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The Orders and Administration of Weyler: Havana

February 25th there was a requisition for ten percent. of the number of horses used for running cabs, stages and tram-cars. This, which had special application to Havana, to be executed immediately by a committee of military officers.

March 3d was issued a circular about the election of members of the new Cortes, whose functions commence 11th of May next, and it was decreed that: In order that the next elections be made with complete liberty of action, and with total absence of anything contrary to the extant principles of legality, you should bear in mind the following instructions, which I deem necessary to carry out what her majesty's government has directed. One of said instructions--perhaps the most important of all--is that you resolutely prevent any interference with the free will of the electors, and you will be entitled to the gratitude of the government if you use your prudence and diligence to realize that purpose, preventing any possible violence or coercion being committed against the voters.

The captain-general earnestly recommended all officers to "stimulate the electors to make use of this right," but "be sure that the authorities depending on the administration will absolutely abstain from exerting any action that may affect the independence of the voting." The election decree concludes:

I trust that your prudence, tact and energy will cause the precepts of law to be respected by facilitating the freest use of suffrage, and not leaving unpunished any transgression that may be committed in reference to the elections.

However, there was no danger there would be a rush to vote the "ensuing May" anywhere within the jurisdiction of the government against the government! March 4th a long decree was issued stringently regulating the sale of petroleum, because the insurgents used it for incendiary purposes. March 8th it was officially made known by decree of the captain-general: That, after being pressed and defeated by our troops, the largest rebel bands that were in the provinces of Pinar del Rio and Havana are at present demoralized and moving east, for which reason now is the time to undertake an energetic pursuit against the small parties of bandits, rather than of insurgents, remaining in said provinces.