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Characteristics of the Present Cuban War: Marin

This talk of General Marin is valuable as the clearest and most consecutive statement that has been made of the claim of the Spaniards that they rule reasonably and are fighting in the cause of good government. The refusal to have this appear in Havana only increases its interest for the general public. When I was shown into Captain-General Marin's private room in the celebrated palace, he came forward--a grave man with iron-gray hair and strong, kind face, and the interpreter gave him a flattering account of myself and friends, naming public men, saying I could be trusted with historical matters, adding that talking to me would be having speech, through the newspaper I represented, with the people of the United States, and that when I was in Washington city, a few days before, there was a general complaint that the actual state of affairs in Cuba was but indifferently known. The general had just come in from the front, and his first word was one of inquiry of what in particular I wished to be informed, and was told that the people of the United States were deeply interested to know what the situation in Cuba was; to hear upon responsible authority the cause of the rebellion and the extent of it. They felt that a crisis in the affairs of the Island was at hand; they were interested to know his judgment as to the measure of success of his own campaign; and, looking to the new administration as a transition, were concerned to have expressions as to the state of the country from the officer in command between Campos and Weyler.

General Marin said he was pleased to have the opportunity of talking to me, knowing that I was the representative of that part of the press which was serious in matters of state in the States, and not of the press of a frivolous nature. And he recognized the United States as a great mass of serious people. Although he was very busy, he was willing to rob himself of some of his time to talk with one who would speak to the States. He said: As for the character of the war, it was not like any other contest. There was offered in it a chance for the mob to join a loose, undisciplined army of irresponsible disorderlies, and it was anarchy in a state of semi-organization converting the country people through terrorism into destroyers of property and into spies. It was so far anarchism as to promote all devastation and fill the land with every from of violence and outrage.

The country people at large did not fear the Spanish troops because they were disciplined and observers of the laws and of civilization, were orderly, responsible and humane. Consequently, the people were not frightened into giving information to the Spanish army, but they were compelled, through fear, to serve the insurgents as informers on the least provocation, or without any. The country people were accused by the rebels of loyalty to the government, and were abused, if not killed, and their property destroyed. When the insurgent forces arrived at a town, which they never held, they recruited all the idle and evil men, and the captain-general added that he was glad the good citizens did not join them. So much so, that he mentioned that the ex-rebel chief, Marcos Garcia, mayor since the last war of Sancti Spiritu, has not agreed with the insurgents who destroyed towns and scared the people by threatening that if they allowed the garrisons to be in their midst, they were to be punished with fire and sword. Therefore, as the country was so large and the towns so distant from each other, it was a hard matter to garrison the places that needed protection, and at the same time put in the field large armies.

The rebels had no responsibility for any such thing as civilization. They were the destroyers, while the Spaniards were the preservers. It did not occur to a Spanish army, even when fighting in a foreign country, to destroy towns. The Spanish troops were always willing to fight and were always brave and had all the recources of an established government and were always in their place. They attacked the rebels wherever found and always beat them, though the insurgents often had the greater numbers. The rebels had the peculiarity of considering their retreats victories. They had no idea of war as an orderly business. Now, war was an art and the insurgents had no idea of it. They had no knowledge of the honor of arms. Maximo Gomez tries to show the world that he is conducting a civilized campaign and does make a pretense as to something of that sort after his own fashion; but that is of little effect on the bulk of his followers, as such ideas as he professes of not get into their heads.

Here the captain-general repeated that the rebellion was a semi-bar-barously organized anarchy, and that he was a man who respected ideas. In the last war or rebellion, when the best of the people were mixed in it, there had been an idea behind the attempted revolution, as Cuba had not then all the liberties Spain enjoyed. But for this war there was really no cause, and in his opinion Cuba was as free as any other country.

She enjoyed a free press, representation in the Cortes, franchise, laws and an equal footing with the mother-country.

Maximo Gomez, not being a Cuban, but a foreigner--a soldier of fortune--and Maceo, a mulatto with ambition and a purpose, were natural leaders of anarchism, with nothing to lose.

The captain-general was asked if he could indicate what the policy of his successor, General Weyler, would be, and he replied the policy of the general would undoubtedly be one of great activity and energy; that he would find much to do. He had himself initiated a policy of pressing hard upon the rebels with good effects.

General Marin was informed of the anxiety in the United States about the probable duration of the war, and was asked if he could give any impression as to the time in which it might possibly be brought to a finish. It was stated to him also that his reply to this question would be regarded in the United States as important.

The General said a definite date for the close of the war could not be fixed, though there was no doubt in the world of the ultimate success of Spain in re-establishing her authority all over the Island. "The trouble as to time was that after the last semblance of war had disapeared still the country would be disturbed by bandits, and it would possibly be found that getting rid of them would be tedious."

It still seems curious that this moderate and clear exposition of the cause of Spain, eagerly sought for publication by La Discussion, a leading Havana journal, should have been suppressed in Cuba. One captain-general, however, differs from another in policy as in glory, and two days after the interview with Marin we listened to the thunders from the forts of the salutes that greeted General Weyler; and Gomez was then so near Havana that it was said he could count the guns and interpret their dull boom quite as well as the Spaniards themselves.