The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-16

Washinton, May 15.-(Special 1.-The
tariff question has almost been forgotten
in the excitement attending the reveal
tions concerning Cuba. There is no new
information concerning Cuba. All that
is known now has been published, from
time to time, for nearly two years.
Americans have been driven from their
homes, and their plantations destroyed;
but the fact has been notorious for two
years. Americans are starving to death
in Cuna, hut hundreds of them have al
ready starved there is nothing recent
about this condition. Americans are
confined in Spanish prisons and not al
lowed to communicate with their gov
eminent; but that this has been the case
for two years is amply shown by the files
of the Congressional Record. Every news.
paper correspondent who has visited
Cuba during the past two years told the
same story. 1t has been repeated from
day TO day in the United States Senate:
Consul General Lee sent it in official
form to the State Department, and asked
Tor n warship to guarantee protection TO
American citizens, which was refused by
President Cleveland and not acted upon
by President Mckinley.
at least so many Americans starved in
Cuba that when the case of the famine
stricken British subjects in India was
quest of Rev. Il. Dewitt Talmage, it oc-
Cured TO the President that these British
subjects having been provided with food
and clothing, the American subjects in
Cuba might receive assistance, and the
members of the Senate committee on for
eign relations were invited to inspect the
reports. They were not new reports. the
series had been running for manv'months
but it was the first occasion that pre-.
taI f.snlf r
ence. The Senators were shocked, they
knew the conditions were deplorabe but
had no idea that they could be so bad as
outlined in these official reports.
a resolution was ut once introduced to
make an appropriation Tor the relief of
the suffering Americans, but President
Mckinley was not yet ready to act. He
wanted harmony and sent for DeLome,
the Spanish minister, to see whether
Spain would consent for the United States
to feed its own people. The minister
gave his consent, provided the supplies
We're distributed by the Spanish Red
Cross Society Now the message is pro.
vided for next Monday, and Spain having
consented To our providing for our own
there will probably be no more delay.
The consent of DeI4ome is important
III one respect Spain has contcLded that
no war existed in Cuba, and the United
States has supported that contention.
The condition that the Spanish Red Cross
Society shall distribute the funds is a
distinct admission that war does exist,
and relief must, therefore, be distributed
under the rules of war. DeLome has
thus recognized the Cubans as belliger-
ents, even though he SO strongly objects
to the United States doing the same.
There is, as yet, nothing DEFINITE in the
policy of the adm nstration as to Cuba.
The only action agreed upon is that of
saving starving Americans from death
Meanwhile the Presidents special envoy
will see If he can find anything different
from the reports made by Consul General
Lee, Consul General Williams, the Amer.
lean citizens residing in Cuba who have
taken refuge in the United States, and
the newspaper correspondents. Everyone
( who is Mt ali familiar with the island has
told substantially the same story. There
is no conflicting statements. cxcent those
made by the Spanish officials AS Spec-
ial Envoy Calhoun is totally unfamiliar
with the island and the language spoken
there, it is possible that he may be able
60 discover eXtenuating circumstances or
new conditions. At least, it is not ex.
pected that the administration will con-
clude upon any policy until the report of
the special envoy is received.
There Is more quiet determination upon
the part of those Senator's and Rem
rese1tatives who are in sympathy with
Cuba than can he known without seeing
and talking with them. The Cleveland
administration prevented any action be.
ing taken. and thus far the present adj
ADMINISTRATION has succeeded in carving