The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-12-09

IanJon, obtained by negotiations between
tue spanish commander, Martinez dt
eampos' and the insurgent leaders,
The Present Rebellion.
1he present insurrection broke out !,
fehruary, 1875. It is not nv purnos,
at ms time to. recall its remarkable i'm
crease or to characterize it's tenacion,
resistance against the forces masses
against 1t by Spain. The revolt and fhs
EFFORTS TO subdue II carried destructior
70 every quarter Of the island develan
ing wide proportions and defyinr tho rf
lor.s OF spain for its suppression nh,
ciail,zed code of war has been disre
Surueo' not less so by the Spaniards than
Inc existing conditions can not bur iii
.ne Alnericah people with the graycst an
prehension. There il no desire on ~,
part OF our people to profir bv tbe mi" ,h'
fortunes of Spain. " '"e HIS
we only desire to see the Cubans nros.
porous ana contented. enjoying that mens
.nle OF sell control which is the ipnlieno.
PIE right o' man, protected in their ripht
TO reap the benefit of the eyhnustInss
treasures of their country. "''' '''
WeyIer's UnciviIized w,rs,r.
,lIit lhe 9tier }1es made by my predecessor in
fdn.' ioM rendering the friendly Of
mno5; ,ooH VI lnls government. failed. ANY
IleGiat1on on our part was not accented
In brief tho answer road: >>'i'''''
There is no effcctual way to n,c;f,.
Ol,na unless il begins with the nctnnl
country W '"' h'o'hci
Ihen only could Spain act in the prom
iSed direction of her own motion ond
atter her own Plans. The cruel nolicv of
1896. ie"r"'rE lo'
me productive districts controlled h,,
,me me SpanlHll armies were dcpopulotcJ
me agricultural Inhabitants were horied
IN ana around the garrisoncd towns thcir
t lamus ihiu IVA waste and their dwellings, do
SS.roye9. lhis policy the late cabinet of
spill Jus'lleu as n necessary measure of
WI, MT alio as Il means of cutting off sun
pms fan lroh, lle insurgents, II has utterly
iuli.u ms war measure. II was nnt
civilized warfare. 1t was cxterminotion
Against this abuse of the rights Of
wal nave felt constrained on repenteJ
occasions To enter the firm and eornast
protest of this government.
Demanded Release of Americana.
lhere was much of public condcmno.
tlon TOR the treatment of American citi-
Iehs by alleged Illegal arrests and long
Imprisonment awaiting trial or pending
pfotracted judicial proceedings. | felt if
my nrst duty to make instant demand
for the release or speedy trial of MI
American citizens under arrest, before
! the change of the Spanish cabinet in
October last twenty-five prisoners. citi-
zens of the United States. had bccn
given their freedom.
| FOR our own citizens, suffering he
I cause of the conflict, the aid of congress
was sought in special message. and
| under the appropriation of April I. 1897.
efectivc aid has been given TO Amcri-
can citizens in Cuba. Many of them.
at their own request, have been return
ed to the United States.
| WoOdfOrd's Instructions.
The instructions given to our new
minister trleSpain before. his departure
| for his post directed him 70 impress
upon that government the sincere wish
of the United States to lend its aid
towards ending the war in Cuba by
reaching a peaceable and lasting result.
just and honorable alike TO Spain and
to the Cuban people. These instruc.
tioAs recited the character and dura"
| tion of the contest. the widespread
losses it entails. the burdens md rr-
straints it imposes upon us. with con
stant disturbance of national interests
and the injury resulting from an indcli-
! mite continuance of this state of things.
1t was stated that ut this iuncture our
government was constrained TO seriously
! inquire if the time was not ripn when
Spain of her own voiton. moved by
| her own interests and every sentiment
of humanity, should put a stop to this
destructive war and make proposals of
settlement honorable TO herself and lust
to her Cuban colony. 1t was urged
that as a neigbboring nation with trade
| interests in Cuba we could be required
to wait only a reasonable time for the
~ and ,nstore nooco and order within,
the borders of the island: that we could
not contemplate an indefinite period for
the accomplishment 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 emhar-
easements to that government. All
that was asked or expected was that
some safe way might be speedily pro-
yided and permanent peace restored 1t
so Glanced that considerati tion of This
offer addressed to the same Spanish ad-
ministration. which had declined the
tenders of my predecessor and which
for more than two years had poured
men and treasure into Cuba in the fruit
less effort to suppress the revolt. fcll
to others. Between the time Of depar-
ture of Gen. Woodford. the new envoy,
and his arrival in Spain. the statesman
who had shaped the policy of his COM
try fell by the hand of an assassin. and
although the cabinet of the late premier
still held office and received from our