The Red Cloud chief., 1898-03-04
WEYLER'S SILLY PETITION,
Ills Letter for Apology From Mckinley
It's Text Made Public.

his message to Congress TO Weyler's
methods OF warfare is now made pub
lie for the first time. In Spain the
press was strictly forbidden TO pub
lish the text OF the document for fear
that 1t might give rise to international
complications.
The letter was written In December,
when General Wcylcr personally pre-.
scented IT to the queen after the text
OF the American Presidents message
became known in Spain. Here is the
full text:
Madame: Il come to-day before the
highest representative of the country
and the army, begging with the great.
est respect from your majesty a boon
which l deem necessary to the Span
ish army and to my W honor us a
soldier.
From his high position. the exec.
utive OF n foreign power, Mt the sol.
emn moment OF the opening OF its
Congress, has uttered insults against
the army OF Spain OF so gross n nature
that ! can hardly believe they will DC
permitted to pass without the encr-
gctic protest Of the government of
your MA iesty.
The heroic soldiers who are she'd
ding their generous blood in the fields
Of Cuba to defend the sovereignty OF
Spain have been insultcd in Il coarse
and cowardly tanner before the
whole civilized world and treated as
though they were on the same level
with rebellious hordes of bandits who
do not deserve an honorable mention.
THE military measures, madame,
adopted in the Cuban war with the
full knowledge and consent of one OF
Your Majesty's governments, a gov.
eminent of Spain, are criticised as in
famous and unworthy Of civilized peo-
pie. The orders of the Spanish gem
cral who commanded that army are
finally qualified, madame, as brutal,
and calculated TO fill the civilized
world with horror. II such insults
were given only to the soldier who
has the honor to address Your Mai.
esty. he would not complain of the
weakness OF the government in per.
hitting them to go unrebukcd. lie
would. in fact, be extremely gratifed
to have called forth such an opinion
concerning himself from n people
whom lie considers TO be the open enc.
mics of Spain.
but when these insults are also di.
rec,ed Mt the entire Spanish army.
when the opprobrious words nrc di'
rec'cd against the honor OF the irwin.
ciblc, noble, courageous soldiers of
Spain. the general who has fought
| SIDE by side with those soldiers, tie
general who has shared the hardships
of Their lives, the general who has
honorcd himself by commanding the
most heroic and largest army Of mod.
crn times. l cannot tolerate withou,
protest the injustice of such grave
words. All my orders in the field,
Madame. were inspired by the noble
cry Of Viva Espana.'
NO, | cannot leave my companions
in arms alone. The mar who has in.
suited us has spoken his words a,
such n distance that | cannot person.
ally punish him | come, therefore.
To your majesty demanding repara
ton FOR our military honor trampled
upon by the foreigner.
Until the President OF the United
States makes u complete apology &c
Spain | think that the Spanish sol.
dicrs cannot wear their uniforms with
honor.
Pubic has been the insult. Public,
complete and Immediately ought to be
the apology. do not alone demand
it. With Inc are the honor OF Spain
and the honor OF the Spanish army,
which represents the country, and
whose highest dignity inheres in the
august person OF his majesty the king.
Therefore, not as n favor. but a,
an act of justice which your majesty
cannot refuse, the undersigned de
mands your majesty that you advis,
your govern ment TO ask the satisfac
ton that is so necessary to the honor
of the Spanish army. Madi. me. at tn,
royal feet of your majesty. -VALEgy,
VIEWER