Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1897-12-10
Situation In Cuba Grave.

situation In Cuba Grave.
The revolution which began in 1868
lasted for ten years despite the strenu-
GUS efforts Of the successive peninsular
governments TO suppress it. Then, as
now, the government of the United States
testified it's grave concern and offered Its
aid to put an end to bloodshed in Cuba.
The overtures made by Gen. Grant were
refused and the war dragged on. entailing
great loss Of life and treasure and In
creased injury 10 American interests. be-
sides throwing enhanced burdens OF ntu-
trality on the government. In 1878 peace
was brought about by the truce Of Fan
Jon, obtained by negotiations between
the Spanish commander, Martinez de
Campos, and the tnsurgent leaders.
The present instruction broke out IN
February, 1898. It is not my purpose at
this time to recall it's remarkatie in
crease or to characterize its tenacious re-
sistance, against the enormous forces
Ibasssd az zi Inst \, Y BY Spain. The revolt
and the efforts to subdue it carried dcs-
truction to every quarter of the island.
developing wide proportions ana denying
the efforts of Spain for its suppression:
The civilized code Of war has been dis
regarded, no less so by the spanlards
than by the Cubans
this government and the American peo-
nle with the gravest apprehension. There
is no desire on the part of our people
to profit by the misfortunes of Spain. We
have only the desire to Sc the Cubans
PROSPEROUS and contented, enjoying that
measure of self-control which Is the
| ina]ienable right of man, protected in
their right to reap the benefit Of the ex-
haustless treasures Of their country.
The offer made by my predecessor In
Anril. 1896, rendering the friendly offices
! Of this government failed. Any medtat'on
on our part was not accepted. In brief,
tho answer read: "rhere is no effectual
| way to pacify Cuba unless it begins with
the actual submission of the rebels to
| the mother country" Then only could
Spain act in the promised direction of her
| own motion and after her own plan.
| Calls spain's Policy Cruel.
| The cruel policy of concentration was
| initiated February 1G, 1886. The produc-
| tive districts controlled by the Spanish
| armies were depopulated. The agricul-
| tural inhabitants were herded In and
| about the garrison towns, their lands laid
waste and their dwellings destroyed. This
| policy of the late cabinet of Spain was
| justified as necessary measure OF war
| and as a means OF cutting off supplies
|
| as a war measure. 1t was not civilized
| warfare, 1t was determination.
| Against this abuse Of the rights OF war
| have felt constrained on repeated OccaS-
| ions to enter the firm and earnest protest
| ri this government. There was much Of
| nul,lic condemnation Of the treatment Of
| American citizens by alleged illegal ar
! rests and long imprisonment awaiting
| trial or pending protracted judicial pro-
| ceedings.
| I felt it my first duty to make instant
demand for the release or speedy trial of
| all American citizens under arrest. Before
the change of the Spanish cabinet in Oc-
| tober last, twenty-five prisoners. citizens
| of the United States, had been given their
| freedom.
For the relief Of our own citizens suf-
fering because Of the conflict the aid of
congress was sought in special mes
sage. and under the appropriation OF
! April 4, 1897, effective aid has been given
TO American citizens in Cuba. many OF
| them at their own request having been
| returned to the United States.
| The instructions given to our new min
| lister to Spain before his departure for his
post directed him to impress upon that
| government the sincere wish Of the
| United States to lend its aid toward the
ending Of the war in Cuba by reaching a
peaceful and lasting result, and honor
| able alike to Spain and to the Cuban peo-
| pie.
These instructions recited the character
! and duration of the contest, the wide
| spread losses it entails. the burdens and
| restraints 1t imposes upon us, with con-
| slant disturbance of national interests
and the injury resulting from an indefln-
| lite continuance Of this state Of things.
| Time RIna for a Chan1e
| 1t was stated at this juncture our gov
| eminent was constrained to seriously in
| quire II the time was not ripe when Spain,
of her own volition. moved by her own in
| terests and every sentiment of humanity,
| should not put stop to this destructive
| war ard make proposals of settlement
honorable to herself and just to her Gu
| ban colony. 1t was urged that as a
| neighboring nation, with large interests
in Cuba, we could be required to wait
| only q reasonable time for the mother
country to establish its authority and re-
! store order within the borders Of the
island; that we could not contemplate an
indefinite period for the accomplishment
| OF this result.
| No solution was proposed to which the
I, slightest idea Of humiliation to Spain
| could attach and indeed precise proposals
| were withheld Il avoid embarrassment 70
that government. All that was asked or
expected was that some safe way misht
be speedily provided and permanent peace
restored 1t 80 CHANGED that the conslo-