The record-union., 1897-06-08
Begging for Charity From the United
States Government.
An Appeal Now on the Way Signed
by One Hundred Citizens, Who
Have No Faith i'm Captain. General
WeyIer - Ask That ANY Relief
Should be Entrusted to the Ameri-
can Consul for Distribution.

NEW YORK, June IA special to
the Herald from Havana says: A
strange appeal on behalf of the starv-
ing and dying reconcentrados in Mat
| anzas who excited pity in the hearts
OF General Lee and Mr.. Calhoun, has
been made to the people of the United
States.
| Since the United States Government
has begun measures for the relief of it's
citizens in Matanzas, the desperate
plight of the Cuban reconcentrados
there has resulted in petition, signed
by hundred of them, in which they
beg in the name of common humanity
| that they may be included in the char
| ity. The petition is headed: AN APP
peal to the United States 1t is now
on its way to Washington. The prin-
! cipal part is as follows:
First and foremost, let it be said
that in unhappy Cuba we can do moth
ing to help our suffering countrymen,
the pacificos, that have huddled in our
city. We would be looked upon as trait
ors for so doing, and as such would be
summarily dealt with. We must not
feel for them; we must be blind, and
deaf to their sufferings, and do nothing
that can in any way interfere with
Weyler's policy of determination.
| eve have to witness day after day
scenes Of horror which no language
can describe and yet no voice can be
| lifted to protest against them. To
Spain we cannot apply for succor. She
! is well acquainted with the present con-
dition of affairs in Cuba, and so far
not a farthing has come to us from
her, and yet we have sent her our
money freely whenever the Spanish
people have been in want or distress
Upward Of 10000 victims of this saw
age system of warfare have been
crowded into MatanZas without provid-
! ing for their most natural wants; and
after they have been compelled to
abandon all that they had in the world,
they are to be seen in crowds, from
| o'clock in the day until late at night,
| imploring charity.
| In any other country this state OF
affairs would have brought on disturb
| ances and riots; yet our people, suffer-
| ing as they are, have not done any
thing that could in any way disturb
order. Can there be a better illustra-
ton of a peaceful disposition?
Tender, loving mothers Of America,
to you in particular we appeal in our
humane undertaking. Send us the
mighty aid of your motherly cooper
alton; enlist in our crusade against
crime and barbarity. and the blessings
of thousands will rise to heaven as a
fit hymn in your praise. Think that
at your very doors there are mothers
who love as dearly as you love, and
who day after day see their little ones
perish in our streets out of sheer hun
ger, and in most cases without a rag to
cover their nakedness.
"As for us, we cannot do our work
openly. We have to beg for food for
the hungry and clothing for the naked,
concealing ourselves and our names
as if we were doing something wrong,
and we therefore suggest that if any
relief IS to come, it should be intrusted
to the American Consuls for distribu-
ton, and we would also suggest that
the sending of help in the way of pro-
visions, of clothing, has it's inconve-
niences, and it might give the officials
an opportunity to interfere and thwart
the object in view. Very respectfully,
"ONE HUNDRED CITIZENS OF
MATANZAS.''