The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-06
100000 STARVED LN CUBA.
No CHiNGE IN n SITUATION
SIyCE BLANCO ToO/; COMMAND.

Tho m, Close at Hand SShNn the President
VIII rake the NextFf 20 Forward so Clear
" Announced IN los SaessaEe-Lettsrs TO
Our Iousuis Op led BEFORE Delivery.
WASHINGTON, Feb, 5.-All information from
Cuba, both official sad unoficial-so far as tho
former leaks out , indicates the very near APP
proach of the IL Q when President Mckinley
must take his . omised forward step. Auton-
omy is seen t" 'Oe II dismal failure, both the In
~surgcnts AM. he Spanish Army being alike ar
rayed agai At 1t. American citizens are held az
virtual pr II oncrs away from their plantations.
The An . sican Consulate in Havana. like the
Amer . n Minister'S residence In Madrid. re-
quir, 4 police and military protection. So far as
the populacc OF both cities is concerned. the
d olomatic representatives of the United States
ne present by sufferance. The tales OF oontinu.
ting starvation of the reconcentrados in all the
towns within the Spanish lines grow in horror
with the arrival Of every mail. The most care
full estimates that have been made at Havana
by those possessing the fullest information there
place the numbers that have already been
starved to death under the inhuman policy
adopted by Weyler as very little IL any below
400, 900 men, women. and children. The death
rate from starvation still prevailing is on the
increase instead of diminishing.
The majority Of Republicans In Congress be-
bNN NhNN - NNy 80 soS ~ h~e ThhSh INV
President will! declare his policy and take the
next step forward so clearly and courageously
announced in his message. Only tho expecta-
tion and firm belief that he will do this IL keep
ing the Administration party in each house
quiet. Tho situation thus affords tho strongest
evidence which could be furnished of the conf
dence which is placed in the President and the
belief that he has a definite plan along the lines
of which he and his advisers are working DELHI
erately to do everything that the national inter
ests and the national honor require. But for
this belief and confidence the voice Of Congress
would now DO ringing through the country in
%stinging terms of condemnation over Spanish
methods OF barbarous warfare in Cuba But as
yet Congress, with ill-concesled impatience. 1t
is true. is waiting to give the President the time
and the freedom of action which are conceded
70 be his right.
But the reasons for dissatisfaction with Spain
and proper complaint Of her methods are rapidly
multiplying. So Tar from the representation
being true upon which the President declared
IN his message that the reconccntrados had
been sent to their homes by Blanco, and were
then engaged in planting, 1t was not true then,
and has not been true up to the present time.
Information about which there can be no doubt
received to-day from Cuba shows that Weyler's
prisoners, SO far as any of them are yet alive.
uiC ahu IhlluIou hTO 6It.l TCIdlutu III
the towns. and their condition is even worse
than under Weyler. since all the living are
weaker and moro helpless than when he turned
them over to Blanco.
1t is also true that refined American women
with their daughters. who have been accustomed
TO every comfort. are to-day among these starry
ing ~captives, where, up to the present time, they
have been kept alive on the bounty provided by
the relief fund provided by Congress. This Is
now exhausted, and these ladies who have long
lived IN quiet ON their plantations and have
been prevented from returning to them must
now suffer with the rest of Blanoo's victims UNI
less United States Consuls can find means of re-
lie ving them.
Washington in regard to the continued horrors
of the Spanish use of starvation as the most
effective weapon Of their methods Of warfare,
and the attempt to deceive tho Administration
about the real situation, 1t would seem as IL the
frcsident mad full reason for resentinR 1t.
Those who have no copy of President McKin-
ley's last message at hand will be Interested to
soc exactly what he was led TO aay on this point
6y the, erroneous representation made as to
hancois change Of policy. Said the President:
She Ispainl, has modified the horrible order of con.
and permit those who deaire TO resume the cuitiva-
Won OF their nelds to DO 50, aud assures them of the
occupations.
Then follows the declaration of the Presi.
uenl b purpose IN case Spain does not secure
peace within u reasonable time:
The near future will demonstrate whether the in.
aispensa6le condition OF a righteous peace, Just alike
to the oubans and to Spain as well as equitable to ali
our interests SO intimately involved in the welfare OF
cuba, + likely to be attained. If mot. the ~exigency
remain to be taken. When that time comes that
action WIN be determined in the line Of indisputabIo
or hesiIency in the light OF the obligation this Gov.
a rn%s ~ !, 1W we to Itself. to the people who have con-
and to humanity.
As viii be remembered. when the recent dis
furoa1ces occurred In Havana tho mails OF the
United states Consulate there were withheld.
since then, as has Just been ascertained. letters
10 Sss our CoRs9ls in other parts of the island have
one Of our Consnls outside Havana. but within
tne spanish lines. has been warned by citizens
The purport Of our consular reports from
H = Tor the last year have been made known
H. = nose IN Congress having the confidence Of
t the administration. In a word. II may. be said
mat with only one exception our Consuls agree
N representing a condition Of things which has
gree. Private letters received from these same
nohsu's declare that they have deemed 1t best
they should not be believed. Through these
sources, while the official reports which have
bbone from Havana estimate the number who
bisnco at 100000, it is learned that Consul
w SeHeE Lee believes from credible Information
reaiiiy mas reaGhed him that the number is
Inc latest information from Consular quarters
~, .alu u inc purposes OF spanish officials Is
aHat they nope by such devices as they may be
aS ~ 10 invent end use to delay any action on the
pa.t OF the United States until April, when the
TbhE season, with its yellow fever. sets In, after
m mnvh active intervention will be impossible for
months to come. Yellow fever. however, is not
dn inappropriate weapon to use In "A war which
"el'hH Il, SO largely upon starvation for its sue
,S"st' mere are many in Congress who hope
IN me next promised step can be taken before
purpose.
ir oip ! onsuls IN Cuba are hearing much annoy
~ anlk from the Consuls OF other nations. 1t
- basel upon our position touching the Monroe
niUGurlne, The criticism is that we have made 1t
hm"russinle Tor European powers to relieve the
o'h which have made Cuba n hell. and, on the
n"I ~ n"lntno nothing 10 end the matter and COM
pTTiini reIlef. There have also been tauntings,
c mTo ~ 10 necessary TO admit have point. TO the
TO- iLlt our Congress was swift 10 denounce
turH,sh savagcry in armenia, but holds its voice
o onr q worse situation within six hours sail of
onr an shores; and now, with the proximity of
', nrels, under our very guns. There IL a
i IyIp hHS hope here that the despatch of the Brook
indicates that the time for the promised stem
'0rw"ra Is rapidly drawing near.
ii. ". BoYNToN.