davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-02
his sanguinary spirit and plans Of muir.

his sanguinary spirit and plans Of muir.
der. Prisoners Of war and innocent per-
sons unjustly charged with aiding the re-
bellion were shot every day in Havana.
The most summary court martial preceded
the executions as q mere formality. In
other cases the victims were murdered In
cold blood in their dungeons or thrown
alive into the sea during the night at the
entrance to the harbor to feed the sharks.
The horrors Of the Council of Blood under
Alva look pale when compared to the
crimes of Weyler. In the country his
troops had orders to kill every non-com-
Blatant without regard to age. In the
cities he appointed as inspectors Of police
the most Infamous murderers and thieves
from the Spanish penal colonies in Africa.
In short time more than 100000 persons
emigrated from Cuba panic-strcken.
But Weyler was not satisfied. He in
tended to destroy the country and to ex-
terminate the natives. Seeing that the
executions in the forts were too slow a
method and that the destruction wrought
by his columns was not enough to ruin the
island, he conceived one Of the most mon
strous crimes ever committed against hui
mainly. On Feb. 49, 1896, he issued his
two famous DEGREES Of concentration. By
them every human being in the country
districts was compelled to leave his home,
after it had been destroyed by the Span
ish columns, and go to one of the fortified
towns under the vigilance Of the Spanish
soldiery. With the homes Of the recon-
centrados their cultivated lands were to
be devastated and around the towns
where they had to live not a piece Of
bread was to be given to them. In this
manner, under pretext Of military opera
ton, half million people, most of them
women and children, were condemned to
die from hunger.
Wholesale Slaughter.
From the date Of those DEGREES until
November, 1896, 100000 people were muir
dered thus in Cuba. Since November, as
result of Weylers sanguinary orders,
the number has been increased to 100000.
What monster in history ever did so much
against humanity and civilization? Nero,
Caligula, Tamerlane, TorQuemada, Alva.
when compared with Weyler, appear mild
and humane. A poltroon, besides being
an assassin, he never offered battle to the
Cubans or took the field to fight. In his
time Spain sent 100000 soldiers to Cuba.
He kept them inactive guarding the trocha
from Mariel to Majana in Pinar del Rio
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-02

ed with their bodies, and flO-iS of raven
Gus vulturcs have fed on their half-cOyer,
ed corpses. AS for the war, the insur-
gents have commanded fOur-ffths of the
island. The Spaniards held the cities and
principal towns, but no battles of impor-
lance have been fought for six months.
On the part of the insurgents it became O
game of waiting. With the Spaniards it
has been contest of determination among
the women and children-the wives and
offspring of the men who comprise the in
surgent armies,
Spain acquired the island of Cuba, by
night of discovery and conquest, in 1911.
1t was one of the bodies of land discovered
by Columbus, before his first return to
spain, but its possession by the Spaniards
only followed after cOnQuering the famous
Andian chief Hatuey, a quarter of a cen
fury afterward. During the first three
centuries Cuba was condemned bv Spain
to Isolation and neglect. In consequence
2OO years after the conquest her popula-
ton did not exceed $4,000 souls. and 100
years later it had scarcely reached 200
900. Cut off from all communication with
the rest of the world, the Cubans only
knew Of its existence by the repeated at
tacks of the pirates which infested the
coast Of the island and despoiled their
villages and slew the natives. During
her rule of 400 years the mother country
has trodden ii its incipency every reform
that has dared rear it's head. As soon as
private effort and perseverance succeeded
in bringing into life new industry or in
developing those which have been Ian
gushing and decaying, The omnipresent
hand Of the Government has demanded a
new tax or an increase Of the existing one.
The fourth centurys history of Cuba is
record of conspiracies, uprisings and rev.
buttons, provoked by the CALLING yoke of
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-02

Interior which were IN great danger Of at
tack by the insurgents. While Martinez
Campos was on the way to Bayamo, Ma
Geo offered him battle near Peralejo.
The engagement was pitched battle,
and the Cubans, not numbering 5000, car
ried the day. Gen. Stantocildes fell dead
near Gen. Martinez Campos. The Span
Iards lost all their ammunition and their
horses. Completely routed, a body Of
them, availing themselves of the darkness
of the evening, fed to Bayamo, carrying
Martinez Campos on a stretcher borne by
four soldiers. He was exhausted by ia
tigue and filled with despair. More than
300 Spanish soldiers were left dead on the
field. With the splendid booty secured
by him, Maceo completed the arming Of
his patriots.
From April to October Gomez success
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-02

the mother country. There was a revolu-
ton in 1898, another in 1896 another in
1923, another in 1880, another in 1913,
another IN 1850, another in 1851, another
IN 1900, then the famous ten years war
of 1858, an uprising in 1870, another in
1SS5-and the war which began in Feb
ruary, 1895. During three years of this
war the CubanS endured more sufferings
and displayed more heroism than any 9th
er people have ever done in a struggle for
liberty. In the face of tremendous odds
without the help of a friendly power
abroad, without even military training,
their army being composed principally of
enthusiastic volunteers, without reg7l-
lar supply of arms and ammunition. with
very little money, and what is a disad-
vantage even grayer, with the official hos
tility of every Government, including the
nations nearest their shOres-they nearly
exterminated 100000 Spanish soldiers,
the most powerful European army ever
sent to the American continent: and Meth
er fire nor sword nor brides nor fair prom
Ises of better government were powerful
enough to make them agree to peace not
based on their absolute freedom from the
hated yoke of Spain.
Jose Marti's Work.
The revolution was organized by Jose
MART, a Cuban exile in this country and
q man Of genius and courage. He organ
lied here what is called the Cuban Revo-
lutionary Party, an association of clubs
OF Cuban political exiles, for the purpose
OF raising money to free their country. |
POOR as were the majority of the few Gu
bans who lived in the United States be-
lore the beginning of the revolution, they
listened to the eloquent appeals of Marti |
and gave him all they had on earth to lib
crate Cuba from Spain. Marti was ap-
pointed delegate of the party, and his
faithful friend, Benjamin ]. Guerra, was
made treasurer. There was not much
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-02

money then in the safes Of the afterWard
famous Junta and their funds were soon
exhausted by an unsuccessful attempt to
start an expedition from the South. But
Marti had obtained the cooperation Of
Gen. Maxine Gomez and Gen, Antonio
MaceO, two veterans of the last war, He
knew that the discomfort against Spain
was deep throughout the island, He had
important connections with conspirators
in all the provinces. He gave without hes
itation the orders for the uprising and
went to Santo Domingo to join Gen. Co
mez and take, with him, the field.
At that grave and decisive moment the
total funds Of the patriots aInour.,. to
not more taan $4,000 II f. wonderful
that VIII q sun. comparatively speaking,
so ra'r~- fol 90 great purpose, war
been raised which cost Spain
eDruary, 1893, besides the sacrifice
Vi so many of her soldiers, $250000,0O0
and caused to the United States q net loss
in trade and business of $3OO,OOOOO0.
On May 10, 1895, Marti was killed in
the engagement ct Dos Rios, but his work
had already been done. He had landed on
April II with Gen. Gomez at Sabana la
Mar, on the southern coast Of Cuba, after
issuing at Monte Cristi a revolutionary
manifesto, and had had time before his
death to cOnyOke the representatives of all
the Cuban provinces to a general assem-
bly, to elect provisional government and
frame a constitution. If this was not
done until later, in September Of the same
year, at the town Of Jimaguayu, it was
not the less true that from the first days
Of the revolution the desire of Marti, as of
all the patriots, was to organize a republic
with popular institutions.
Two months before Marti's death Gen.
Antonio Macco had landed at Duava, near
BaracOa, Santiago de Cuba province.
With handful of men and a few rifles
and cartridges, small open boat brought
him to Cuba from Jamaica. But his name
and his presence were enough to make
Spain tremblc. He and his heroic broth
er, Jose MaceO, were surrounded by SUI
perior Spanish forces on the day Of their
landing. They broke through the Span
ish lines and made their way into the
country. In few days, as soon as the
news spread Of their arrival, the province
Of Santiago de Cuba rose in arms and
Antonio MaceO had around him more than
10000 Cuban soldiers.
The revolution was saved. The few
patriots who took up arms on Feb. "a at
Barre and Manzanillo had courageously
resisted under Gen. Bartolome Maso, now
Cuba's president, the attacks of the col
umns Of the Spanish Gen. Lachambre. as
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-02

but to exterminate the native population,
In their belief, women, children, every one
born in Cuba, should be held responsible
for the situation. They did not like
soldier with gallant career and personal
courage. They wanted an executioner.
Canovas satisfied them and appointed Don
Nalcriano Weyler Nicolau to succeed
Martinez Campos.
The question may be asked why the pat
riots, after so many victories, did not in
vest the city of Havana and end there
with the Spanish dominion. The answer
is very clear. After the battle of Coliseo
Gen. Gomez reviewed his troops and
found that each soldier had only three
cartridges. The Cubans in the United
States were making vain efforts to send
big expedition to the patriots. But if the
Spanish army was defeated in the fields of
Cuba, Spanish diplomacy was triumphant
at Washington. At Guira de Melena on
Jan. 4, 1896, the patriots had to fight with
their machetes to enter the province of
Havana. For such state of affairs Gen.
Gomez considered his best plan to be TO
organize armies in all the provinces invad-
ed, so far as his resources permitted him
to do, and try to raise the war in Pinar
del Rio province. At Caro- Jan. 8 the
patriots routed Spanish column and en-
tered Pinar del Rio. Gen. Gomez then
withdrew to the east while Maceo proceed
ed to the west. On Jan. II he obtained
another victory at the very gates of Pinar
del Rio city and on Jan. % he took the
town of Banes at the western extremity
of the island, three months after his de- |
parture from Baragua in Santiago de
Cuba. On Feb. II Maceo returned to Ha.
yana province. Gen. Weyler publicly de-
clared Pinar del Rio pacified, and the gal
liant Cuban leader returned to that prov
ince on March Is.
Before this Weyler had already shown
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-02


ton, contain no counterpart. 1t is mar
rative which had its beginning in the dis
cOVery Of America; it was rooted in Span
ish tyranny, transplanted into centuries
Of treachery and oppression, reared in in
ternicine strife, and matured in this re-
Voting war and It's attendant horr,.s D.
which have wrested from CrLd the proud
title, Pearl of the AqtiHes," and earnec
for her the name OF "IsIe Of Blood Tae
contest yJhich over snree years A., na.
hegnn by the Clban pair. IS .. ,orlke
for '-aedom aftyrwgr. ..ne, on the
part of Spain, 2 r~~ death to the help
ices Old ~ women and the children
who .peIled by the Spanish to leave
u At homes in the country, were huddled
In the cities and towns where starvation
and disease made such inroads on their
numbers that the graycyards are longest
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-02

well as the proposals of peace from the
captain general of the island, Don Emilio
Calleja. The ENJOYS Of the captain gen
eral told Maso that the revolution was n
failure. The provinces Of Pinar del Rio
ana Havana were entirely quiet. A few
unimportant bands in Matanzas and San
ia Clara had been dispersed or had sur
rendered. Puerto Principe was unani-
mously in favor Of peace. But Maso
knowing well how to receive such reports,
refused to yield. He had confidence in
the landing Of Maceo, Marti and Gomez
lie knew the great moral effect that the
presence Of those leaders in the field was
going to have on the Cuban people: and
Spain knew 1t also. The news that Maceo
was in Cuba reached Madrid shortly after
the overthrow of the Sagasta cabinet.
Canoyas, then in power, resolved tC fight
the revolution with the first of the Spanish
generals and with all the resources of the
nation. Gen. Calleja was recalled and
Gen. Martinez Campos was sent to Cuba
with $4,000 soldiers.
Martinez Campos landed in Guantano-
ma, Santiago de Cuba, on April 1G, 1895.
His first impression was pessimistic and
the long chain of defeats inflicted unon
his command until December of the same
year proved how right he was in believing
from the first day of his arrival that this
war was to be more important than the
previous one of 1868. He wasted a great
ieal of time in useless trips by sea to Ha-
'ana and again to the East. Maceo was
preparing in the meantime his men and
Gomez was formulating the plan Of the
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-02

great invasion Of the West in order to
carry the revolution to all the provinces
and establish in each one regular body
Of the Cuban army.
July IL, 1895, is the memorable date of
the battle of Peralejo. The war had been
until then confined almost to the province
of Santiago de Cuba, with some small
bands Of patriots roaming through Puerto
Principe and keeping up only an unimpor-
tant guerrilla warfare. But Maceo had
already obtained some notable triumphs.
and Martinez Campos decided to carry re.
endorsements to the Spanish towns in the
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-02

IT. HE story of
Cuba is q
Il tragedy, a
tragedy so black
that the pages of
history, not ex-
cepting those up
on which is writ
ten the diabolical
doings of the
Sn1niSh InnIlisi-
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-02

When a boy gets hurt, it can never
be told how badly he is bruised until
after he has been given his Saturday
bath.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-02
Spain Sends Weyler,

On the night of Dec. p the captain
general made that avowal. A few DAYS
later the rabid Spaniards of the city com
PEELED him to tender his resignation to
Madrid. They demanded from Canovas n
captain general framed in the old iron
cast of the Spanish conquerors, not to
fight battles and risk his life on the field,
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-02

Railways employ ticket scalpers
when they get to cutting rates.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-02
GULF
OF
MEXICO

fully carried the war through Puerto
Principe province and laid his plans for
the invasion of the west. On Oct. % Ma
| Geo, having received orders from Gomez,
who was appointed commander-in- chief Of
the army, in September, by the assembly
of representatives, started for the east
with 1000 Of his men. On Oct. 80 Gomez
invaded Las Villas. Maceo Joined him on
Nov. - near place called Los Guayos.
From there they began their triumphant
march. On Dec. 3 the Spanish Col. Sc
gura was defeated by the insurgents at
iguara and had to leave his dead on the
field, together with great supply of arms
and ammunition. On Dec. Is the Spanish
battalions of Canarias and Trevino were
routed by Maceo at Nal TEMPO, after the
most gallant charge with machetes Of the
Cuban cavalry, led by Maceo himself, that
has ever been seen in the Cuban wars. On
Dec. Il the victory of El Desquite cleared
the way for the invaders to the province
of Matanzas. Martinez Campos then
made desperate effort to check the two
Cuban leaders. Until that moment he had
been recolling before the invaders with
his columns, hoping that they would stop
But he saw that each step of the patriots
to the west was decisive triumph for
their cause. The enthusiasm of the revo.
luton was growing day by day through
out the country. The Cuban ranks were
filled by volunteers from all the cities and
towns by which Gomez and Maceo passed
Martinez Campos rallied his almost dis
persed men and presented battle at Ell Co.
liSeo on Dec %.
The action was sharp and decisive. Mar
tinez Campos behaved bravely. leading
one Of his wings in charge against Co.
mez, but Maceo, falling on the Spanish
won the day for Cuba and compelled Mar,
tinez Campos to retire. The captain een-
eral hurriedly entered Havana, making
to defend the city, and he
confessed his defeat to the astonishpd
Spanish volunteers and residents of tbe
capital.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-12
SPAIN WON'T STAND IT.
The Liberal Says She Has Put Up
With Too Much Already.

Madrid, April 12.-The Liberal this
morning publishes what appears to be
nearly a complete translation of Presi-
dent McKinley's message to congress
on the Cuban question printing it's SAIL
ent points in large type.
Commenting on the message the Lib
era1 says:
Although the dispatches are extern
sive, they do not suffice for the forma-
ton of definite conclusions. The mis-
translation of a word or phrase would
produce a complete misunderstanding
Nevertheless, it may be said that in a
general sense, it affirms and declares in
the name of the nation, the right of
Inference in Cuba. Whether a defin-
lite, or indefinite period is meant and
whether it is a simple intimatiOn or a
fixed decision regarding coming events
Spain must protest energetically against
the principle, prior to protesting vio-
lently against the action. No free peo-
pie can hesitate to reject by all means
in it's power a doctrine annulling it's
personality and reducing it to ignomi-
NOUS tutelage; consenting to submit to
it would be equivalent to SPANS reSig-
nation of her place among European
nations.
American clearly indicates her inten-
ton hitherto yelled with hyprocrit1cal
antiquities. America considers Spain
incapable of maintaining her sovereign
ty in Cuba. We have put up with
everything; but unless we ignore our
history, and consider the peninsular
on a parallel with Paraguay, isolated
from the world, we cannot and Will not
submit to this"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-12
twenty spent quarter of century ago
The world is getting better and every
body lives better.
CROKER FOR SENATOR.
Tammany Chieftain After the Honors
has Never Met Bryan.

New York, April 12.-Richard Croker
is now being pushed forward by his
admirers for national recognition. Two
events to occur this week are counted
upon to bring him before the people as
a potent national figure. One is the
banquet to be given on Wednesday
evening at the National Rifles armOry
at Washington, when the Democratic
National league celebrates Jackson day.
ranged for Mr.. Croker at the Democrat
ic club next Saturday evening.
Wednesday evening will witness the
first meeting that ever occurred be-
tween William Jennings Bryan, the
Democratic candidate for the presiden-
cy in 1896, and the Tammany chieftain.
In a chat today at the Democratic club
Mr.. Croker surprised number of gen.
tIemen with whom he was talking by
saying that he had never seen Mr..
Bryan.
him in Washington, however, cOntinu-
ed Mr.. Croker. II also expect to see
other national leaders. 1t is my inten-
ton to remain at the national capital
until Friday unless plans now made are
changed"
Il presume that if we are to have war
a declaration of it will have been made
before that day, will it not?' he asked
Quizzically.
Besides Mr.. Bryan, Mr.. Croker will
meet Senator Murphy, whom he still
New York state Democracy; Senator
German of Maryland, who has recently
become a member of Mr.. Cookers club,
and many Democratic senators and
members of congress from various
parts of the country.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-12
STAGE HANDS STRIKE.
Devils Auction" Had an Exciting
Time at Leavenworth.
Manager

Leavenworth Standard: Manager
Donovan of the opera house was in
trouble last night and called on the po-
lice to help him manage a strike of
stage hands. 1t was o'clock before
the curtain went up for the Forever
Devils Auction and the strike was
the cause of the delay.
One of the strikers said that 1t had
been the custom of the manager to give
passes to several hands in return for
the work they did on the stage, but last
night it was decided to have a money
consideration or no work Manager
Donovan declined, and the result was
walk-out of nine stage workers, togeth-
er with Thomas Bell, the stage carpen-
ter, and a flower girl, who sells artificial
flowers, the latter stating that she
wouldn't sell flowers until the strike
was off.
The strikers say they will not go back
to work unless they get a dollar a night.
A new force was organized and set at
work last night but the stage settings
were not removed until o'clock this
morning There was no trouble during
the show, though Constable Hinder
bandit, the opera house policeman, had
some difficulty at one time keeping or
der.
The show people made the strike the
subject of numerous witticisms during
the performance.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-12
NOTHING BUT HOTELS.
Mr. Frank E. Wears Impressionistic
View of Florida

Mr.. Frank E. Wear and wife returned
trip through Florida and the
south. In speaking of his
trip Mr.. Wear said: There is little
Cuban or Spanish news to be gathered
in Florida The papers there are not
like the ones in the west and are "a to
SO hours late in getting the news. 1t
was our intention to go to Havana, but
we reached Florida just as the spring
quarantine was going into effeSt and we
would have to stay in quarantine Is
days If we went to Havana SO we de-
c1ded not to make the trip. was sur
played in the south; more than there is
here. Stores were decorated with flags
and pictures of the Maine were every
where. The SouthernerS do not want
Cuba annexed; they say that the Gu
bans themselves are not worth fighting
for. They wish the cruelties to be
stopped for humanity's sake and all the
they are willing to fight to have that
done, but they do not wish the island
to become a part of the United States.
One thing that the southernerS have to
dread in all this trouble is the yellow
fever a thing that we are perfectly
safe from but which might once get
started in the south and spread. Many
southerners severely criticise the gov
eminent in being lax about the spring
quarantine. People are brought to
Florida by the boat loads and landed
after being but one day in quarantine.
After we crossed the Mississippi go
ing southwark we heard no more of
was New York. Florida is a barren
place. There seems to be nothing there
but hotels. All the time we were there
we ate California oranges.