Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-12

ueceSsor Of teStifying friendly regard
ior TINS nation by releasing American
titizens held under one charge or an
other connected with the inSurre,.1ion
so that, by the end of November. not Il
Single person entitled in amy way to
our national protection remained in q
Spanish prison.
AID FOR liECONCENTRADOS
While these negotiations We're in
progress the increasing destitution of
the reconcentrados and the alarming
mortality among them claimed ear
nest attention. The success which had
attended the limited measure of relief
extended to the suffering American
citizens among them by the judiciuus
expenditure through the consular
agencies Of the money appropriation
expressly for their succor by the joint
resolution approved May "a. 1897.
prompted the humane extension of a
similar scheme of aid to the great
BODY OF sufferers A suggestion to
this end was acnuiesced in by the
Spanish authorities. On the 2ith of
December last. 1 caused to be issued
an appeal to the American people. in
Niting contributions in money or in
kind for the Succor of the sufferers in
Cuba, following this on the Sth OF
January by similar public announces
ment of the formation of central
Cuban relief committee. With head
quarters in New York City. composed
of three members representing the
American National Rcd Cross and the
the community. The efforts of that
committee have been untring and
have accomplished much. Arrange
nents for free transportation to Cuba
have greatly aided the charitable
work. The president of the American
Red Cross and representatives Of
other contradictory organizations have
generously visited Cuba and co-ope
rated With the consul general and the
local authorities to make effective
distribution of the relief collected
through the efforts or the central COM
mittee. Nearly 100000 in money and
supplies has already reached the suf-
fcrcrS ana more is forthcoming. The
supplies are admitted duty free and
transportation to the interior has been
arranged So that the relief. at first
necessarily confined to Havana and
through most. If not all. the towns
where suffering exists. Thoucands of
lives have already been saved. The
necessity for n change in the condition
of the reconcentrados is recognized by
tn" Spanish government Within
few days past the orders Of General
NNeylcr have been revoked the recon
c,ntracos are. it is said to he permit
ted to return to their homes and
To resume the self-supporting pur-
suits uf peace: public works have been
ordered u give them employment and
Il sum of 5000 GOO has been ;ippropri-
tee! for their ,,afiof
OEl1RTI-RES TO SEAM.
The war IA cuba Is vi Suct, a ma
turc that short OF suUjuSation or eN-
termination Il iiual military victory
for either side seems inplacticable.
1ne alternative lies III the pnysicAi eN-
haustion Of The one or the other party.
or perhaps buLh-a condition which in
effect ended The ten years war by the
Truce Of Ianjcn- The prospect Of
such q protraction and conclusion of
the present strife is contingency
hardly to be contemplated with equa-
ninity by the civilized world and least
of ali by the United States. affected
and injured. AS we are, deeply and in
timately by its very existence.
'iteaiZins this, it appears TO be my
duty, In Il spirit of true friendlineSS,
no less to Spain than To the Cublns
who have 50 much to lose by the pro-
longation of The struggle, 10 seek to
bring about as Immediate termination
of the war. To this end I submitted.
os the 18th ultimo, as a result of much
representation and correspondence.
through the United States minister at
Madrid propositions to the Spanish
government looking to an ;lrmistice
until October 1st. for the negotiation
of peace with the good Offices of the
President.
I'm addition I asked the immediate
revocation OF the order of reconcentra-
ton. 50 rs TO permit the people to re-
turn To their farms and the needy to
be relieved With provisions and sup
plies from the United States, co-ope-
rating With the Spanish authorities SO
as to afford full relief
The reply of the Spanish cabinet
was received on the night of the 3lst
ultimo 1t offers. as the means to
bring about peace in Cuba. to confidc
the preparation thereof to the insular
parliament, inaSnuch as the concur
renee of that body would be necessary
to reach final result. 1t being, however.
understood that the powers reserved
by the constitution to the central gov
eminent are not lesSened or diminish
ed AS the Cuban parliament does not
meet until the 4th of May next, the
Spanish government would not object.
for its part to accept at once a sus-
pension OF hostlities if asked for by
the Insurgents from the general in
chief, to wholn it would pertain. in
such case to determine the duration
and conditions of the armistice.
SPAIN'S ADROIT REPLY.
The propositions submitted by Gen
eral Woodford and the Ie,.y OF the
Spanish government We're both in the
which are before me, and are substan-
italy in the language above given.
The function OF the Cuban parliament
in the matter of preparing peace
and the manner of its doing SO are not
expressed in the Spanish memoran-
dun. but from General Woodford's ex-
planatory reports of parliamentary
discussions preceding the final confer
cnce it is understood that the Spanish
government stands ready to give the
insular congress full powers to settle
the terms of peace with the insur-
gents, whether by direct negotiation
or indirectly by means of legislation
does not appear.
with this last overture i'll the di-
rection of Immediate peace. and its
disappointing reception by Spain, the
executive was brought to the end of
his effort.
I'm my annual message OF December
last said:
of the untred measures there re-
main only: Recognition of the insur-
gents as beiligerents; recognition of
the Independence of Cuba: neutral in
PREVENTION to end the war by imposing
rational compromise between the
contestants. and Intervention in favor
of one or the other party. 7 speak not
of fcrcihle annexation, for that cannot