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The Spanish War Policy: Masso

Before us is a letter, dated Manzanillo, March 12, 1895, from Herminio C. Leyva to Bartolome Masso, showing no less clearly than the manifesto of the Liberal Autonomists the absolute assurance of speedy success, with which the Spaniards disregarded the lessons of the ten years' skirmishes without decisive results, and accepted the challenge of the Cuban separatists to another trial of arms. Now the separatists stood on the ground which we have shown from Spanish reports to be firm and well taken--that the alleged reforms, whatever they might have seemed as concessions and readjustments to the Spaniards them selves, gave the reformation into the hands of the official class, the primal curse of Cuba because foreign--and to the captain-general, shorn of no shred of his arbitrary power, but as always an absolute military despot. Leyva wrote to Masso:

Before leaving Manzanillo, I want to make the last effort to prevent bloodshed amongst brothers. You are still in time to avoid it, and if you do not do so, every drop of blood that is shed will serve to stain your name in history. True patriotism, Mr. Masso, is like bravery, grand, sublime; but just because both are really great, they should not be mistaken for rashness, as this would belittle them and even drag them about the ground.

You are a man of intelligence and heart; I am sure of it, even without having had the pleasure of your frequent society, and now appeal to those two qualities of yours, asking you to meditate and use them at least in favor of that large number of inexperienced Cubans driven by you to insurrection with a patriotic idea (this is evident to me) but under an impression that is entirely mistaken; for the mothers of said men will in the future, curse your name when the present situation has been made clear to all, if you insist in leading them to a useless sacrifice, as the campaign undertaken by you, besides being quite unjustified, must now prove fruitless and even injurious to the happiness of our country.

You may see, and I tell you so again, after our interview at "La Odiosa," that other provinces are not helping you; on the contrary, they will oppose yours, for the country has already understood that Cuba's welfare is not to be secured by war, and as war would be a sort of political suicide, and there is no civilized country that will commit suicide knowingly. Moreover, think and consider that Spain has ample means to quell the revolt in a short time; troops are coming from Puerto Rico, eight battalions have left the peninsula, and as many more as may be wanted will come. The insurgents have no war material, and you need not expect any from abroad, I assure you. Then one half the number of men you have on the field are without arms, and will return to the towns as soon as the government troops begin operations against you.