The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-15

DOIh branches OF the Spanish cOrIeS-
in which Cuba has 43 representatives
unanimously passed a bill brought for
ward by Senior Abaruza, Cuban, to
establish in Cuba liberal regime
which should virtually confer auton-
omy, or home rule. This was in re-
Spouse TO the demands of the autono-
mist Cuban members of the cortes.
They described the Stagnation Of the
cane sugar industry OF Cuba, which
was Frustrated by Gernany's vast ex-
portations of cheap beet sugar, the ruin
of sugar planters. the idleness of thou
sands of wOTkmen formerly employed
on the plantations and the necessity OF
local self government. with closer econ
omy of administration, ia view OF the
diminished incomes of the people.
Hard times had created discomfort and
political unrest, which it was expedient
TO cencihate by reforming the govern
meut and reducing its cost
PREVENTIVE INSURRECTIoN-
Ten days after the enactment Of the
reform law an insurrectiOn was begun
in the province of Santiago by flibus-
tiers from New York, Hayi and other
points. Their purnose, it has been stat
ed, was 10 prevent the success OF a
reform which would content the peo-
pie and render them Indifferent TO the
idea OF Cuba Libre. The fldbusters
consisted of young CubaES who had
lived many years abroad, naIurali2ed
foreigners of Cuban origin and adVen-
tuTers Of various natiOnalities- Their
enterprise was organized and financed
by a junta, or committee, in New York,
which was helped by the sympathy all
Americans have for countries thought
TO be rightly struggling to be free. Gu
ban bonds. which would be valuable =
the junta succeeded, were also disposed
of, partly for the money they brought
and partly for the cooperation they
secured.
THE PEOPLE.
There were some 10000 agricultural
laborers in Cuba, many of whom We're
idle on account of the low price of su
gar. Some OF these joined the rebels.
The entire rebel force has been esti-
mated at 10000. but the force actually
under arms has perhaps seldom exceed
ed 10000. Few professional men or men
Of education joined the insurgents. The
cities and larger towns continued Jyal
and the local population organized
guerilla bands aggTegating, 1t is SAID.
$4,000 men to withstand the forays Of
the rebels. The latter. consisting chief
ly of negroes and mixed breeds, oper-
ated by destroying property. They did
not propose TO fight in the open. but
burned crops and buildings, and dyna-
mited railroad bridges and trains.
SO-CALLED REPUBLIC.
A republic was proclaimed and Cue
bitas was made the capital, but the
civil government was imaginary. The
chief command and entire local govern
ment was in the hands of General Co
mez He, with Maceo and others, grad
ually extended 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 burnt and plundered every
where, driving the rusticS into the al
ready congested towns. To prevent the
rebels from living off the rustics the
Spanish forbade agriculture in exposed
districts, thus also adding TO the con-
gestion OF population in the towns. The
Indebtedness of the reconcentrados, |
imputed to General Weyler became the /
chief burden of the cry of inhumanity
raised against Spanish rule.
WEYLER'S PLAN.
By cutting the island into several
isolated sections by means of troehas, ;
and by following up the rebel bands
pertinaciously in the restricted areas,
General Weyier had. at length, by De-
cember. 1897 virtually freed the island /
easternmost provinces, where q desc
late mountain country gave the insur- .
gents impenetrable retreats. The ma
ture OF the jungle was such that the
complete extinction OF the rebel BANDS !
in Santiago was iTnpracticable, so long
as they received supplies and encour-
agement from abroad. Their operations
were on a small scale and unimportant /
except so far, as the existence of their
on a small Scale-af- /
forded a basis for the growing diSpo-
sition at Washington to interfere TO eX-
Guide Spain from her possessions in (
the West indies.
MR.. CLEVELAND'S ATTITUDE. /
In December, 1896. congress signifed /
its purpose to recognize Cuba Libre, /
until Secretary Olney, instructed by !
Mr.. Cleveland let il be known that in +
the presidents view recognition was
an executive function exclusively and .
action by congress would be ignored. {
Sfr. Cleveland's position, as indicated
by his representations at Madrid was /
that the plan of autonomy embodied in
the AbaruZa law of 1895. and much
bToadened in the deere OF February,
1897. should be given a trial and the
United States would not interfere until
il was shown by experience that the
new home rule scheme was a sham and
Il
voiced by Mr.. Cleveland. included the
idea of interference in case peace and
a fair trial of the home
rule scheme of f897-were still as far off
as ever. but Mr.. Cleveland assured the
Madrid government that home rule
should have a fair trial The purpose
Of depriving Spain Of her sovereignty
over Cuba was disclaimed.
NEW POLICY.
With the beginning of the Mckinley
= administration these assurances ceased.
4 less patient policy was favored ana
the idea of getting Spain to Withdraw
from Cuba by friendly insistence was
Congressman who wished
to recognize Cuba's independence were
at once advised that such result could
be attained in a better way. RecognL
ton was STAYED off. Meanwhile Spain
was asked TO make various concessions,
as respects the removal of Weyler, the
and an armistice, etc.
All were granted. The hope was en-
.ertained that with Blanco favoring
the reconcentrados pro-
yided for and peace offered the rebels,
1 way would be found for giving Cuba
4 government as free as that of Can
ada. The retention of nominal SOW
ereignty was now at length all that
Spain asked.
WAR FAVORED.
1t was resolved not to concede this
and on April II. 1898. President McKin-
ey asked congress to authorize MIN TO
intervene in Cuba with force. Congress
vas sent to Spain demanding the evac-
Of l-.a N