Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-21

the rrfsoners of ware simbay because they
are taken with arms,fn th S hands. is not
ehrsan world !. Of dee ths
interested In the proper solution of this
question. Our relations With Cuba are so
nary and so intimate that we cannot re-
any but intense intergst- Our earnest wish
neutral nation towafH spSfn in this emer-
sency. Feeling that we hAye done SO. that
we have enforced our, laws and maintained
our neutrality, we thihk We have a right on
our part to insist that Spain shall carry on
this war hereafter in a manner more in ac-
cordance with the humane and Christian
sentiment of the age
Gen. Sickles personally presented the
protest to the prime minister of Spain. On
the 25th of September he oabled this salts
factory reply:
Severe and positive orders given to stop
the scandalous executions of captives, and
like cruelties. General de Rodas promises
to do so at all hazards" .
Feeling in Havana.
The plague Of war, famine and disease
which RACES in Cuba continues to concern
the American people. In giving the results
Of personal observations and investigation
there. have sought to do it without OBJ
truding opinions. The fearful suffering
which exists on the island, the economic
and financial aspects Of the war;. and the
darkness of repression in which public
opinion gropes, have been stated for the
benefit of those who wanted informat ton,
and not in order to advocate cause or
justify a policy. Indications now are not
wanting that the situation is recognized
and is to be grappled with. Whether 1t be
through the medium of instructions to Min
lister Woodford, or the swifter means of
congressional action under executive sane
ton. the conditions demand careful con-
Sideratton.
Commerce. fs daad without bona- ~ 70
vival: women and children are dying by the
hundreds daily through the military policy
which Spain enforces against non-com-
batants; the contest has degenerated into
the strife foreshadowed by Mr. Cleveland
as a legitimate ground for interference by
this country; the pacification of the prov
1nces is a mockery and the war goes on
without the prospect of either side bringing
1t to end by the victory of arms. This is
the condition which is to be reckoned by
the United States in dealing with Spain and
Cuba. And everybody in Cuba is looking
for action by the United States as the only
solution
One afternoon in Havana the consular
representative of one of the great powers
OF Europe was talking of the natural
wealth of the island. the possibilities of its
development. the value of it's commerce and
the future Of its trade. He had lost faith
In the Spaniards and he had not much con-
fidence In the Cubans, but he thought there
might come a time when the corruption
and bad administration of the past would
be forgotten in an era of good government
This trade Is not for u.s." he remarked
1T does not belong to Europe and we will
never have more than fraction of it, The
natural wealth of this island" he contin-
ued. as his eyes followed the course of
vessel heading across the gulf for Florida,
rs yours. Its commerce is yours and the
responsibility for the continue ton of this
state OF anarchy is yours. Do your states
men hope to reap the benefits of God and
geography with none of the responsibility2 %
did not venture an answer.
WeyIer's Latest Orders.
1 have before me as / write General Wey-
ler's latest orders as published in the OFF,
cial Gazette. Under date of May q he
applies previous concentration orders to
the provinces Of Puerto Principe and San
tiago. Then follows q general decree sup
Elementary to those previously issued and
applicable to the whole island. This latest
order has resulted infurther increasing the
distress among the country people by driv-
ing them into the towns, and is being in
terpreted as intended for that purpose 1t
limits the power of civil and military au-
thorities to create hfw pahlodas, or con-
centration camps. until favorable report
shall have been given by military. head
quarters. yet further increases the diff
culties of sugar plapta ions which have
provided forces for the defense in keeping
workmen and their families on the planta-
lions. and forbids absolutely permission for
the families of the Tprknen to remain on
estates which have not complied with
the series of conditions and which; lack the
proper armed force 1t prohibits the set
Element of families on estates and sugar
plantations which are private" or par
ticular," unless the owner has made pre-
yious cession of the lands they occupy to
the municipal authority, and this cession of
such lands cannot be reclaimed Finally
further order was given that where new
settlements are created they must be along
the railroad lines or the main roads. The
offa If f, 10 To limit cfi mo tha 9r
of the country people to draw sustenance
from the soil.
Presumably the text of this latest
centration order has been forwarded to the
State Department. If anything were lack
ing to justify Intervention on grounds of
HI manity, this might supply 1t. If prece
dent were needed. it would be found in the
action of President Grant, when Valme
seda's "bando" was issued. He protested
In the interest of Christian civilization in
most forcible manner against such
mode of warfare. This was not done by
awaiting the arrival of the United States
minister at his post in Madrid. The pro-
test was made as l am informed, to the
Spanish minister in Washington. 1t was
effective, for Captain General Valmaseda,
bloodhound that he was, never attempted
to carry out the order.
The intimation of Spain's promise to in
Stitute reforms makes of interest the SEN
timent In Havana on this question. 1t
was heard during Mr.. Calhouns stay there.
Spain's naughty refusal more than year
ago to accept the mediation Of the United
States may now be regretted by that coun-
try. 1t may sincerely want the good offices
Of President McKinley's administration in
order to give Cuba home rule. and may
call Weyler and change the conduct of the
war there as an earnest Of its good faith.
Since the American people are concerned
first in seeing the horrors of that war
mitigated. they would welcome the evi-
dence that Spains policy In Cuba has &C
tually undergone change, and the with
drawal of the troops would be passable
evidence But they are also likely to want
not merely part Of Minister DeIomes pa
tient and hitherto successful diplomacy.
Special Commissioner Calhoun not having
found the pacification of whose existence
the Spanish minister gave such ample as
surance, 1t would certainly be great
friIrnnh for Mr. Del orne tn diuart the isSue