The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-06
OUR WAR WITH SPAIN,
CAUSE oF ME RIpTIIfaiE.
Events in Cuba That Led to Interfer-
ence by the United States.

Events in Cuba That Led to Interfer-
ence by the United States.
In my last annual message very full
consideration was given to the question
of the duty Of the government of the
United States toward SPAN ard the Gu
ban insurrection as being by far the most
important problem with which we were
then called upon to deal. The ccusidera-
tions then advanced and the exposition OF
the views therein expressed, disclosed my
sense of the extreme gravity of the situa-
tion. Setting aside as logically unfounded
or practically inadmissible the recognition
of the Cuban insurgents as belligerents,
the recognition of the independence OF
Cuba, neutral Intervention to end the war
by imposing a rational compromise be-
tween the contestants, Intervention In fa-
vor of one or the other party. and forci-
BILE annexation of the island, / concluded
it was honestly due to our friendly rela-
tions with Spain that she should be given
a reasonable chance to realize her expec-
tations of reform, to which she had be-
come irrevocably committed. Within a
few weeks previously she had announced
comprehensive plans, which it was confi-
IDENTIFY asserted would be etficacious TO
remedy the evils so deeply affecting our
own country, so injurious to the true In
terests of the mother country, as well as
to those of Cuba, and so senugnant to the
universal sentiment of humanity.
The ensuing month brought little sign OF
real progress toward the pacihcation OF
Cuba. The autonomous administration set
", in the capital and some Of the princi-
p3Aties appeared not to gain the favor OF
the inhabitants, nor to be able to extend
their influence to the large extent OF ter
ritory held by the insurgents, while the mil
itary arm, obviously unable to cope with
the still active rebellion, continued many OF
the most Objectionable and offensive policies
of the government that had preceded it. No
tangible relief was afforded the vast num-
bers of unhappy reconcentrados. despite the
reiterated professions made in that regard
and the amount appropriated by Spain TO
that end. The proffered expedient of zones
Of cultivation proved illusoTy; indeed, no
less practical or more delusory promises or
succor would we'll have been extended to
the exhausted and destitute people, stripped
of all that made life and home dear, and
herded in q strange region, among unsym-
pathetic strangers, hardly less necessitous
than themselves.
FRIGHTFUL MORTALITY.
BY the end of December the mortality
among them had frightfully increased. Con-
servative estimates from Spanish sources
placed the deaths among these distressed
people at over 40 per cent. from the time
General Weyler's decree Of RECOMMENDATION
was enforced. With the acquiescence of the
Spanish authorities, a scheme was adopted
for relief by charitable contributions, raised
in this country and distributed under the
direction Of the consul general and the sew
eral consuls by noble and earnest indi-
vidual effort through the organized agencies
OF the American Red Cross. Thousands or
lives were thus saved, but many thousands
were inaccessible to such forms of aid
The war continued on the old footing
without comprehensive plan, developing
only the same spasmodic encounters. barren
of strategic result that had marked the
course of the earlier ten years rebellion
as well as the present insurrection from its
start No alternative save physical exhaus-
tion Of either combatant and therewithal
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 mission of interna-
tional courtesy and good villa catastrophe
the suspicious nature and horror OF which
stirred the Nations heart profoundly. II IL
a striking evidence OF the poise and sturdy
good sense distinguishing our national char
acter that this shocking blow. falling upon .