Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-06-08
\ CUBAN APPEAL FOR hid.
Starving Cubans Implore Relief from
the United States.

In6lr dOLltS anu I1UNNACN -
Cities Where They Are Com
pelled to Witness Horrors Be-
vond the Power OF Description.
! New York, June IA special to the
Herald from Havana says: A strange
appeal on behalf of the starving and
diving reconcentrados in Matanzas, who
excited pity in the hearts of Gen. Lee
and Mr.. Calhoun, has been made to the
people of the United States. Since the
United States government has begun
measures for the relief of its citizens
in Matanzas, the desperate plight OF the
Cuban reconcentrados there has re-
suited in a petition signed by hun
bred of them, in which they beg that
they may be included in the charity.
The petition is headed with an appeal
to the United States. 1t is now on its
way to Washington. The principal
part follows:
For some time we have been con-
templating the idea of appealing TO
your charitable feelings for the relief
of those of our people who are bitterly
suffering in consequence of most in
human way of waging war. The fear,
however, that our representations
might be received as passionate and
exaggerated has restrained us from
undertaking the task, but since Gen.
Lee. Commissioner Calhoun, his secre-
tary. Mr.. Fishback, and Mr.. Alexander
Brice. the American consul at this place,
have seen with their own eyes the mis-
cry existing here, we do not hesitate
any longer to speak to you.
First and foremost let it be said
that in unhappy Cuba we cannot do
anything to help our suffering country
men. The pacificos that have huddled
in our city would be looked on as trail
tors for so doing, and as such we would
be summarily dealt with. We must
do nothing that can in any way inter-
fere with Gen. Weyler's policy of eX-
termination. We have TO witness day
after day scenes of horror which no
language can describe, and yet no voice
can be lifted to prevail against this.
But what are we TO expect from
Spain when her worthy representative
here. Gen. Weyler, Indifferent, cold and
deaf to our misery, coolly says that his
mission in Cuba is not to look after
the starving population, but simply to
end the war according to his own no.
tons. He has converted into deserts,
sections of country where abundance
once reigned. thousands of happy
towns have been looted and hurled
down by a savage soldiery.
Upwards of 10000 of the victims
of this savage system of warfare have
been crowded into Matanzas, without
providing for their most natural wants;
and after they have been compelled to
abandon all they had in the world they
are to be seen in crowds from in the
dav until late at night imploring char
ity.
Many a child persisted in the streets,
unable to stand so many and such long
continued privations. Indeed, it looks
as if our graveyards had turned out
their dead upon US, such is the cadav-
erous look of the multitudes that fran
tically 90 about begging for a morsel
of bread, and whose only guilt is to have
been born in Cuba,
In any other country this state OF
affairs would have brought on disturb
ances and riots, yet our people, suffer-
ing as they are. have not done any
thing that could in any way disturb
order. Tender. loving mothers OF
America. to you in particular, we ap-
peal I'M our humane undertaking. Send
us the mighty aid of your motherly CO.
operation. enlist in our crusade against
crime and barbarity. and the blessings
Of thousands will go to heaven as
fit HYMN in your praise. Think that
at your very doors there are mothers
who love as dearly as you love and
who day after day see their little ones
nerish on our streets out of sheer hun
ger. and in most cases without piece
OF rag to cover their nakedness.
AS for us, we cannot do our work
openly. We have to beg for feeding
the hungry and clothing the naked.
concealing ourselves and our names, as
if we were doing something wrong. and
we therefore suggest that if any relief
is 10 come it should be entrusted TO the
American consuls for distribution, and
we would also suggest that the sending
of help in the way OF provisions or
clothing has its inconvenience, as it
might give the officials an opportunity
10 interfere and thwart the object in
view. Very respectfully,
ZONE HUNDRED CITIZENS OF
MATANZAS."