It is stated that the Cuban people in the field and in the cities do not believe in the offered Home Rule, and are determined not to accept it.
A proclamation to that effect has come from Cuba. It is signed by Calixto Garcia, Maximo Gomez, and Domingo Mendez Capote,--which, by the way, looks as if the report was true that Garcia had been elected commander-in-chief of the army, Gomez, minister of war, and Capote, president of Cuba; else why should they sign the proclamation, which is an official document?
General Gomez has also issued another statement in which he says that the change in the Spanish Government will not affect the Cuban plans in the least. The Cubans, he says, are fighting for liberty, and liberty they will have. They scornfully refuse the Spanish offers of Home Rule, believing them to be insincere and misleading.
Gomez further declares that the army has been making great preparations for the coming winter campaign, and expects to show the mother-country, by force of arms, that Cuba will have nothing from her but freedom.
General Weyler has left Cuba, and General Ramon Blanco has taken command in his place.
The demonstrations so much feared by the Americans and Cubans in Havana occurred in spite of all the efforts to prevent them, but, happily such excellent precautions were taken that no rioting ensued.
There were a few cries of "Death to the Americans," but a strong guard had been placed over our consulate, and so no attack was made on it.
A report was circulated that the American cruiser _Montgomery_ was outside the harbor, and so the Americans were not interfered with. They wisely kept within doors during the whole day, and everything passed off peaceably.
The city itself went wild over its beloved General. The stores were closed, the streets decorated, rockets were fired, and immense crowds gathered round the palace to bid Weyler farewell. The General went from the palace to the wharf on foot, the crowds pressing round him, shaking his hand, and even kissing him, cheering him to the echo as he embarked.
The Government in Spain sincerely wished to prevent the demonstration. The ministry desired to give the impression that Weyler had been recalled from Cuba because his rule had not been satisfactory to Spain. The Prime Minister therefore feared that if the Spaniards in Cuba gathered round Weyler and praised his rule--which had been so bloodthirsty and savage,--the Cubans would be still more enraged against Spain, and less inclined to believe that she really meant to give them the promised reforms.