The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-09
THE AMERICAN
SPANISH WAR.
,Co.ti.u.d from arss page,

Spain intended to be cold-blooded and in-
human when she sent him. The people
of Cuba knew this also, and thousands Of
men who were not inclined to join one
side or the other while Gen. Campos re-
manned, nre now bearing arms with our
flag. TIL, majority Of Spaniards are not
fiends ana butchers by any means, and
when human devil is sent to lead them
in the work of murder and outrage, they
naturally refuse to follow him. AL
though massacres have occurred and al
though homes have been ruined and wo-
manhood outraged by order of Weyler, the
lovers of liberty may thank God that he
was sent to command Spain's army in
Cuba"
THE RECOMMENDATION POLICY.
Weyler, quite in keeping with his repu-
tatiOn. on Feb. IL, 1896, within one week
after his arrival in the Island issued
proclapatiOn ordering the death penalty
to be inflicted on all persons convicted
of IA specified offenses. Among these
were the furnishing of arms. horses, provi-
sions or other assistance to the insurgents;
the disclosure of telegraphic messages to
any but designated officials; the circula-
ton of reports. false or true. of any rebel
successes; and the publication or even
speaking of anything beiittling Spain, or
the Spanish army.
The pith of his cruelty, however, lay in
his order for RECOMMENDATION. He ordered
all the country stores in the Provinces
of Santiago and Puerto Principe to be va
Gated, and that no person was to go
abroad without passport signed by the
Spanish military authorities. Then on
Oct. II, 1896. came the infamous order
which came near making of fair Cuba a
bone-yard and a bowling wilderness. By
this 'Bando," all the rural inhabitants
IIa1 % l. .E~.y
towns, where little or no provision was
made foc their sustenance. The result of
this hendish order has caused to be writ
ten the blacklist page in the history of
lnquisitorial Spain. The suffering which
this order caused can never be adequately
described. and in the mildest descriptions
the humane reader would grow sick at
heart, and doubt if the pages of time had
not been turned back to the cannibal age.
The result of this order was a complete
paralyzation of all rural industries in the
island. and it is estimated that 100000 Of
the wretched pacifcos starved to death or
died of diseases incidental to starvation.
Lest the people would slip away and get
to their homes. Weyler ordered every one
of them burned, and it was done. Weyler
tried to keep the newspaper men and wo-
men out of Cuba. He said they wrote
what their pa sions dictated instead of the
truth. Citizens on the slightest pretext
were thrown into loathsome prisons and
left to starve. Cattle and horses were
confscated for the use of the Spanish sol
diers. Blacker and blacker grew condi-
tions in Cuba, and more iendish if possible
became the rule of Weyler the Butcher
He did not know how to wage civilized
warfare, and chose the methods of feudaI
times.
THE SPANISH MINISTER.
In the United States, right here at the
Capital Of the Nation, Spain kept as her
ambassador Senior Depuy De LONE,
whose head seemed to be the propagating
ground for any and all things that were
malevolent and disgraceful toward Ameri-
cans. He reviled our women, he ridiculed
our customs and habits, he called US
pigs" dogs" Glow born"-there was
scarcely defiling adjective in the diction-
airy which he did not apply to US. At the
his floral Latin style, and there were plen-
ty of Americans who accepted him for his
surface valuation. De LONE was all the
time lying to Spain and doubly lying to us.
Weyler the Butcher made fine Lieu
tenant for this beastly diplomat, but
all his cruelty in Cuba could not
save him in the eyes of Spain, for he
did not "pacify" the Island, and the pow
ers We're beginning to talk out loud. The
United States was getting hot under the
collar. so to speak, and had declared that
but little more could be endured And
that if Spain did not let up on her Cuban
policy and put an end TO the atrocities
being committed there in the name of
''pacifcation." the United States would
be compelled to take Spain by the scruff
of the neck and pitch her off of the West
ern continent.
Spain needed the injunction and recalled
the Butcher in October, 1897. In his
place came Raymond Blanco.
Go be continued.)