Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-12-07


isc1 and 1890 var1otis emphatic dec ~
auors - the United States % permit
no disturbance 4 Cuba's connection
With spain unless n the direction O
Independence OF acquisition by tn
! tinted States through purchase. no
hiss there been any change of this de
cisr-d policy since upon the part Of tn
government
The revolution which began in 1ssi
lasted Tor ten years. despite the atrenu
Gus efforts of The successive peninsulai
/ E3vsrnmsats 10 suppress H. Then. As
now. he government Of the United
I States tssufej IL grave coSctrn ard
offered its aid to ,ut an end 70 blood
st.a1 IN Cuba. The Ovsrtures made by
/ General Grant were refused and the
y ar dragged on, entailing great loss OF
life and treasure. and increased injury
20 American interests basi6es throwing
enhanced burdens q neutrality upon
his government In 1S7s peace vas
brought about by the truce of Zanjon.
tbtaiued BY negotiations between the
Spanish commander. Martini de Cam
OOs. ard the insurrent leaders.
The present irsyITection broke out
Ia r5bruary. 1895. Il Is not my pur-
pose at this time 20 recall its remark
able increase 20 characterize it's tena-
csous resistance against the enormous
forces massed against Il by spain Ths
revolt and the efforts to subdue Il car
red destruction to every quarter Of the
iEland, developing wide proportions and
iefying the efforts Of Spain. for its
81 p9nession. Tie civilized code of war
has been disrsZaried, no Iesss 50 by the
5paniards than By the Cubans. The ex-
sting conditions cannot but I'll this
gCvsrnment and the American people
with the greatest Apprehension. There
IS no desire on the part Of our people
20 profit By TIE -nisfoutunes Of Spain.
gvs have only the desire to see the Gu
bans prosperous End cOntentsd. enjoy
ing that meas ire II self-contr0l which
Is the inaliens1le right Of man, pro-
tected In their right TO reap the bens-
1t OF the exhaust sss treasures Of their
country.
The offer made by my predecessor in
April. 1896 rendering the friendly Of
6c=s Of this government failed and med
"a lion on our part was not accepted.
In brief, the ans ger read: There 4 no
ensctual way TO pacify Cuba unless It
begins with the actual submission OF
fbe rebels TO the mother COUNTY,
Then, only. could Spain act in the
promised direction Of her own motion
ard after her own motion, and after her
own plans
"rhe cruel policy of concentration
was initiated February IS. 1896. The
productive districts controlled by the
Spanish armies were depopulated and
the agricultural Inhabitants wer=
herded in and about the garrison towns.
their lands laid waste and their dwell
ings destroyed. This policy the la:e
cabinet Of Spain justified as nee sssary
measure Of war and as 2 means Of cut
ting of supplies from the Insurgents.
1T has utterly failed as a war meas
ure. 1t was no. civilized warfare. It
vas extsrmination.
Against this abuse Of the rights Of
war 1 have felc constrained on repeat
ed occasions to enter the firm and ear
nest protes. Of this go gernnlsnt. There
was much Of public condemnation cf
the treatment Of American citizens By
alleged illegal arrests and long impris-
onment awaiting trial OF pending pro-
uacted judicial procedures. 1 felt Il
my first duty 70 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, twenty-five prisoners, citizens
OF the United States, had been given
their freedom. For the relief Of our
own citizens suffering because Of the
conflict, the aid Of congress was sought
In a special message and under the
appropriation Of Aplil 4, 1897, effective
aid has Leen given to American citi-
zens in Cuba ana many Of them at
thtir own request have been returned
to the United States.
'Ths instructions given to our new
to Spain before his departure
for his post directed him to Impress up-
on that government the sincere wish of
the United States 10 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 char
acter and durati Of the contest, the
via spread losses it entails, the bur
dens and restraint X imposes upon us,
with constant disturbance OF nat t'onal in
tsrests and the injury IeFuIting from
an indefinite continuance Of this state
OF things. 1t was stated that at this
tNAA~NaAE Jul government WIS COn-
20 seriously inquire If the time
was not ripe when Spain, Of her own
volitlon, moved BY her own interests
aud every sentiment of humanity,
should put a stop 70 this destructive
war and make proposals Of settlement
honorable 10 herself and just to her
Cuban colony. It was urged that a. a
neighboring nation with large interests
in Cuba, we could be required 10 walt
only a reasonable time for the mother
country 70 establish its authority and
restore peace and order within the bor-
ders OF the island; that We could not
contemplate an Indefinite period for the
OF these results.
NO solution was proposed to which
the slightest Idea Of humiliation to
Spain could attach. All that was
asked or expected was that some safe
way might be speedily provided and
permanent pace restored. 1t so
caanoed that the consideration OF this
ofer addrt'sed to the Spanish admins
tration which had declined the tenders
ot my predecessor and which for more
than two yeers had poured more treas
ure into Cuba In the fruitlsss effort to
suppress the revot, fell to others. Be-
bHNrh lhe uop-Flure OF General Wood
ford the new envoy and his arrival In
Spain, the statesman who had shaped
the policy OF hi, country fell by the
hand OF an assassin and al though the
cabinet OF the late premier stnl held
ofice and receivsd from our envoy the
proposals he bore. that cabinet gave
place within a few days thereafter 10
new administration under the leader
ship of Sagasta.
The reply 20 our note was received
On the 2Sd day OF October. II Is In the
direction OF a better unders tanding. 1t
appreciates the frlnedly proposals OF
this government. II admits that our
country Is deeply affected by the war
In Cuba and thu, its desires for peace
are Just. II declares that the present
spanish government Is hound by every
S5'il5iSsTsiio 70 a change of policy tha;
should satisfy the United States and
paclfy Cubl within a reasonable time.
70 this end Spain has decided 20 put
into effect the political reforms here
totore advocated by the present pre-
mier. without haltlns for any consider
alton In the pa.h which lr its Judgment
leads 10 peace,