The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-18
loo,o00HAVE STARVED

dropped dead inside the market surrounded
by food These people were independent
and self supporting before VIEWERS order
They are not beggars, even now There are
plenty OF professional beggars In every
town among the regular residents, but
these country people the reconce ntrados
nave not learned the art Rarely Is 4 hand
held out to you for aims when going
among their huts, but the sight OF them
makes an appeal stronger than words.
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DEATHS.
OF the hospitals l need not speak.
Others have described their condition far
better than / can. 1t is not within the
narrow limits Of my vocabulary to portray
1t. ! went to Cuba with a strong convic-
ton that the picture had been overdrawn,
that few cases Of starvation and suffer-
ing had inspired and stimulated the press
correspondents and that they had given
free play to strong natural and highly
cultivated imagination. Before I )started
received through the mail a leaflet pub
lished by the Christian Herald, with cuts
of some Of the sick and starving recon
centrados, and took it with me, thinking
these were rare specimens, got UP 10 make
Il
as bad and worse; many that should not be
photographed and shown. ! could not be-
lieve that out of population of 100000
200 000 had died within these Spanish forts,
practically prison walls. within few
months, of actual starvation and disease
caused by insufficient and improper food.
My inquiries were entirely outside OF SEN
sational sources. They We're made OF our
medical officers, of our consuls, OF city al
Una Of
leading merchants and bankers, physicians
and lawyers. Several OF my informants
were Spanish born, but every time the
answer was that the case had not been
overstated What ] saw | can not tell SO
that others can see. 1t must be seen with
ones own eyes to be realized. The Los
Passes hospital has been fully described by
one of my colleagues. Senator Gallinger,
and l can not say that his picture was
overdrawn, for even his fertile pen could
not do that He visited 1t after Or. Lcssar,
one Of Miss Barton's very able and efh-
cient assistants, had renovated II and put
in cots. ! saw It when 400 women ana
children were lying on the stone floors IN
an indescribable state OF emaciation and
of rags. and such rags, and sick children
naked as they came into the world. And
the conditions in the other cities are even
worse.
Miss Barton needs no Endorsement from
me. I had known her and esteemed her
for many years. but had not half apFre-
ciated her capability and devotion TO her
work. All OF Miss Barton's assistants are
exceIlentIy fitted for their duties. The
American people may be assured that their
bounty will reach the sufferers with the
least possible cost and in the best manner
in every respect. !.
And If our people could see small
fraction Of the need they would pour more
freely from their liberal store than ever
before for any cause.
"Wben will the need for this help end?
Not until peace comes and the reconcen-
trades can go back to their country. re-
huild their homes. reclaim their fillage
Riots. which uuicly run up to brush IN mat
wonderful soil and cline, and until they
IAN he free from danger OF molestntion IN |
20 doing. Unul then the American people
must In the main care for them y 10
rue that the, aloaldes. other local author- |
les and relief committees are now trying |
n do something and desire. ! believe. 10
In the best they can. But the problem
i beyond their means end capacity ana
he work is one TO which they are not ac-
,ustomed.
General Blanco's order Of November
q last scmewhs. modifies the Weyier or |
Ter but Is OF little or no practical bene-
IT, Its application is limited 10 larms
m the property defended and the owners
IRE obliged 20 build 'centers OF defense
is execution is completely In the dscre-
ion Of the local military authorities and
hey know the terrible military efficiency
4 Weylers order In stripping the coun-
ry OF all possible shelter, food or source
4 Information for nm insurgent and VIII
q slow to surrender their advantage. In
act. though the order was issued four
ronths ago saw no beneficent results
rom 81 worth mentioning, ] do not I'M
ugn General BIarco's motives and be-
Ieve him 10 be an amiable gentleman and
ha' hn -rnld be- glad 10 relieve the con-
ifion OF the reconcenirados II he could 40
0 without less OF any military ADVANTAGE.
ut he knows that all Cubans are insur-
ents at heart and Zone now under mill !