Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 August 1897 — WEYLER GIVES IT UP. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WEYLER GIVES IT UP.

Merciless Spanish Commander -in • Chief Resigns His Office. The Havana correspondent of the New York Herald says he has learned on what seems to be the best authority that Captain General Weyler has sent his resignation to Madrid. This report is generally believed to be true. There is no doubt that the resignation of Gen. Weyler is due to the assassination of Senor Canovas del Castillo, the premier of Spain, through whose personal wishes Captain General Weyler was retained in Cuba. The report of Gen. Weyler’s resignation is a cause for satisfaction among Cuban sympathizers and reconcentrados, who, in the advent of another chief of the loyal

Spanish troops in Cuba, see only relief from the “policy of conciliation” which has resulted in such suffering to the pacificos of Cuba. Recent Spanish reverses in Cuba and complications that have arisen in the home government since the assassination of Senor Canovas del Castillo have undoubtedly brought about the resignation of Captain General Weyler, commander-in-chief of Cuba, who was appointed to that position Jan. 19, 1896, two days after the Spanish cabinet had recalled Captain General Campos. Senor Don Valeriano y Weyler Nicolau is, and for a long time has been, one of the most conspicuous figures in Spanish military history. His life has been one of gieat military triumphs until he attempted the pacification of Cuba eighteen months ago, since when failure has been his fate. Step by step Weyler has climbed the ladder of rank, beginning as a boyish captain, reaching the position of commander-in-chief, and wearing a coat that bears upon it every cross and every badge of military honor known in Spain, save those reserved for royalty. With all this, which has been brought about by a career that has met the approval of those above him in rank, he has, by reason of his methods, and through a merciless determination that has brought most sanguinary results, been called “the butcher.” His methods have been Spanish, and are consistent with Spanish history. With an iron hand and with promised mercilessness, Gen. Weyler started to crush the Cuban rebellion. He built troehas, he made attacks, he burned and otherwise destroyed provisions, he tried to starve and in cases succeeded. He planned campaigns while in Havana and took the field in person. Through most of the months in which the fighting has continued there have been victories in the dispatches and there have been defeats in the field. Death has been on all sides—in the open ground of battle, hidden ambush, the burning building, the fever-infested swamp, the disease-breeding camp and the hospitals—yet the rebellion remains a living, active, aggressive force, and after a year and a half of fighting Captain General Weyler now resigns, leaving his unaccomplished task for another to take up.

CAPTAIN GENERAL WEYLER.