Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-09-15


Senior Abaruza. n Cuban, TO establish in
Cuha a liberal regime which should virtu-
ally confer autonomy, or home rule. This
was in response to the demands OF the
nutonomist Cuban members of the Cortos.
Ten days after the enactment of the re-
form law an instruction was begun in
the province of Santiago. Their purpose,
It 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 librc.
4 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. lie,
with Maceo and others, gradually extend
cd the rebel operations over the whole
island, destroying everything outside the
towns Stealing in small bands through
the bush and travelling by night. they
cluded the Spanish troops and burned and
plundered everywhere, driving the rustlcs
into the already cpngrsted towns To pre-
vent the rebels from living off the rustics
Che Spanish forbade agriculture in cx-
POSED districts, thus also adding to the
congestion of population in the towns.
The wretchedncss of the reconcentrados.
imputed to Gen. Wcyler, 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-
" IN the restricted areas Gen. Weyler had
at length by December, 1897, virtually
freed the island from all ravages except
in the two easternmOst provinces, where
n dpsolate mountain country gave the in
surgents impenetrahlc retreats. The ma
ture OF the jungle was such that the com
plete extinction of the rebel bands in San
uaEo was imprActicahle so long rs they
received supplies and encouragement from
abroad. Their operations were on a small
scale and un!mportant except so far as
the existence Of their mOvemcnt-cven on
n small scale-efforded Il basis for the
growing disposition at Washington to In
terfore to exclude Spain from her pos
sessions in the West Indies.
In December, 1896, Congress signficd
Its purpose to recognize Cuba libre until
Secretary Dlney, instructed by Mr.. Cleve-
land, let it be known that in the Presi-
dents view recognition was an executive
function exclusively and action by Con-
ercss would be ignored. Mr. ClPvennd's
position. as indicated by his representa-
tons at Madrid, was that the plan of au-
tonomy embodied in the Abaruza law of
1896 and much broadened in the decree
Of February, 1897, should be given n trial
and the United States would not inter
fere until it wns shown by experience that
the new home rule scheme was a sham
and failure.
With the beginning Of the Mckinley ad-
ministration a 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
cd 10 recognize Cuba's independence were
ut 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-
sprcts the removal Of Weyicr. the recon
centrados and al armistice etc. All were
rranred. The hope was entertained that
with Blanco favorinc Cancellation. the TO-
concentrates provided for and peace offer
ed the rebels. II way would be found for
giving Cuba government as free as that
o. Canada. The retention of nominal
sovereignty was now at length all that
code this and on April II. 1898. President
Mckinley asked Congress to authorize
aim 60 Interfere in Cuba with force. Con-
rress assented on the 10th and an ulti-
matum was sent to Spain demanding the
evacuation of Cuba.
Destruction of the Maine.
lIostiities were precipitated by the sink
IAg If the battleship Maine in the harbor
OF Havana in February The vessel sank
after an explosion, tho cause of which has
hot been ascertained. 1t is not known
whether it was the work of n Spanish fan
attic, animated by blind hatred of the
United States, or Of n Cuban patriot anx-
Ious TO embroil Spain and Cuta. The ex-
nlosion of the Maine, whatever the cause,
fred popular resentment against Spain.
TLer4e was loud demand for revenge.
uul 'Renember tho Maine!" became q
popular cry.
Long before the declaration of war our
warships We're assembled in large num-
bers at Key West, near Havana. War
existed before the formal declaration ON
April %, and the congressional resou-
ton took cognlzanco of the situation by
stating that hostilities dated from April
n On that day the Bucna Ventura. q
Spanish ship, WIS captured by the gun
boat Nashville, Lieut.. Washburn COM
nunder. and on the same day President
Nick inley ordered the North Atlantic
squadron under Admiral Sampson to sail
from Key West to inaugurate the Cuban
blockade The feet left the harbor the
folio wing day. On April % President
Mckinley called for l25.000 volunteers.
nnd ordered Commodore Dewey at Hong
Kong to find and destroy the Spanish
feet
Spain declared war on April 81. the day
which saw Dewey's fleet weigh anchor
md steam away for Manila bay. On
April &c militia camps were formed in
uearly every State of the Union.
Aatanzas was bombarded on April q
by Admiral Sampson with the New York
the Cincinnati and the Puritan. Great
damagc was done the fortifcations Glen
fueeos was bombarded on April IS, and
On that day, also, Admiral Cervera be-
gan thc series of maneuvers ending in the
Santiago bottle, 10y leaving Spanish shores
with his fleet, en- route TO the Cape Verde
Islands.
The Cabanas batteries were silenced by
q h0mbardment from the New York or