The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-04-15
Overtures Made Last Deesmbsr.

view o. relieving its aCuteuess and opening the
way % some form Of honorable settlement
Inc assassination Of she prime minister, Csno=
tassr leQ 20 a change Of government in Spain
Ehe former administration pledged 70 subja-
CATION without concession gave place 70 that Of
q more liberal party. committed long in ad-
vance 70 policy Of reform involving the wider
principle o. home rule for Cuba and Puerto
Kieo The OTertures Of this government, made
through its new envoy, Gen WOodford. and
looking 70 an immediate and elective ameloria-
ton Of the condition Of the island. although not
accepted to the extent Of admitted mediation
II any shape, were met BY assurances that
nome rule, IN an advanced phase. would be
forthwith offered to Cuba without waiting for
the war 70 end, and that more humane methods
should thenCefOrth prevail In the conduct OF
nostil1ties Incidentally with these declare
IlonSs the new government Of Spain continued
and completed the policy already begun By its
predecessor Of testifying friendly regard for
this nation By releasing American citizens
held under one charge or another connected
with the resurrection 50 that, By the end OF
November not single person entitled IN any
way to our national protection, remained In 3
Spanish prison
The Starving Cubans Fed.
While these negotiations were In progress
the increasing destitutiOn Of the unfortunate
rec0ncentrados and the alarming mortality
among them claimed earnest attention. The
success which had attended the limited meas
ure Of relief extended to the suffering Amerf-
can citizens among them by the JudiciOus eE-
penditure through The consular agencies Of the
money appropriated expressly for their succOr
By the joint resolution approved Nay p
1897, prompted the humane extension OF
a similar scheme Of aid 20 the
great body Of sufferers A suggestion TO
this end was acquiescsd in bT the Spanish au-
thoritles- On the 9th OF December last. I
caused 70 be issued an appeal 20 the American
people, inviting contributions in money or In
kind for the succOr Of the starving sufferers in
Cuba following this on the sth Of january b.
q similar public announcement OF the forma-
ton OF a central Cuban relief committee
with headquarters in New York city. com
posed OF three members representing the
American national Red Cross and the religious
and business elements CT The community The
efforts Of that committee have been untiring
and have. accomplished much Arrangements
for free transportation 70 Cuba have greatly
aided the charitable work. The president OF
the American Red Cross and representatives.
OF other contribut0ry organizations have gen
erOuSly visited Cuba and cO-Opsrated with the
consul general and the local authorities 70
make effective distribution Of the relief collect
ed through the efforts OF the central committee
Nearly S2J0. OBJ in money and supplies has al
ready reached ths sufferers. and more is forth
coming The supplies are admitted duty
free, and transportation 70 the interior has
been arranged, so that the relief, at
drss necessarily confined 10 Havana and
the larger cities, IS now extended through most
U
Thousands Of lives have already been saved
The necessity for change in the condition Of
the recOnCcntradOs IS recognized BY the Span
ISL government Within a few days past the
orders Of Gen Weyler have been revoked. the
recOncentradOs are. IL Is said to be permitted
20 return TO their homes and aided TO resume
the Self-suppOrtiug pursuits Of peaees public
works having been ordered TO give them en-
plOyment and sum Of s6J0, 900 has been apprO-
priated for their relief
e.
short OF su5jugatiOn or determination 9 final
military victory for either side seems imprac-
tiCable- The alternative lies In the physical
exhaustion Of the one OF the other party. or
ended the ten years war by the truce Of Fan
jon The prospect Of such g pFOtraction and
conclusion Of the present strife is q contingency
hardly to be contemplated with equanimity by
the civilized world, and least Of all by the
United States, affected and injured as We are,
deeply and intimately by its very existence
Propositions Submitted to the spanish.
Realizing this, It appears 70 be ny duty. In q
spirit o. true friendliness no less 70 Spain than
20 the Cubans who have 50 much 70 lose by the
prolongGtiOn Of the struggle, 70 seek TO bring
about an immediate termination Of the war. To
this end submitted. On the 9th ultimo, as q
result OF much presentation and correspond
ence. through the United States minister at
Madrid, propositions 10 the Spanish govern
ment- looking 70 an armistice until October l.
ices Of the president In addition asked the
immediate revocation OF The order Of recOncen-
tratiOu, so as 10 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 authorities so
as to afford fun relief
The reply OF the Spanish cabinet was re-
ceived on the night o. the 3Ist ultfno. It Of
fers. as the msans 20 bring about peace in
Cuba. 70 cOudde the preparation thereof 70 the
F=ra Ha-a q.
renee OF that body would be necessary TO reach
q final rssulL it being. however, understood
that the powers reserved BY the constitution 20
the central government are not lessensd or d.
minIshed As the Cuban parliament does not
meet until the zth OF May next. the Spanish
government would not object. for its part. 20
accept az once suspension OF hostiiitfes. II
asked for By the insurgents from the general
in-chief 20 whom Il would pertain. in sue b
case. TO determine the duration and conditions
Of the armi>tic2
The propositions submitted By Gen Wood
ford and the reply Of thu Spanish government
were both in the form Of brief memoranda
the tsezts OF which are before me, and are sub
stantially in the language above given The
function Of the Cuban parliament in the matter
OF preparing peace and the manner Of doing
so are not expressed IN the Spanish memo
randums but from Gen WOOdfOrd's expIaua-
tory reports OF preliminary discussions preced-
ing the unal conference it IS understood that
the Spanish government stands ready 70 give
the insular congress fun powers 70 settle the
terms Of peace with 1h5- insurgents. whether
by direct negotiation OF indirectlF BY means Of
legislation does not appear With this last
oVertures IN the direction Of immediate peace
and its disappointing reception BY Spain the
executive was brought 10 the end OF his effort
What Was said IN the Last Message
In ny annual message Of December last
said: '-Of the untried measures there remain.
Recognition OF the insurgents as belligerents-
recognition OF the Independence Of Cuba
neutral Intervention 70 end the war by
imposing q rational compromise between
the contestants and Intervention In favor
OF one or the other party" I speak not
OF forcibJe annexation for that cannot be
thought or That b. our code OF morality.
would be criminal aggression Therefore. re-
viewed these alternatives IN the light OF PreSi-
dent Grants measured words. uttered in 1873
when after seven years o. ssnEuinary .destruc-
tive and cruel barbarities in Cuba he reached
the conclusion that the recognition OF the in
dependence OF Cuba was fmpracticable and in
defensible: that the recognition Of beliigerence
was not warranted by the facts according 70 the
upon the latter aspect Of the question. pointing
out the Inconvenience and positive dangers Of
. recognition OF bslligerenCy- which while
adding 70 the already onsrous burdens OF neu-
tralitF within our own jurisdiction could not
in any way extend our influence or elective Of
ices in the territory OF hosti1ities. Nothing
has since occurred % change M view in this
rerarrf ana recoEuiEe a fully uow--s then