Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-09-16

ally confer autonomy, or home rule. This
was in response to the demands of the
autonomist Cuban members of the Cortes.
Ten days after the enactment Of the re
form law an insurrection was begun in
the province of Santiago. Their purpose,
1t has been stated, was to prevent the sue
cess Of a reform which would content the
people and render them Indifferent to the
idea of Cuba libre.
A republic was proclaimed and Cue
hitas was made the capital, but the civil
government was imaginary. The chief
command and entire local government
was in the hands OF Gen. Gomez. He,
with Maceo and others, gradually extend
ed the rebel operations over the whole
island, destroying everything outside the
towns. Stealing in small bands through
the bush and travelling by night, they
eluded the Spanish troops and burned and
plundered everywhere, driving the rustics
into the already conGested towns. To pre-
vent the rebels from living off the rustics
the Spanish forbade agriculture in ex-
posed districts, thus also adding to the
congestion of population in the towns.
The wretchedness of the reconcentrados,
imputed to Gen. Weyler, became the chief
burden of the cry Of inhumanity raised
against Spanish rule
By cutting the island into several isolat-
ed sections by means of trochas and by
following up the rebel bands pertinacious-
ly in the restricted AREAS Gen. Weyler had
at length by December, 1897, virtually
freed the island from oil ravages except
IN the two easternmost provinces, where
desolate mountain country gave the in
surgents impenetrable retreats. The ma
ture OF the jungle was such that the com
pete extinction of the rebel bands in San
dago was impracticlhle so long as they
received supplies and encouragement from
abroad. Their operations were on small
scale and unimpOrtant except SO far as
the existence Of their movement-even on
small scale-afforded basis for the
growing disposition ut Washington to in
terfere to exclude Spain from her pos
sessions in the West Indies.
In December, 1896, Congress signlfed
Its purpose to recognize Cuba libre until
Secretary Olney, instructed by Mr.. Cleve-
land, let it be known that in the PPesi-
dent's view recognition was an executive
function exclusively and action by Con-
gress would be ignored Mr.. Cleveland's
tAbolNiOhb uS AhulIdlcN EtplSSSuUl-
tons at Madrid, was that the plan Of au-
tonomy embodied in the Abaruza law Of
1895 and much broadened in the decree
of February, 1897, should be given trial
and the United States would not inter-
fere until it was shown by experience that
the new home rule scheme was a sham
and failure.
With the beginning OF the Mckinley ad-
ministration less patient policy was fav-
ored and the idea OF getting Spain to with
draw from Cuba by friendly insistance
was entertained. congressman who wish
ed to recognize Cuba's independence were
at once advised that such result could be
attained in better way. Recognition
was STAYED off. Meanwhile Spain was
asked to make various concessions, as re-
spects the removal OF Weyler, the recon
centrados and an armistice, etc. All were
granted. The hope was entertained that
with Blanco favoring Cancellation, the re-
concentrates provided for and peace offer
ed the rebels, way would be found for
giving Cuba u government as free us that
OF Canada. The retention of Il nominal
sovereignty was now ut length all that
Spain asked. 1t was resolved not TO con-
cede this and on April IL, 1S0S President
Mckinley asked Congress to authorize
him to interfere In Cuba with force. Con-
gress assentcd on the 10Th and IN ulti-
natum was sent to Spain demanding the
evacuation Of Cuba.
Destruction OF the Maine.
Hostilities were precipitated by the sink
ing of the battleship Maine in the harbor
of Havana in February. The vessel sank
after an explosion, the cause of which has
not been ascertained. Ii Is not known
whether It was the work Of Spanish fan
attic, animated by blind hatred of the
United States, or Of a Cuban patriot anx-
ious to embroil Spain and Cuba. The ex-
plosion of the Maine, whatever the cause,
fired popular resentment against Spain.
There was loud demand for revenge.
and Remember the Mainev became n
popular cry.
Long before the declaration OF war our
uNrships were assembled in large num-
bers at Key West, near Havana War
existed before the formal declaration on
April 25, and the congressional resolu-
ton took cognizance of the situation hy
stating that hostillties dated from April
81. On that day the Buena Ventura, a
Spanish ship, was captured by the gun
boat Nashville, Lieut.. Washburn com
mander and on the same day President
Mckinley ordered the North Atlanti,
squadron under Admiral Sampson to sai
from Key West to inaugurate the Cubar
blockade. The feet left the harbor the
following day. On April % President
Mckinley called for 125000 volunteers
and ordered Commodore Dewey at Hons
Kong to "hnd and destroy the Spanish
heet."
Spain declared war on April "a, the da,
which saw Dewey's feet weigh ancho