The sun., 1898-12-27

west, which was effectively done, unit
MAoRo was lured into an ambusaAde anC
killed The policy pursued by wEYLNR had
twofold aim, to wit: First, TO avoid en-
gagements on large scale In the Held,
but to occupy with strong garrisons all the
! seaports and important inland towns, and
to institute 80 efficient q patrol Of the coast
| as would prevent the insurgents from re-
| ceiving supplies Of ammunition. His sec
| ond purpose was, while QUITTING OF the rev
outionlsts from their friends abroad, to de
prive them also OF support at homo by
compelling the whole rural population to
renounco the cultivation OF their fields and
to take refuge In the Rnrrisoned towns
where, under the namo Of reeoncenfTados,
they were virtually condemned to death
by starvation.
In other words, wEYLEB was determined
That as regards the whole OF Cuba outside
OF the points occupied by Spanish soldiers,
he would create solitude, and call 1t
peace. 1t cannot be disputed that this pro
gramme proved atrociously effective, and
that, II persistence in ID could have been
tolerated by civilized world, the lnsurrec-
tlon must have been cxtinguished, through
inability to procure munitions from with
out or food staples from within.
It was not fated, however, that the rebel
lion started by JOSH MARTI was to prove
abortivc. The supersession OF Gen WRHJER
by Gen. BbANCo, and the organization OF
the semblance Of an autonomist govern
ment at Havana, although astutely de-
vised to avert American intervention, were
not destined to have that result. At
the very time when tho stoutest hearts
among tho American friends OF Cuba
were sickening with hope deferred, and
when it seemed but too probable that tho
forces under GARCIA and GOMEZ must
presently bo disbanded, from sheer inabil-
ity to arm and feed them, occurred the ex-
plosion OF the Maine In the harbor OF
Havana, catastrophe which not only
shook with horror the United States, but
drove home to our national conscience the
conviction that Spain's rule In the New
World must end. The execrable sentiments
planted by WEYLER in his officers and SOL
diers had borne their inevitable fruit. It
was reserved for Spanish malignancy to
perpetrate one of those acts of madness
which are forerunners Of self-destruction.
no VO LCC0l Uilo pCl-
fidies and calamities which have made the
last thirty years the darkest pages in the
history Of Cuba, we can see that they were
all linked together, and that all had their
part to play in the outworking OF the
destiny. Had Spain been more far
sighted or less cruel, had the Cubans
risked less and suffered less, we might not |
have witnessed the great change in the |
attitude Of Great Britain which rem
1ered Americas intervention possible. |
The blood OF MABTI and MAcEo and |
If scores Of thousands of their breth- |
zen, betrayed, famished and butchered, |
,ried to American onlookers from the
ground; and when the outpour Of our sym
1athy was met with the destruction Of the
Maine there was no longer any cause to
ear that the arm Of an English-speaking
people would be raised to stay tho sword
II justice.
The sword fell and Cuba has been freed.
What we now behold is the ripened harvest
II the seed sown by the victims Of the ten
ears war and OF the recent insurrection.
Their children are entering into their in
leritance. Withheld for generation, it 10
assured to them at last:
For Freedoms battle. once begun.
Bequeathed from bleeding sire to son,
Though banned Oft, is ever won."