Warren sheaf., 1898-12-08
SPAIN AND CUBA,
"A Resume of the Conditions Which
Led Up to the War

In my last annual message very full con-
sideration was given to the question of
the duty of the government of the United
States toward Spain and the Cuban in
surrection as being by far the most i'm
portant problem with which we were then
called upon to deal. The considerations
then advanced, and the exposition of the
views therein expressed, disclosed my
sense of the extreme gravity of the situ-
alton. Setting aside, as logically un-
founded or practically inadmissible, the
recognition of the independence of Cuba.
neutral intervention to end the war by i'm
posing rational compromise between the
contestants, intervention in favor of one
or the other party, and fOrcible annexation
of the island. concluded it was honestly
due to our friendly relations with Spain
that she should be given a reasonable
form to which she had become irrevocably
committed. Within a few weeks previous
ly she had announced comprehensive plans,
which it was confidently asserted would
be ethcacious to remedy the evils so deep
ly affecting. our own country, SO Injurious
as we'll as to those Of Cuba, and SO repug-
nant to the universal sentiment Of hu-
manity. s.....5.-. .... .,..... @..-..
The ensuing month brought little sign of
real progress toward the pacification of
Cuba. The autonomous administration set
up in the capital and some of the prin-
Of the fs to be @ sba to tne extend xtHo
their influence to the large extent of ter
ritory held by the insurgents while the
With the still st s actiVe rebeion De eon}in9ed s9pi
many of the most Objectionable and often
sive policies of the government that had
preceded it, No tangible relief was af-
forded the vast numbers of unhappy re-
concentrates despite the reiterated pro-
fessions made in that regard and the
end. The proffered expedient of zones of
cultivation proved illusory; indeed no less
practical nor more delusive promises of
exhausted and destitute people, stripped of
all that made life and home dear and
herded in a strange region among unsym-
pathetic strangers hardly less neceSSitOus
than themselves.
Destruction of the Maine.
At this juncture, on the 18th of Febru-
ary last, occurred the destruction Of the
battleship Maine, while rightfully lying in
ternational courtesy and good villa
catastrophe the suspicious nature and hor-
ror of which stirred the nations heart pro-
foundly. 1t is striking evidence of the
poise and sturdy good sense distinguishing
our national character that this shocking
blow, falling upon a generous people, al
in Cuba, did not move them to an instant,
desperate resolve to tolerate no longer the
existence of condition of danger and dis
order at our doors that made possible such
deed by WhOmsOever wrought. Yet the
instinct. of justice prevailed and the nation
anxlously awaited the result of the search
1IlS 1uVeSIlSdC1On at once set on foot, The
finding of the naval board of inquiry estab-
iished that the origin of the explosion was
external by submarine mine, and only
matted ma f =. through LACK of positive testimony
to hX the responsibility of it's authorship.
Action of Congress.
All these things carried conviction to the
most thoughtful even before the finding
of the naval court, that a crisis in our re-
hand. So strong was this Belief that it
needed butt z brief executive sugges-
tion to the congress to receive imme-
provision for the possible and perhaps
speedily proba BILE emergency of war, and the
remarkable, almost unique, spectacle was
houses on the 9Th of March, appropria ting
600 'for the national defenses nd for
each and every purpose connected there
the president" That this act of provision
came none too soon was disclosed when the
Wepe oe Waa
navy needed large provision for increased d
ammunition and supplies, and even num-
the navy Of Spain, which comprised mod
ern vessels Of the highest type of conti-
mental perfection. Our army also required
details of the hurried preparation for the
dreaded contingency is told in the reports
Of the secretaries of war and of the navy.
cient to say that the outbreak Of the
war when it did come, found our nation not
unprepared TO meet 1Ine cOnHlct.
Efforts Continued.
Still animated by the hope Of peaceful
solution and obeying the dictates of duty,
no effort was relaxed to bring about a
speedy ending of the Cuba nstruggle. Ne
gotiat tions to this obpect continued actively
with the government Of Spain, looking. to
the Immediate conclusion Of six months
armistice in Cuba with view. to effect the
recognition Of her peoples right to inde-
pendence Besides this, the instant revo-
cation of the order of rec oncentration was
asked. so that the sufferers, returning to
their homes and aided by united American
and Spanish effort ght be put in q way
sum ption Of the well-nigh DESTROYED pro-
ductiYe energies of the island, ontribute ~ H