The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1898-04-13

Meanwhile the military tlAuAA4ou II -t1N
Island had undergone noticeable change
The extraordinary activity tnnt chnrac ter-
lied the second year Of the war, when ene
Insurgents Invaded even the hitherto un-
harmed field OF pInar del Rio. and carried
havoc an destruction up 10 the walls Of
the city or Havana Itself, mad reiapseu
into a dogFed struggle In the central Ana
sri,e snnnIsh arms reSained measure Of
control In pffiar del Rio and parts Of Ha-
rana, but, under the EXISTING conuitions q
the rural country. without lInnaealate I'M
provement OF their productive situation.
Even thus partially restricted the reyoln-
fionists held their own and their conquese
and submission put forward by spain q
the essential aud sole basis or peace seelase
as far distant as at the outset
Assassination OF Canoyas.
In this state OF AFFAIRS my administration
found itself confronted with tne nv Z
problem of It's duty. Ay message OF ilst
December reviewed the situation and mar
rated the steps taken with a view to re-
lieving It's acuteness and opening the way
10 some form OF honorable settlement
The assassination OF the prime minister
fsnnovas led to n change of government IN
Spain. The former administration piedkeo
TO subjugatIon without concession gave
place TO that of more liberal party com
mItfed long In advance TO policy OF re-
form Involving the wider principle OF nome
rule for Cuba and Puerto Rico
The opertures OF this government maze
Through its new envoy, General Wooq4orus
and looking to an Immediate and entscftxe
emeliorafioT, OF the condition of the island,
although not accepted 70 the extent OF al
mitted mediation In any shape We're met
BY assurances that home rule, In an ad-
yanced phase would be forthwith onered
to Cuba, without waiting for the war 70
end and that more humane methods snoula
thenceforth prevail In tine conduct of hos
CoincidentaIly with these declarations,
the new government of Spain continued
and completed the policy already begun py
its predecessor of testIfying friendly regard
for this nation by releasing American CIT
liens held nader one charge or announcer
connected with the insnrrectton, so tnaIs
by the end OF November, not single per
son entitled In any way to our natlonai
protection, remained in Spanish prison.
While these negotiations Were IN PEogLess
the increasing restitution OF the unfortun-
ate reconcentrados and the alarming NOR
taIIty among them claimed earnest a1ten-
tIon The success which had attended the
limited measure of relief extended to the
suffering American citizens among them
by the Judicious expenditure, through the
consular agencies, OF the money appropri-
ateIy expressly for their suceor by the
Joint resolution approved May "a, 1897,
prompted the humane extension OF SIM
liar scheme of aid to the great body OF
sufferers.
Suggestion Received
suggestion to this end was aequiesced
in by the Spanish authorities. On Dec. "A
last 1 caused to be issued an appeal to the
American people, Inviting contributions In
in kind Tor the SuccOf OF tue
STRIVING sufferers In Cuba, following this
on Jan by similar public announce
ment OF the formation of central Cuban
relief committee. with headquarters In New
York city composed of three members rep
resentIng the American National Red Cross
and the religious and business elements OF
the community.
untiring and have accomplished much Ar
engagements for free transportation to Cuba
lave greatly aided the charitable work
rffpar Red
and representatives of other contHbutory
organizations have generously visited Gu
ba and co-operated with the consul general
ana the local authorities to make effective
distribution OF the relief collected through
the efforts OF the entire central committee
Relief For Sufferers.
Nearly $500, 900 in money and supplies
has already reached the sufferers and more
is Forthcoming The supplies are admitted
duty free, and transportation to the IL
terror has been arranged, SO that the relief
at first necessarily confined to Havana and
the larger cities, Is now extended through
most, II not all. of the towns where suffer-
ing exists. Thousands of lives have al
ready been saved.
The necessity for a change In the condi-
tion of the reconccntrados is recognized by
the Spanish government. Within few
days past the orders of General Weyle.
have been revoked, the reeoAcentrados are,
1t Is said. to be permitted 10 return to
their homes, and aided 20 resume the SELF
supporting pursuits of p ace; public works
have been ordered to give them employ
ment, and a sum of 100000 has been ap-
propriated for their relief.
War In Cuba
The war in Cuba is of such nature that
short of subjugatIon or determination,
final military victory for either side seems
impracticab1e The alternative lies in the
physical exhaustion of the one or the other
party or perhaps of both-a condition
which in erect ended the 10-years' war
by the truce OF zanjon. The prospect of
such a protraction and conclusion OF the
present strife is contingency hardly to
be contemplated with equanimity by the
civilized world. and least of all by the
United States, affected and Injured as we
are, deeply and ultimately by its very e1-
Realizing this, 1t appeared to be my du-
ty, in a spirit of true friendliness. NO less
to Spain than to the Cubans, who have so
much to lose by the prolongation of the
struggle to seek to bring about an imme-
date termination of the war.
To this 1 submitted, on the 9th ultim0,
as result OF much representation and
correspondence. through the United States
minister at Madrid. propositions to che
Spanish government looking to an armis.
tice until Oct. L for the negotiations of
peace, with the good Offices of the presi-
dent.
In addition 1 asked the Immediate reVo-
cation of the order OF Recommendation. -
R8th uitimo contained the statement that
the Spanish minister for foreign Affairs as
as to permit the people to return to their
farms and the needy TO be relieved with
provisions and supplies from the United
States, co-operatIuG with the Spanish au-
thorities Sc to atrord full relief.
Spains Reply.
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
20 the Insular parliament, inasmuch as the
concurrence OF that body would be neces-
Sary to reach a final result, being, how
ever. understood that the powers reserved
by the constitution to the central govern
ment are not lessened or diminished.
AS the Cuban parliament does not meet
Until the May next, the Spanish govern
ment would not object, for Its part, to ac-
cept at once Suspension of hostilities, II
asked for by the insurgents from the gem
eral-ln-chief, to whom it would pertain, in
such case, to determine the duration and
conditions of the armistice.
The propositions submitted by General
Woodford and the reply of the Spanish
government were both in the form of brief
memoranda, the texts of which are before
me-and are substantially in the language
above given. The function OF the Cuban
he Of flreDarfnR