Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1897-12-11
NO ACTION FOR CUBA
Present Conditions Do Not Cal! for
Declaration OF BeiIigerent
Rights.

The most important problem which
| this government is now called upon tC
deal with-that pertaining to its foreigf
| reiations-concerns its duty toward Spair
| and the Cuban iGSurrection.
Pl loblens and conditions more or less ir
common with those now existing have
| times in the past The story of Cuba for
! many years has been one of unremittine
! discomfort: an effort toward the larger en-
/ ioyment Of liberty ard Of self-control, OF
4 Organized resistance to the mother cour-
\ try: of depression and warfare, and OF
| Intellectual settlement, to be followed by
since the enfranchisement of the CONT
| mental possessions of Spain in the west
ern continent, has the condition of Cuba
or the oey Of - Spain h [2War9 Cuba
The prospect. from time to time tnat the
weakness of Spain's hold upon the island
and the political vicissitudes and embar-
rassments of the home government. might
lead to the transfer of Cuba to conti-
mental power, called forth. between 1S23
and 1860 various emphatic declarations OF
no disturbance Of Cuba's connection with
Spain unless in the direction of iGdepen-
dence or acquisition by the United States
any change Of this declared policy s-nce
unor the part of the government.
The revolution which began in 1868 last
forts Of the successive peninsuiar govern
ments to suppress IT, Then, as now. the
government Of the United States testified
its grave concern and offered its aid to
put an end to the bioodshed in Cuba. The
overtures made by General Grant We're
refused and the war dragged on, entailins
creased injury to American interests, be
sides throwing enhanced burdens Of neu-
tral.ty upon this gove11,nent. In 1870
Zanion. obtained by negotiations between
the Spanish commander, Martini De Cam
pos, and the in5urgent leaders.
The Present Insurrection
The present insurrection broke out in
February, 1855. 1t IS not my purpose At
this time to recall its remarkable Increase
against the enormous forces massed
against it by Spain. The revolt and t..
efforts to subdue it carried destruction tc
every quarter of the island developing
wide proportions and defying, the efforts
of Spain for its suppression. The civilized
code, of war has been disregardad, no less
by the Spaniards than by the Cubars.
The existing conditions can not but fill
this government and the American people
with the grayest apprehension. There is
no desire on the part of our people 10 prof
it by the misfor5ul1eS of Spain. We have
only the desire to see the Cubans pros
porous and contented, enjoying that meas
right OF man, protected in their right 10
reap the benefit Of the exhaustles5 treas
ureS Of their country.
The offer made by my predecessor in
April, 1896 rendering the friendly offices
Of this government. failed and mediation
on our part was not accepted. In brief
the answer read: There 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 prom
iSed direction of her own motion and
after her own plans. The cruel policy of
concentration was initiated February 16
1896. The productive districts controlled
by the Spanish armies We're depopulated
herded in and about the garrison towns:
their lands laid waste and their dwellings,
destroyed. This policy the late cabinet
of Spain justified as a necessary measure
of war and as means Of cutting off sup
plies from the insurgents. L has utterly
failed as a war measure. II was not civil
ized warfare: 1t was determination.
Against this abuse of the rights of war
| have felt constrained, on repeated oc-
casions. to enter the firm and earnest pro
test of this government There was much
Of public condemnation OF the treatment
of American citizens by alleged Illegal
arrests and long imprisonment awaiting
trial or pending protracted judicial pro-
cedures. l felt it my first duty to make
instant demand for the release or speedy
trial Of all American citizens under ar
rest. Before the change Of the Spanish
cabinet III October, % prisoners, citizens
Of the United States, had been given their
freedom.
For the relief of our own citizens suf-
iellnS because Cl llt cOllllitt, ne dld OF
congress was sought in special MESA ge
and, unde' the appropriation of April 1,
1891 effective aid has been given to
American citizens in Cuba. ana many Of
them, at their own request have been re
turned TO the United States.
Policy of 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 Unit
ed States to lend its aid toward ending the
war in Cuba, by reaching a peaceful and
lasting result, just and honorable alike to
Spain and the Cuban people.
These instructions recited the character
and duration of the contest. the wide
spread losses it entails. the burdens and
restraint it imposes Upon u.s. with con-
slant disturbance of national interests
and the injury resulting from an indefinite
continuance Of this state Of things. 1t
was stated that. at this juncture our gov
crnment was constrained to seriously in
guire if the time was not ripe when Spain
of her own voltion, moved by her own m
terests and every sentiment OF humanity
should put a stop to this destructive war
and make proposals of settlement. honor
able to herself and just to her Cuban col
ony. 1t was urged that, as a neighborlng
nation with large interests in Cuba. we
could be required to wait only a reason
able time for the mother country to es-
tabiish it's authority and restore peace
and order within the borders Of the ISL
ana, tldt we cOuld not COHltthIlf1te ei
indefinite period for the accomplishment
of these results
No solution was proposed 10 which the
slightest idea of humiliation to Spain
could attach. All that was asked or cN-
pected was that some safe way might be
speedily provided and permanent peace
restored. 1t so CHANGED that the conS,d-
Grafton of this offer. addressed to the
same Spanish administration which had
declined the tenders of my predecessor
and which, for more than two years haa
poured men and treasury into Cupa III
the fruitless effort to suppress the re-
volt, fell to others. Between the depart
ure of General Woodford the new envoy,
and his arrival in Spain. the Statesman
who had shaped the policy OF his coua :
try fell by the hand of an assassin, anG
although the cabinet of the late premier
still held office and received from our en-
voy the proposals he bore, that cabinet
gave place within a few days thei Ter
to new administration under the leader
ship of Sagasta.
The reply to our note was received on
the 23rd day of October. 1t is m ne di-
rection of better understanding. 1t ap-
preciates the friendly purposes OF this
government. 1t admits that our country
is deeply affected by the war IN Cuba ard
that itS desires for neace are Just. 1t Ge-