SPAIN AND HER COLONIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5667, 11 September 1896, Page 6 (Supplement)

SPAIN AND HER COLONIES.

In her two chief colonial possessions—Cuba and the Philippine IslandsSpain is confronted with discontent and revolution. Martial la«v has just been proclaimed in the Philippines, while in Cuba the war. with the jebels is proceeding in the usual desultory .and inconclusive fashion. Senbr Canovas, the^Premieri lias-just asked the. Cortes for: an unlimited-war credit: in order, to prosecute the war against the Cubans. This makes it appear that Spain is prepared to bleed herself to death in the effort to retain the island. The obstinacy of Spain in refusing administrative reforms is almost equal to that of Turkey. From contributions made to the Correspondencia of Madrid by the past and present military commanders of the Spanish forces in Cuba, it is clear that the insurrection would at once collapse if the reasonable rights of the people were recognised. General Weyler, though usually regarded as a mere soldier, with a hand of iron, does not hesitate to say that reforms ought to have been introduced in Cuba years ago. " If," he declares, " a Liberal Government had been appointed for the island, as much as possible independent of the Government in Spain, the war might have been averted." "In my opinion," he adds, " the present time is badly chosen to begin with reforms, but, if the Cortes votes for them, I shall do my best to introduce them." Marshal Martinez Campos, who was lately superseded, is even more outspoken. "I should not be surprised," he ■says, "if General Weyler were forced by circumstances to retire from Cuba before long. The responsibility of the work is very great. When I first went to Cuba I thought that by riding with a small escort from village to village I could quell the rebellion, but I was mistaken. The present situation cannot be maintained. It would cost the country a hundred million dollars a year to keep the army at present in the island, and, as the crops are constantly destroyed, there is no return." These two important declarations cover the main considerations bearing on the history of the struggle— the causes of the war in Spanish maladministration, and the fact that the Spanish forces, in spite of the bulletins which represent them as an ever-victorious army, have made no real progress in the suppression of the rebellion. General Weyler was lately reported to have issued an order forbidding the gathering of the .crops in the island, so that to butchery he is evidently prepared to add starvation. As, however, the great majority of the population sympathises with the insurgents, the order will probably prove ineffectual.