The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-04-16
he Is Opposed to a Recognition of
the Government Established
by the Insurgents.
Explosion of the Maine Cited as Evil
denee Of SPANS Inability to Pro-
tect Vessels In Cuban Waters.
He Commits the Question of
Our Action TO Congress

Washington. .Aprn 1.-THE president
Monday sent the following message 10
the congress OF the United States:
ObedIent TO that precept OF the consutu-
ton which commands the president 10 give
from time 10 time 20 congress Information
OF the state or the union, and 10 recon-
mend 10 their consideration such measures
as ne shall judge necessary and expedlent
IL becomes my duty now TO address your
body with regard 10 the grave crisis that
has arisen In the relations OF the United
States to Spain by reason OF the warfare
that for more than three years has
i DO so because u the intimate connection
OF the Cuban question with the state or our
course Sn Which ant IS now SaES
the nation 20 adopt must needs bear 70
the traditional policy or our governments
down by the founders OF the republic and
religiously observed by succeeding admin
UnciviIiEed Warfare.
The present revolution is but the sue
pessor OF other similar insurrections which
have occurred In Cuba aganst the do
minion OF Spain. extending over a period
of nearly half century, each or which
ed States TO great effort and expense I'm
enforcing It's neutrality laws, caused enor-
nous losses TO the American trade and
commerce, caused irritation, annoyance
fnd disturbance among our citizens, and
by the exercise Of cruel. barbarous and
the sensibllities and offended the humane
sympR thies OF our people
Since the present revolution began in
February 1885 this country has seen the
fertile domain at our threshold ravaged
strugs sHi a u6eqa Md n The hstofy ot the
islands, and rarely .paralleled as 70 the
humber OF the combatants and the bitterness
OF the contest by any revolution OF mod
ern times. where dependent people stry-
power OF the sovereign state. Our peo-
pie have beheld once prosperous commu-
nifty reduced TO comparative want. It's COM
acknowledgements diminished, It's fields laid
waste. its mills in ruins. and rs people
ger and restitution. We have found our
selves constrained, In the observance OF
Join, and which the law Of nations COM
mands. TO police our waters and watch our
own seaports In prevention OF any unlawful
suffered the capital Invested by our cit
teens in Cuba has been largely lost, and
the temper and forbearance OF our peo-
pie has been so sorely tried as 20 begct
perilous unrest among our own citizens
which has Inevitably found its expres.
sion from time 10 time IN the nationnl
legislature, so that Issues wholly external
20 our own body polite engross attention
and stand IN tho way OF that close devO-
ton 10 domestic advancement that be-
comes self-contented commonwealth
ance OF all foreign entanglements All this
must needs awaken, and has indeed aroused
the utmost concern on the part Of this gov
administration as my own
Efforts FOR Pence.
In April. lSnG, the evils from which mr.
country suffered through the Cuban war
became so onerouS that my predcce ssor
made an effort TO bring about a peace
Through the mediation OF this government
IN any way that might tend 10 an honor
able adjustment Of the contest between
SPAN ana her revolted colony, on the
basis OF some effective scheme OF self-gov-
eminent for cuba under the flag and
eoVerelBnty OF Spain. IL failed through
the refusal OF the Spanish government then
W power 10 consider any form OF mediation
So mecca sesn any Baq ne q setgment Which dd
the Insurgents to the mother country, and
then only on such terms as Spain herself
might see ~ 10 grant. The war continued
undated. The resistance or the Insurgents
was In no wise diminished
New Horrors Added.
The efforts OF Spain were Increased both
by the dispatch OF fresh leVies TO cuba and
by the addition 20 the horrors OF the strife
or new and inhuman phase happily un-
precedonted IN the modern history OF civ
ilized Christian peoples. The policy OF
rated b! the captain-general's bando OF De-
tober n, 1896 Ia the province OF Pinar del
Rio. was thence extended 70 embrace all OF
the Island 70 which the power OF the Span
ish arms was able 10 reach by occupation or
by military operations, The peasantry, in
tural Interior. We're driven into the garrison
towns or isolated places held by the troops
oil kinds were interdicted. The fields were
laid waste, dwellings unroofed and fred
that could desolate the land and render II
unfit for human habitation OF support was
commanded by one or the other OF the con-
powers at their disposal
Conditions Year Ago.
by the time the present administration
TOOK once a year ago, rcconcentration-so
called-had been made effective over the
better part OF the four central and west
eru PROVINCES, Santa Clara, Matanzas Ha-
vana and pinRr del Rio. The agricultural
population, 10 the estimated number Of
tooNv or more, was herded within the
towns and their Immediate vlcinage, de-
priyed or ne means OF support, rendered
exposed 10 the most unsanitary conditions.
As the scarcity of food increased with
che devastation Of The depopulated areas
came misery and starvation. Month by
month the death rate Increased In al
90 conservative estimates from ofncial
Spanish sources. the mortality among the
diseases thereto incident, exceeded 80 DER
centum OF their total number No prsc-
teal relief was accorded 20 the destitute
The overhurdened towns. already suffering
from the general dearth. could give no aid
Bo-called zones Of cultivation. established
within the imfncdlate area on effective mill
tary control about the cities and fort fed
sagi, proHsa nssory ~ remedy iay FOR re
most part women and children with aged
and helpless men, ,enfeehled by disease and
hunger. could not have titled the soil, with
support or for the. supply OF the cities
war measure in order 10 cut OF the re-
sources OF the insurgents, worked its
predestined result. As I said IN my mes-
taRe OF last December Il was not civilized
warfare II was determination. The only
peace u could bcget was that or the wilder
mesa ard the grave.
NoticeabIc Chance.
Meanwhile the military situation N the
Island had undergone noticeable change.
The extraordinary activity that character
lied the aecond year or the war, when
tho insurgents invaded even the hitherto
unframed fields 81 pinar del RIO aud car
ried havoc aud dcstitution up 10 the walls
OF the city of Havana itself, had relapsed
Into doEEed struggle ~ the central and
eastern provinces. The spanish arms re-