The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-07

treasures of their country.
The Offer made by my predecessor ia
April 1895, rendering the frle ndly ctiioos
of this government failed. ANY media .
ton on our rart was mt accepted In
! brief, the answer read: There IS no et-
ftctual way TO pacity Cuba. unless il he
gins with the actual Submission Of the reb.
els to the mother country" Then only
could Spain act in the promised direction
Of her own motion aud after her own
plans.
The cruel policy of concentration was
I initiated Feb. l6, 1855 The productive
| districts controlled by the Spanish ARMIES
were depopulated. The agricultural in
habitants were herded in aud about the
| garrison towns their lands laid waste ard
their dwellings destroyed. This policy of
| the late cabinet of Spain was justified as
a necessary measure OF war aud as a
means of cutting off supplies from the in
| sutSents, 1t has utterly failed as a waE
measure. 1t was not civilized Warfare
1t was determination.
Against this abuse OF the rights of war
l have felt constrained on repeated occa-
sions to enter the firm aud earnest protest
of this government. There was mucn of
public condemnation of American citizens
! by alleged arrests and long Imprisonment
awaiting trial or pending protracted ju-
dicial proceedings. l felt it my first duty
to make instant demands for the release
or speedy trial of all American citizens
under arrest. Before the change of the
Spanish cabinet in October last, twenty
Two 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 message,
and under the appropriation of April T.
1897 effective aid has been given to Amer
lean citizens in Cuba. Many of them at
their own request have been returned to
the United States.
The instructions given to our new minis
ter 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, just and honorable alike
to Spain and to the Cuban people. These
| instructions recited the character and du-
ration of the contest, the widespread losses
| it entails, the burdens and restraints it
imposes upon us, with constant disturb
ance of national interests and the injury
resulting from an indefinite continuance
of this state of things, 1t was at this
| juncture our government was constrained
to seriously inquire il the time was not
ripe when Spain of her own volition, NOV
ed by her own interests and every senti-
| ment of humanity, should put a stop to
TINS destructive war and make proposals
Of settlement honorable to herself and just
I to her Cuban colony 1t was urged that
as neighboring nation with large inter
ests in Cuba we could be required to
| wait only reasonable time for the mother
country to establish it's authority and re-
store peace and order within the borders
of. the island; that we could not contem>
plate an indefinite period for the accom-
| plishment of this result.
No solution was proposed to which the
! slightest idea of humiliation to Spain could
| attach, and, indeed, precise proposals were
! withheld to avoid embarrassment 10 that
! government. All that was asked or ex
| pected was that some safe way might be
| speedily provided and permanent peace re-
| stored. It so CHANGED that consideration
| of this offer, addressed to the same Span-
| ish administration which had declined the
| tenders Of my predecessor, and which for
more than two years had poured men
| and treasure into Cuba in the fruitless eff
fort to suppress the revolt fell to others
| Between the departure Of Gen. Woodford
| the new envoy, and his arrival in Spain
the statesman who had shaped the policy
of his country fell by the hand of an as
sassin, and although the cabinet of The
| late premier still held office and received
from our envoy the proposals he BORE
that cabinet gave place within a few days
thereafter to a new administration under
The leadership of Sagasta.
The reply to our note was received on
Oct. %. 1t is in the direction of a better
understanding. 1t appreciates the friend
Is purposes of this government. /. ad-
mitS that our country is deeply affected
by the war in Cuba and that its desires
for peace are just 1t declares thar the
! Spanish government Is bound by every
consideration to a change of policy that
should satisfy the United States and pac-
ify Cuba within a reasonable time. To
this end, Spain has decided to put into
~
vocated by the present premier, without
h3lting for any consideration in the path
which in its judgment leads to peace. The
military operations, it is said, will con-
time. but will be humane and conducted
with all regard for private rights, being
accompanied by political action leading to
the autonomy of Cuba, while guarding
Spanish sovereignty. This, it is claimed
will result in investing Cuba with a dis
tinct personality; the island to be gov
erned by an executive and by a local
council or chamber, reserving to Spain the
control of the foreign relations the army
and navy and the judicial administration.
| To accomplish this the present govern
ment proposes to modify existing legisIa-
lion by decree, leaving the Spanish Cortes
with the aid of Cuban senators and depu-
ties, to solve the economic problem and
properly distribute the existing debt.
In the absence of a declaration OF the
I
lake in carrying out It's proffer of good
offices, II suggests that Spain be left free
to conduct military operations and grant
political reforms, while the United States
for It's part shall enforce its neutral obli-
cations and cut off the assistance which
it is asserted the insurgents receive from
this country. The superstition of an in
definite prolougaton of the war is de-
MED. 1t is asserted that the western
provinces are already well nigh reclaimed;
that the planting of cane and tobacco
therein has been resumed; and that by
force of arms and new and ample reforms,
very early and complete pacifcaton is
hoped for,
The immediate amelioration of existing
conditions under the new administrat ton
of Cuban affairs is predicted and there
withel the disturbance and all occasion
for any change Of attitude on the part of
the United States. Discussion of the ques-
zion of interna tional duties and RESPONSE
bilities of the United States as Spain I'M
derstands them. is presented with an APP
parent disposition 10 charge us with fail
ure in this regard. This charge is without
any basis IN fact 1t could not have been
made if Spain had been cognizant of the
| \. t-