The Eddy current., 1898-04-16

waste, dwellings unrOofed and fred
mills destroyed. and In short. every
things that could desolate the land and
rcnder II unit for human habltatlon or
support was commanded by one or the
other Of the contendlne parties and ex-
ecuted by all the powers at their dis
posnl
ny the present administration. who
took charge n year ago. a concentra-
tion-so-called-had been made effec-
tive over the better part Of the four
provinces Of Santa Clara. Matanaas.
Havana and Pinar del Rio. The agrl-
cultural population. to the estimated
number Of 100000 or more was herded
within the towns and their immediate
vicinity, deprived Of the moans OF sun
port, rendered destitute Of shelter. left
poorly clad and exposed to the most
unsanliary conditions As the scarcity
Of food Increased with tho devastation
OF the depopulated areas Of production
dostitution and want became misery
ana starvation. Month by month the
death rate increased. by March. 1897.
according 10 conservative estimates
from oihclal Spanish sources the NOR
tallty among the roconcentrados. from
starvation and the dlsense thereto in
cident, exceeded ffty per cent Of their
total number The oyorburdened towns.
already suffering from the general
cearth, could give no aid. so-called
zones Of cultivation" established
within the immediate area Of effective
military control, about the cities and
fortified camps. proved lllusory az a
remedy for the suffering. The unfor-
tunates, being for the most part women
aud children, with aged and helpless
men enfoeblod by disease and hunger.
could not have titled the soil without
tools, seed or shelter for their own
support or for the support OF the
cities. The recommendation. adoptod
avowedly as a war measure IN order to
cut on the resources Of the insurgents.
worked It's predeslined results. As |
said In my message OF last December.
II was not civilized warfare-it was
determination. The only peace Il could
beget was that of the wilderness and
the crave.
Meanwhile the military situation I'm
the Island mad undergone q noticeable
change. Tho extraordinary activity
that surprised the second year nf war
when tho Insurgents invaded even the
hitherto unharmed fields Of Plnar del
Rio and carried havoc and destruction
mp TO the walls OF the city OF Havana
Itself had relapsed into a doggod slrug-
glo In the central and eastern proy-
lncos. Tho Spanish arms regalned in
q measure control of Plnar del rio ana
parts ~ Havana but under the existing
ccAdl'ions OF the rural country without
immediate provision Of the productive
sluation' Even thus partially restricted
the reyolutlonsts held their own and
NOR conquest and submission put for
ward by Spain as the essential and
sole basis OF peace, seemed as fir dis
tant as al the outset.
In this state of affairs my admin
istrntion found Itself confronted with
the grave problem OF its duty. NV
message of last December reviewed the
situation and narrated the steps taken
with Wow 10 relieve its acutoness
and opening the wny 10 some form Of
honorable settlement Rg
The assassination of the premier.
CanOyaa. led 10 change OF government
IN Spain. The former administration
pledged 10 subiugato without concea-
sion, gave place 20 that OF a more llb-
ernl party, committed long In advance
10 policy OF reform involving the
wider principle OF home rule for Cuba
ana Puerto Rico. The oyertures Of this
government, made through ia new en-
yo" General Woodiord. and looking 10
an immediate and effective amellora-
ton Of the conditions OF the island. a.
though not accepted to the extent OF
admitted mediation In any shape. were
met by assurances that home rule. In
an advanced phase. would he forthwith
offered 10 Cuba without waiting for tho
war 10 end. and that more humane
methods should hencoforth prevail In
the conduct OF hostillties. Conditionally
with these the new government OF
Spain continued aud completed the pol-
Icy already begun by its predecessor.
OF testifylng friendly regard for this ma
tion by releasing American citizens
held under one charge or another con
nectod with the lnsurrectlon. 80 that
by the end OF November not "a single
person entitled In any way 10 our ma
tional protection remained IN a Spanish
prison,
While these negotiations were In
progress the increasing destitutlon of
the unfortunate reconcnntradOs and
the alarming mortality among them
claimed earnest attention The success
which had attended the limited meas
ure OF relief extended 10 the suffering
American citizens among them boy the
judiclous expenditure through the con
sular agencies OF the money appropri-
atod expressly for their succor by the
Joint resolution. prompted by the hu-
mano extension OF a similar scheme of
aid 10 tho great body OF sufferers. A