sergeant, emphatically:
since have been in the Cabana, these
i've weeks L have seen fifty men die,
ana they all died like men. AS they fall
they cry out, Long live free Cuha,, or
Liberty and patria," and some curse
Neyier' the hangman, the butcher for a
cowardly h1und. So they keep the music
playing"
We must slight the execution our an
thor witnessed, and which he narrates with
spienRd sympathy and pathos, to find room
Tor the story OF another that happened on