The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-20
With Spain in the Interest of
Peace
Is TOLD BY FORAKER.
Cleveland Wanted to Be a Medi-
atOr.
Spain Would Have Nothing But
Absolute Surrender.

war were partially disclosed yesterday
by Senator Foraker of Ohio. During
the past week the debate in the senate
has been pregnant with intimations
and innuendoes of reports from United
States officials in Cuba, held at the
state department. which, if published,
would disclose condition on cuban
soil which would influence public op1n-
ion in a decided manner
The facts. therefore, which Senator
Foraker announced, without stating
from whom they came, created de-
cided stir Especially startling was the
letter from Secretary Olney in which
this country offered mediation to Spain
and the refusal of that country to &C
cept the pronered aid.
While one of the consular reports
was read without the name of the au-
thor being disclosed, it is stated to be
a communication from Consul General
Lee, which fully sets forth his idea of
the condition that exists IN CUBA.
An extract was quoted as follows,
no date being given:
Il cannot understand the truth of
the claim that all the provinces of the
island are pacifled except that of San
tiagO de Cuba, because there are more
insurgents under arms at this time
than at the period when I first reached
the islands. some ten months ago, and
I do not think it a fair inference to
draw from existing conditions that the
war is approaching a termination, be-
cause in pursuance of an established
policy the insurgents avoid as far as
possible all serious engagements.
The impOssibility of expelling the
Spanish troops from this island by force
of arms is well known to them, and
they do not propose to risk the lives
of their men and the success of their
cause upon one or more pitched battles.
l conclude. therefore. that the war will
drag its weary length 50 long as the
Insurgents can dig sustenance from the
ground on one side and money be OBJ
tanned by the other with the continued
F-eVf
of human life. the murder of innocent
men, women and children by both sides
and the frightful havoc which disease
makes in the ranks of soldiers, partic-
ularly among the unacclimated Span
lardS The poverty and distress of the
people are increasing and the loss of
property of all sorts daily becoming
more enormous.
NO one can fully appreciate the sit
uatiOn without being here in person.
The number of poor. distressed. StarV-
ing women. children and old men of all
races has greatly increased in the cities
within the past few weeks, while in
other points the suffering has been pro
portionately great"
The letter from Secretary Olney to
Spanish Minister De Lone. under the
date of April 4. 1896, is the one in which
intervention is suggested. In opening
Mr.. Olney said:
1T might be well deemed a derelic-
ton of duty to the government of the
United States as well as a censUrable
want of candOr to Spain, if 1 were long
er to defer official expression as we'll of
the anxiety with which the president re-
CARDS the existing situation in Cuba as
of his earnest desire for the prompt and
permanent pacifcation of the island.
Any plan giving reasonable assurance
of that result and not inconsistent with
the just rights and reasonable demands
of all concerned would be earnestly
promoted by him by all means which
the constitution and laws of this coun-
try place at his disposal.
1t is impossible to deny that the
expectations thus entertained by you
in the summer and fall of 1895 and shar-
ed not merely by all Spaniards but by
most disinterested observers as well,
have been completely disappointed. The
insurgents seem today to command a
larger part of the island than ever be-
fore
In short it can hardly be questioned
that the insurrectiOn, instead of being
Quelled, is today more formidable than
ever. and enters on the second year of
its existence with decidedly improved
prospects of successful results Wheth-
er a condition of things emitting the in
surgents to recognition as belligerents
has yet been brought about, may. for
the purpose of the present cOmmunica-
ton be regarded as immaterial"
Further on Mr.. Olney calls attention
to the fact that capital is fast with
drawing from the island, frightened
away by the utter hopelessness of the
outlook
why should it not be? What can
a prudent man foresee as the outcome
of existing conditions except the com
plete devastation of the island, the en-
tire annlhllat1On OF its industries and
the absolute impOverishment of such of
its inhabitants as are unwise enough
or unfortunate enough not to seasonal
bly, escape from it?
1t may well be feared that if the
present destruction is to be of shorter
duration than the last, it will be be-
cause the end is to come sooner or later
h IL
long the conflict and through her aban-
dOnment of the island to the heterOgen-
eOus combination of elements and of
races now in arms against her"
Such a condition. Mr.. Olney said
would almost inevitably result in
war of races with the probable estab-
1ishment of white and black repub-
lie"
THE situation thus described he
says, is of great interest to the people
of the United States. They are inter
ested in any struggle anywhere for
freer political fnstitutiOns-but neces-
sarfly, and in special measure, in
a struggle that is raging almost in sight
of our shores
time to suggest Intervention. but that
ahe United States could not contemplate
with cOmplacency another ten years of
Cuban instruction. His suggestion
looked to finding way to cooperate
with Spain in the immediate pacifica-
ton of the island on such plan, as, leav-
ing spain her rights of sovereignty
shall yet give to the people of the island
all rights of enlightenment they can
reasonably ask.
Mr.. Olney then suggests that neither
Spain nor the Cubans can reasonably
object to this Intervention and adds
that if anything is to be done it should
be done at once and on SPANS initia-
tive In closing he says the cOmmuni-
cation is prompted by the friendliest
feelings toward Spain and the Spanish
people and adds:
ITO attribute TO the United States
any hostile or hidden purposes would be