The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-04-15
peace it could beget was that of the wilder
ness and the grave.
A Noticeable Change

island had undergone q noticeable change.
The extraordinary activity that charactee-
lied the second year of the war, when
the insurgents invaded even the hitherto
unframed fields of Pinar del Rio and car
ried havoc and restitution up to the walls
of the city of Havana itself, had relapSed
into a logged struggle in the central and
eastern provinces. The Spanish arms re-
gained a measure of control in Pinar del
Rio and parts of Havana, but, under the
existing conditions of the rural country,
without immediate improvement of their
productive situation. Even thus par
TALLY restricted the revolutionists held
their own, and their submission, put
forward by Spain as the essential and sole
basis Of peace, seemed as far distant as
at the outset.
Steps Taken for Relief.
In this state of affairs my administration
found itself confronted with the grave
problem of its duty. My message of last
December reviewed the situation and de-
tailed the steps taken with a view OF re-
lieving its acuteneSS and opening the way
to some form Of honorable settlement. The
assassination Of the prime minister,
CanoVas led to a change Of government in
Spain. The former administration pledged
to SubjuEatiOn without concession gave
place to that Of a more liberal party, COM
mitted long in advance to a policy of re-
form, involving the wider principle of
home rule for Cuba and Puerto Rico. The
| Overtures of this government, made
through its new envoy, Gen. Woodford,
and looking to an immediate and effective
amelioratiOn of the condition of the is
land. although not accepted TO the extent
of admitted mediation in any shape, We're
met by assurances that home rule, in an
advanced phase, would be forthwith Of
fered to Cuba, without waiting for the
war to end, and that more humane meth
DDS should thencefOrth prevail in the con-
duct of hostilitieS. Incidentally with these
declarations the new government OF SPAN
begun by its predecessor of teStifying
friendly regard for this nation by releasing
American citizens held under one charge r1
so that by the end of November not
single person entitled in any way to our
national protection remained in Spanish
prison.
An Appeal for Help.
While these negotiations were in prog
ress, the increasing restitution Of the I'M
fortunate recommended dos and the alarming
mortality among them claimed earnest at
tentionL 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 ap-
propriated expressly for their succOr by
the joint resolution approved May "a, 1897,
prompted the humane extension Of sim
liar scheme Of aid to the great body of
sufferers. A suggestion to this end was
acQueSced in by the Spanish authorities.
On the oath Of December last 1 caused to
be issued an appeal to the American peo-
pie inviting contributions in money or in
kind for the succor of the starving suffer-
ers in Cuba, following this on the Sth Cf
of the formation Of a central Cuban relief
committee, with headquarters in New
York city, composed of three members rep
reSentlng the American National Red Cross
and the religious and business elements Of
the community. The efforts Of that COM
mttee have been untiring and accom-
pllShed much. Arrangements for free trans
portation' to Cuba have greatly aided the
charitable work. The president Of the
American Red Cross and representatives
Of other cOrtributory organizations have
generously visited Cuba and co-operated
with the consul-general and the local au-
thoritleS to make effective distribution of
the relief collected through the efforts Of
the central committee. Nearly 5000 600 in
money and supplies has already reached
me SunererSJ and more is forthcoming.
The supplies are admitted duty free and
transportation TO the interior has been
arranged, so that the relief, at first neces-
sarily confined to Havana and the larger
cities, is now extended through most, if not
all or the towns where suffering exists.
thousands of lives have already been
s3Ned. The necessity for a change IN the
condition of the TecOncentrados. is recog-
nlzed by the Spa niSh government Within
a few days past the orders of General Wev-
Ter nave been revoked, the reconcentra-
turn to their homes and aided to resume
the seIf-suppOrting pursuits of peace: pub
nc works have been ordered to give them
employment, and a sum of $500, COO has been
appropriated for their relief
Can See No End
The war in Cuba is of such a nature that
snort OF subjugation or determination a
maj military victory for either side seems
lInpractlcable. The alternative lies in the
physical exhaustion of the one or the other
party, or perhaps Of both-a condition.
winch IN effect ended the ten years war
by the truce of Zenjon. The prospect of
such protTactiOn and conclusion of the
present strife is a contingency hardly to
be contemplated with equanimity by the
United States. affected and injured as we
are, deeply and intimately by its very eX-
iStence.
Asked for an Armistice.
Realizing this, it appeared to be my duty,
IN spirit Of true friendliness, no less to
Spain than to the Cubans who have so
much 10 lose by the prolOngatiOn of the
struggle, to seek to bring about an imme-
date termination of the war. To this end
l submitted, on the 9th Ultimo, as re-
suit OF much representation and CORE
spOndence, through the United States min
lister at Madrid, propositions to the Span
ism government looking to an armistice I'M
II! OCTOBER for the negotiation Of peace
with the good offices of the president.
In addition | asked the immediate revoca-
ton Of the order of RECOMMENDATION, so a.
to permit the people to return to their
farms and the needy to be relieved with
provisions and supplies from the United
States cooperating with the Spanish au-
thorities so as to afford full relief.
The Reply of Spain.
The reply of the Spanish cabinet was
received on the night of the 31St ult. 1t
in Cuba, to confide the preparation thereof
to the inSular department, inaSmuch as the
concurrence of that body would be ncceS-
Sary to reach a final result, it being, how
ever, understood that the powers reserved
the 4th of May next, the Spanish govern
ment are not leSSened or diminished. AS
the Cuban parliament does not meet until
the 4th of May next, the Spanish govern
ment would not object, for it's part, to &C
cept at once a suspension Of hoStilitieS, if
asked for by the insurgents from the gem
era! in chief, to whom it would pertain, in
such case, to determine the duration and
conditions of the armistice.
The propositions submitted by Gen.
WoodfOrd and the reply of the Spanish
government were both in the form Of brief
memoranda, the texts of which are be-
fore me-and are substantially in the lam
guagc above given. The function of the
Cuban parliament in the matter of pre-
pairing peace and the manner of it's do
ing so arc not expressed in the Spanish
memorandum: but from Gen. WOodford's
explanatory reports of preliminary discus
s!Ons preceding the final conference it is
understood that the Spanish government
stands ready to give the insular congress
1ull powers TO settle the terms of peace
with the insurgents, whether by direct ne
EQUATIONS or Indirectly by means OF leyis-
latiOn, does not appear
End of Diplomacy.
With this last overture in the direction Of
immediate peace and its disappointing re-
| ion