The age-herald., 1898-12-06


 the time General wewler's decree, of re- concentration was enforced. With the ac- quiesence of the Spanish authorities a scheme was adopted for their relief by charitable contributions raised in this coun- try and distributed, under the direct on Of the consull-general and the several consuls.
 by noble and earnest individual effort
 through the organized agencies Of the American Red Cross. Thousands of lives were thus saved but many thousands more
 were inaccessible to such forms of aid.
 The war continued on the old footing without comprehensive plan, developing
 only the same spasmodic encounters, bar
 ren of strategic result that had marked
 the course of the earlier ten years rebellion
 as well as the present instruction from its
 start. No alternative save physical ex-
 haustion of ether combatant and there withal the practical ruin of the island lay
 in sight, but how far distant no one could venture to conjecture.
 At this juncture, on the 18th of February last, occurred the destruction of the battle ship Maine. while rightfully lying in the harbor of Havana on a mission of inter- national courtesy and good villa catastro- phe, the suspicious nature and the horror of which stirred the nations heart pro- foundly. It 's a striking evidence of the boise and sturdy good sense distinguishing our national character that this shocking blow. falling upon a generous people, all
 
 in Cuba did not move them to an instant. desperate resolve to to'erate no longer the existence of cond ton of danger and dis order at our doors that made possible such
 deed by whomsoever wrought. Yet the instinct of justice prevailed and the na- ton anxiously awaited the result of the searching investigation at once set on foot The find ng of the naval board of Inquiry established that the origin of the explosion was external by a submarine mine, and
 only halted through lack of positive testi- mony to fix the responsibility of it's author ship.
 The Crisis Expected
 All these things carried conviction to the
 most thoughtful, even before the finding of the naval court, that crisis in our rela- tions with Spain and toward Cuba was at hand. So strong was this belief that 1t needed but brief executive suggestion to congress to receive answer to the duty of making instant provision for the possible and perhaps speedily probable emergency
 of war and the remarkable. almost unique spectacle was presented of a unanimous vote of both houses on the 9th of March, appropriating s50,0000O0 flor the national
 defense and for each and every purpose connected herewith, to be expended at the discretion of the president" That this act of provision came none too soon was disclosed when the application of the fund was undertaken. Our coasts were practi- callly undefended. Our navy needed large provision for increased ammunition and supplies and even numbers to cope with any sudden attack from the navy of Spain, which comprised modern vessels of the highest type of continental perfection. Our army also required enlargement of men and munitions. The details of the hurried preparation for the dreaded contingency, told in the reports of the secretaries of war and of the navy need not be repeated here. It is sufficient to say the outbreak of war, when 1t did not come, found our nation not unprepared to meet the conflict Nor was the apprehension of coming
 strife confined to our country. It was
 felt by the continental powers, which on April 6, through their ambassadors and en-
 voys, addressed to the executive an express
 sion of hope that humanity and modera- ton might mark the course of this gov- ernment and people and that further nego- tiations would lead to an agreement which,
 while securing the maintenance of peace,
 would afford all necessary guarantees for the re-establishment of order in Cuba. In
 responding to that representation, said
 shared the hope the envoys had expressed
 that peace might be preserved in means
 to terminate the chronic condition of dis turbance in Cuba so injurious and menacing to our interests and tranquility as well as
 shocking to our sentiments of humanity
 and while appreciating the humanitarian
 ism and disinterested character of the com
 munication they had made on behalf of the
 powers, stated the confidence of this gov
 erDment for it's part that equal apprecla-
 tion would be shown for it's own earnest and unselfish endeavors to furfill duty to humanity by ending a situation the in- definite proongation of which had become insufferable
 Hope of Peaceful Solution
 Still animated by the hope of a peaceful solution and obeying the dictates of duty no effort was made to bring about speedy ending of the Cuban struggle. Negotia- tions to this object continued actively with the government of Spain, looking to the immediate conclusion of six months ar
 mistice in Cuba with view to effect the recognition of her peoples rights to inde- pendence. Besides this, the instant revo- cation of the order of recommendation was asked, so that the sufferers returning to their homes and aided by united American and Spanish effort, might be put in way to support themselves, and by orderly re- sumption of the well nigh destroyed pro- ductive energies of the island contribute to the restoration of it's tranquility and well being. Negotiations continued for
 some little time at Madrid resulting in
 offers by the Spanish government which could not but be regarded as inadequate. It was proposed to confide the preparation of peace to the insular parliament, yet to be convened under the autonomous decrees of
 November 10, 1897, but without impairment in any wise of the constitutional powers Of
 the Madrid government, which to that end
 would grant an armistice if solicited by the
 insurgents for such time as the general in-chief might see fit to fix. How and
 with what scope of discretionary powers the insular parliament was expected to set about the "preparation" of peace did not appear If 1t were to be by negotiation with the insurgents the issue seemed to rest on the one side with the body chosen by a fraction of the electors in the districts under Spanish control, and on the other by the insurgent population holding the in- terior country unrepresented in the so- called parliament and defiant at the sug- gestion of sueing for peace.
 Submitted to Congress
 Grieved and disappointed at this barren outcome of my sincere endeavors to reach a practicable solution, felt 1t my duty to remit the whole question to congress. In | the message of April Il. 1898. announced l that with this last overture in the direc- l ton of immediate peace in Cuba and it's r.-- cI-~~f f~- IL