The record-union., 1898-04-01

Which Exists.
WASHINGTON, March 81 - The
Spanish Legation has received full re-
ports from Captain General Blanco
from the Governors of all the provinces
oe Cuba. and from the Alcaldes and
Chiefs of Police of the principal cities
as to the condition Of the reconcen-
trados. 1t is an elaborate treatment
of this subject by the officers directly
in charge, and gives the situation fully
from their standpoint. 1t is note
worthy that they do not seek to mini
mize the dreadful condition OF these
people but endeavor to show that they
are doing their utmost to alleviate the
misery and misfortune which exists.
General Blanco's report is in sub
stance as follows:
In the midst of the painful impress
sion caused by the situation of the
reconcentradoS, it is some Satlsfacton
to note the great Improvement in their
condition as compared with What II
was four or five months ago. In re-
Spouse to the keen interest which the
home Government has shown in the
matter this Government has endeavor-
ed from the very first, in every pos
sibIe way, to alleviate so much misery
and misfortune. The cities, overfilled
with men. women and children without
work, were unable to sustain a popu-
lation of consumers who produced
nothing.
THE destruction of so many hamlets
by the insurgents compelled the un-
fortunate inhabitants to seek refuge
in the towns to save their lives, the
only thing possible to be saved from
this wanton and barbarous destruction
which had reduced them to a state OF
the most horrible wretchedness. In
Puerto Principe nearly all the recon
centrados were of this class.
THE maladies originated by this
crowding together of human beings and
the fatal belief in an inevitable com
bined to take away from many the
necessary energy to struggle for life
and to discourage private charity
which considered itself impotent. with
out decided help from official charity
other and sadder consideration.
"Sadder considerations may be made
to explain a certain passive resistance
amongst some elements who regarded
every concentrate as an enemy more
or less disguised. The result of al
this was the truly formidable problem
presented, all the graver from the fact
that it was a necessity of immediate
urgency.
1.-THE disposition of this Government
was to attack the source. By the de-
cree of November 18th last the return
of all the reconcentrados to their homes
was permitted, and they were author
iZed at the same time to carry arms
to defend their property. In this the
cities were relieved of a large part OF
their abnormal population, and check
given to the diseases produced by
o\clcrowding. Committees of helT
were organized, intervention in them
being given by the clergy, doctors and
all the more respectable elements OF
charity. A few days after their es-
tablishment these juntas were pro-
vided with resources, handling over
&1GO. 900 the 23d of November, and
SOC, 900 the ID of March. The Govern
ors and Alcaldes We're called upon tC
show their zeal by giving a good ex-
ample, an appeal to which these au-
thorities responded with an interest
worthy of all praise. In this way was
private charity encouraged and enabled
to organize it's own protective commit
tees. economic kitchens and charitable
associations which distribute relief per
sonaIly and contribute powerfully tc
relieve the suffering.
LAS a result of all this public spirit
began to rise again, confidence return
ed and a disposition to work began tc
prevail. In Santa Clara there are act
ually large number of these unhappy
beings occupied in field labor.
I'm order to avoid the overcrowding
whicl was found to occur when the
| laborers returned to the towns after
| the days work, huts were erected fol
| them in the cultivated zone, with very
| excellent results. In Pinar Del Rio
| five villages are being reconstructed
and effective means are being taken tt
| increase and encourage agricultural la
Dor. In Santiago de Cuba. the cult
waited zones are in perfect condition
Those in San Luis, Sango and Canery
may be termed as models. In Matan
zas 10000 free. railway tickets were
given to the reconcentrados who re-
|
| the gravity of the crisis is passing
away, but owing to the hight it attain
ed. this cannot be accomplished in &
! brief time
Apart from any preconceived idea
| it is only just to admit that the hell
| which comes from the United State.
| is also a powerful means of relief il
| the actual wants. The Governor of thi:
| province QHabana) calculates at $40,
| 900 the value of the provisions. clothes
medicines, ETC., distributed in this city
| during the month of February, which
| have contributed to the relief of the
excessive number of reconcentrado:
| here.
1T is sad to note that the population
/ has diminished but it must be remem
| bered that this is by no means due
| exclusively to want and misery. The
| emigration which occurred in some
| cities was enormous. In Santiago dt
Cuba alone 1900 passports have beer
signed The official statistics also show
/ that the high rates of mortality are no
| due in many cases to the absence o
! provisions. 1t has been observed tha
the largest number of deaths occu