General Weyler's efforts to remain in Cuba have not met with success.
In the face of the letters and petitions from his admirers in Cuba, andthe demonstrations made by the soldiers in his favor, Señor Sagasta, theSpanish Prime Minister, has decided to recall him, and send out GeneralRamon Blanco in his stead.
The news was received with delightful surprise by the many people whodisapprove of Weyler's cruel conduct of the Cuban war. It had beenfeared that the efforts of his friends would have had weight with thenew minister, and prevented Weyler's removal for the present.
Señor Sagasta seems to be a man of his word. He stated that if he werecalled to take charge of the affairs of Spain his first act should be torecall Weyler, and he has not swerved from his determination.
As we told you last week, General Weyler sent a despatch to SeñorSagasta announcing that he would not resign his office, and offering hisservices to the new Government.
The day after the despatch was received, a cabinet meeting was held, atwhich it was decided that General Weyler must be recalled.
The matter was therefore arranged with the utmost politeness on bothsides.
General Weyler in his message stated that it was impossible for him tooffer his resignation to the ministry, because he was not merely actingas the Governor of Cuba, but as Commander-in-Chief of an army engaged inwar, and in the last capacity he could never allow it to be said of himthat he had offered to resign while in the face of an enemy.
He added that he knew that he had the approval of the people of Spainand of some of the parties in power, but that he would also like to feelthat he had the confidence of the ministers. This confidence, hedeclared, would enable him to finish the war, which he stated to bealmost at an end.
This very artful letter had no effect on either Sagasta or theGovernment. The sentence about the approval of the people of Spain andof some of the parties in power was undoubtedly meant as a hint to thePrime Minister that the General had powerful friends, and that it wouldnot be a wise thing to interfere with him.
Sagasta, however, replied to him, that while the ministry recognized andvalued the work he had done for Spain, a change was considereddesirable, and so he had decided to recall him.
When the news of Sagasta's action reached the people, there was muchexcitement both in Spain and Cuba.
In Spain it was reported that General Weyler meant to defy theGovernment, and keep his post in spite of Sagasta's orders, and that hehad threatened that he would use his influence with the soldiers, andcarry them with him over to the Carlists, if Sagasta did not instantlywithdraw the recall.
The Cubans, on their part, were panic-stricken. They have such a dreadof Weyler that they expected he would revenge himself on them for hisdisgrace.
In Havana some of the Cubans hired armed men to protect them fromattack, and others crowded the steamship offices in an endeavor toescape from the country before the catastrophe came.
The fears of the people were, however, set at rest by a statement fromthe Captain-General that he would never be guilty of any act which cou