The new Prime Minister of Spain is Señor Sagasta. After several days ofuncertainty the Queen decided to appoint him.
No sooner was her decision known than a report was circulated thatWeyler had sent in his resignation; it was also rumored that Sagasta hadstated that one of his first official acts would be to remove Weylerfrom Cuba.
The truth of the matter is that Weyler does not intend to leave theisland if he can help it.
Just before the ministry resigned, when it was known that they could notremain in power many days longer, he hurried off a long report of thework he had done in Cuba; this he hoped would help him with the newMinister, and enable him to keep his place.
In this report he said that Western Cuba was pacified, and that he hadeffected a great improvement in the condition of Cuba since his arrivalthere. He stated that he had given Cuba a fresh lease of life, thattrains were running regularly throughout the island, the telegraph wasin working order, and the troops, in spite of the fact that their paywas six months in arrears, were in excellent health and spirits. Everyone of these statements is declared, by those who are in a position toknow the real state of affairs in Cuba, to be absolutely false.
Having this letter safely in the hands of the Government, the Generalwaited for developments; then as soon as the ministry under GeneralAzcarraga had gone out of office and that of Señor Sagasta had come in,he cabled to the new Prime Minister, saying that he had no intention ofresigning his office, but instead, begged to offer his services to thenew ministry.
A great excitement is being worked up over him in Cuba, which hisenemies declare is being done by his orders. Soldiers are parading thestreets, crying, "Long live Weyler!" Merchants are hurrying to thepalace, begging him not to resign, and a rumor having been circulatedthat it is the United States that has been asking that he be sent awayfrom Cuba, the soldiers are adding cries of "Death to the UnitedStates!"
The Cuban and American residents of Havana are terror-stricken. Much asthey desired to be free of the tyrant, they now dread his downfall lestit shall cause more trouble for them.
It is said that Señor Sagasta will try to bring the war to a close byoffering liberal terms of Home Rule to Cuba.
In fact, the new cabinet has already held a council in which it wasagreed to establish reforms in the island with as little delay aspossible.
The Colonial Minister has been instructed to prepare a draft of thescheme for Home Rule, and to have it ready to present to the cabinetofficers at their next meeting.
The Cubans, however, declare that they do not want Home Rule. They havebeen fighting for freedom, and nothing less will satisfy them. They arewilling to buy their freedom from Spain, but they declare that they willnever lay down their arms until Cuba is free.
A despatch from the Philippine Islands brings the news that Spain isfaring badly in that direction also.
In a recent battle four hundred Spanish soldiers were killed. It seemsthat the rebels in the Philippines fight in the American Indian fashion;that is to say, they get under cover, behind bushes