The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1898-04-23

lugation without concession. gave place to
that Of a more liberal party. committed long
In advance to a policy OF reform involving
the wider principle of home rule for Cuba,
and Puerto Rico. The overtures of this gov
eminent, made through its new envoy Gen.
Woodford, and. looking to an immediate and
effective amelioration OF the condition Of the
island. although not accepted to the extent
by assurances that home rule, in an advanced
phase. would be forthwith offered to Cuba,
without waiting for the war to end. and that
more humane methods should henceforth pre-
vail in the conduct of hostili lies. Incidentally
with these declarations, the new government
Of o1re s9ain be continued nv a. and naeS somplsted {, the policy
friendly regard for this nation, by releasing
American citizens held under one charge or
that by the end of November. not a single
person entitled in any way to our national
protection remained in a Spanish prison.
the increasing destitution Of the unfortunate
commentaries and the alarming mortality
among them claimed earnest attention. The
success which had attended the limited meas
ure of relief extended to the suffering Ameri-
can citizens among them by the judicious ex-
the money appropriated expressly for their
succor by the joint resolution approved May
2, 1897. prompted the humane extension OF a
similar scheme Of aid to the great body Of
sufferers. A suggestion was made Of
Suspension of HOstilities,
If asked for by the insurgents from the gen.
i Cidl al Culcl ~ WHOH 1t would pertain, IN
such case to determine the duration and con-
ditions Of the armistice. The propositions SUBJ
mitted by Gen. Woodford and the reply OF
the Spanish government were both in the form
of brief memoranda, the text Of which are
before me, and are substantially the language
above given.
The function of the Cuban parliament in
the matter of preparing peace with the man.
ner of its doing so are not expressed in the
| Spanish memorandum; but ftoin Gen. Wood
ford's explanatory reports Of preliminary dis
cussions preceding the final conference 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 to this end was acquiesced In
by the Spanish authorities. On the oath Of
peal to the American people, inviting con-
tributions in money or in kind for the succor
this on the sth of January by a similar pub
lie announcement Of the formation of a GEN.
trail Cuban relief committee. with headquarters
in New York city. composed of three members
representing the American National Red
Cross, and the religious and business elements
mittee have been untiring, and accomplished
much. Arrangements for free transportation
to Cuba have greatly aided the charitabls
work. The president of the American Red
Cross and the representatives of other con-
tributory organizations have generously visit
eral and the local authorities to make eft,
fective distribution of the relief collected
through the efforts of the central committee.
Nearly 5000, 600 in money and supplies has al
ready reached the sufferers, and more is forth
coming. The supplies are admitted duty free,
and transportation to the interior has been
confined to Havana and the larger cities, is
now extending through most If not all Of the
towns where suffering exists. Thousands OF
lives have already been saved.
The necessity for a change in the condition
of the reconcentrados is recognized by the
Spanish government Within a few days past.
the orders of Gen. Weyler have been revoked,
the reconcentrados are. 1t Is said, to be per-
mitted to return to their homes and aided
peace; public works have been ordered to
give them employment and a sum of $500. 600
has been appropriated for their rehef. inc
of subjugation or determination a final mill
tary victory for either side seems tmpractica-
BILE. The alternative lies in the physical ex-
haps Of both, a condition which in effect ended
the ten years war by the truce of Zanjohn.
cluslon OF the present strife is; a contingency
hardly to be contemplated with equanimity
by the civilized world and least Of AL by the
United States. affected and injured as we
are, deeply and Intimately by its very exist
ence. Realizing this it appears to be my duty
in a spirit Of true ,friendliness, no less 70
Spain than to the Cubans who have SO much
to lose by the prolongation of the struggle. to
seek to bring about an immediate termination
'e Armistice Proposed.
To this end I submitted on the 9th ultimo,
as a result of much representation and corre-
spondence, through the United ST states ats, minister
ment looking to an armistice until Oct. J..
for the PRONUNCIATION Of peace. In addition. 1
Of RECOMMENDATION, so as to permit the reople
to return to their farms and the needy to be
relieve. with provisions and supplies from the
authorities so as to AFFORD full relief. The
reply of the Spanish cabinet was received on
the night Of the S1st ultimo: It offers as the
means to bring about peace in Cuba to confde
the preparation thereof to the tnsular depart
n emit, inasmuch as the concurrence Of that
It being, however. understood that the powers
eminent are not lessened or diminished. As the
Cutan parliament does not meet until the
fourth o. May next. the Spanish government
would not object for its nsrt to accent at
cree a suspension Of hostilities Il asked by
the insurgents from the general-in-chief, to
whom you'd. pertain In such case to deter
mine the duration ana conditions Of the armis-
tice; The propositions pro osn'9 q, s tha snsn, ey s seYer moent
were both in the form Of brief memorandas.
tho texts Of which are before me. and are
Function Of the Cuban parliament in the mat
ter Of preparing peace and the matter OF
its doing SO are not expr res w IN ne ssan aIa
planatory reports of preliminary discussions
preceding the final conference it is understood
Give the insular congress full powers to settle
the terms Of peace with the Insurgents. wheth-
er by direct negotiation or Indirectly by means
Of LEGISLATION does not appear; .,..,.,,, !,
immediate peace and its disappointing recep-
ton By spain the executive was brought 70
the end Of his effort. ,s
In my annual message Of December last. !
said. NOf the untried measures there ire
iiSerants: recognition Of the Independence Of
Cube; neutral intervention to end the war.
BY imposing q rationAl compromise between
one or the other party. i speak not Of forcibls
annexation. for that cannot be thought q.
~ That. by our code OF morality, ~
would he Criminal Aggression
rhereupon I reviewed these Alternatives -
ths light Of President Grant measured words:
snsuinary, destructive and. cruel baFbarldae
r.. Cuba, he reached the conclusion that the
SoooGnition OF the in6spsndenco Of Cuba ~
impracticabls and Sindsfsnsibss. and thas ssss