Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-18

the chance for autonomy came too
late. 1t falls as talk Of compromise
would have fallen theslast year or two
of our war. Ii it succeeds, 1t can only
be by armed force, by the triumph OF
the Spanish army, and the success Of
Spanish arms would be easier by
Weyler's policy and method, for in
that the Spanish army and people be-
lieve. There is no doubt that Cen
eral Blanco is acting in entire good
faith: that he desires to give the Gu
bans a fair measure Of autonomy, as
Campos did at the close Of the ten
year war He has, of course, few
personal followers, but the army and
Spanish citizens do not want genuine
autonomy, for that means government
by the Cuban people.
AND IT IS NOT STRANGE
that the Cubans say it come too late.
I have never had any communication
direct or indirect, with the Cuban jun
I ia in this country or any of its men,
bers, nor did / have with any of the
junta which exists in every city and
large town of Cuba. None OF the calls
I made were upon parties of whose
oy III PdtLlCS Hdu tlC ACdGL hllON
except that | knew some Of them were
classed as autononists. | inquired in
regard to autonomy of men OF wealth
and men as prominen tin business as
any in the cities of Havana, Matanzas
and Sagua, bankers, merchants, law
yers and autonomist officials. some of
them Spanish born, but Cuban bred,
one prominent Englishman. several Of
those known as autonomists, and sew
eral of them telling me they were still
believers in autonomy if practicable
but without exception they replied that
it was too late for that. Some ia
vored a United States protectorate,
some free Cuba, not one has been
counted as favOring the instruction
at first They were business men and
wanted peace, but said it was too late
for peace under Spanish sovereignty.
They characterized Weyler's order in
far stronger terms than | can. ! could
not but conclude that you do not have
to scratch an autoncmist very deep
to find a Cuban. There is soon to be
an election, but every polling place
must be inside fortified town. Such
elections ought to BE safe for the
'ins."
! have endeavored TO state in not in
temperate mood what l saw and heard,
and to make no argument thereon, but
leave everyone TO draw his own conclus-
ions. To me the strongest appeal is not
the barbarity
PRACTICED BY WEYLER.
nor the loss of the Maine, if our fears
should prove true, terrible as are both
these incidents, but the spectacle Of a
millior and half of people, the entire ma
tive population of Cuba, struggling for
freedom and deliverance from the worst
mis-government of which l ever had
knowledge.
But it is not my purpose at this time
nor do consider it my province to sug-
gest any plan. I merely speak OF the
symptoms as | saw them but DO not I'M
dertake to prescribe. Such remedial
steps as may be required may safely lie
left TO an American President and the
American people.
Throughout the delivery Of the address
there was not an interruption. With the
closest attention every person within
hearing listened to the statement. AT It's
conclusion there was no demonstration
either on the floor or in the galleries, al
though Senator's here and there about the
chamber turned one 10 another with such
unusual remarks on the Senate foor as:
IA remarkable statement "A simple,
straightforward statement Of horrible
condition of affairs, "A most effective
and convincing statement"
Mr. Proctor left the Senate chamber
soon after lie had finished the address.
but not before he had been heartily CON
graduated by many of his colleagues.