The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-06-16
IMPORTANT STATE PAPER.
The Presidents Cuban Message.


TO the Senate and House of Pepresent-
In my annual message to Congress
at the beginning of its present ses-
sion, / referred to the contest which
had for more than year existed in
Cuba. between a portion of its inhab-
itants and the Government of Spain,
and to the feelings of sympathy of
the people and Government of the
United States for the people of Cuba.
as for all peoples struggling for lib
erty aud self-government, and said
that the contest has at no time as
sumed the condition which amounted
to war in the sense of international
law, or which would show the ex-
istence of de facto political organ
ization of the Insurgents sufficient to
justify recognition of belligerency.
During the six months which have
passed since the date of the message,
the condition Of the insurgents has
not improved, and the instruction
itself, although not subdued, exhibits
no sign of advance. but seems to be
confined to an irregular system of
nostilities carried on by small bands
of armed men, without concentration,
through the woods and sparsely pop
ulated regions of the island, attacking
from ambush conveyances and small
bands of troops, burning the pianta-
tions and estates of those not in SYM
pathy with their cause. But the in
surrection has not gained ground.
It is 10 equally true Spain has not
suppressed it. Climate, disease and
occasional bullets have worked de-
struction among the soldiers of Spain,
and although the Spanish Govern
ment has possession of every seaport
town on the island they have not been
able to subdue the hostile feeling
which has driven a considerable num-
Der of the natives to armed resistance
against Spain, and still leads them to
endure the dangers and privations of
roaming life of the guerrilla. On
either side the contest has been
conducted and is now carried on with
lamentable disregard of human life,
and of the usages and practices which
modern civilization has prescribed as
the necessary process of war. The
war of the Spaniard and Cuban is
alike bringing devastation over fertile
regions, and murderous and revenge
full DEGREES are issued and executed
by both parties. Count Valmaseda
and Colonel Bolton, on the part of
Spain, have each startled humanity
and aroused the indignation of the
civilized world by the execution each
of a score of prisoners at a time,
while General Quesada, the Cuban
chief, coolly. and with apparent uncon-
Germ, has admitted the slaughter by
his own deliberate order. In one day,
of upwards Of six hundred and fifty
prisoners of war. A summary trial,
with few, if any, escapes from convic-
ton, confirmed by execution, is the
fate of those arrested on either side
on suspicion of infdelity to the cause
of the party making the arrest.
Whatever may be the sympathies
OF the people or of the Government
of the United States, the cause
or the objects for which part of the
people of Cuba are understood to
have put themselves in armed reist-
ance to Spain, there can be no ques-
ton, of just sympathy in conflict car
ried on by both parties alike in such
barbarious violation to the rules of
civilized nations, and with such com.
bined, outTages upon the plainest
principles of humanity. We can not
discriminate in our censure of their
mode of conducting their contest be-
tween Spain and Cuba. Each com
mits the same atrocities, and outrage
alike the established rules of war.
The property of many of our citizens
has been destroyed or embezzled. |
The lives of several have been sacri-
feed. and the liberties OF others have
been restrained. In every case that
has come to the knowledge of the Gov |
eminent, an early and earnest demand |
for reparation and indemnity has
been made, and the most emphatic |
remonstrance has been PRESENTED |
against the manner in which the |
strife is conducted, and against
the reckless disregard of human
life, the wanton destruction of |
material wealth, and cruel disregard
of the established rules OF civilized
warfare. l have, since the beginning
of the present session of Congress.
communicated to the House upon
their request, an account of the steps
which | have taken in the hope of
bringing the conflict to an end, and
for securing to the people of Cuba the