The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-12
EFFORTS At AMEL1oRArIoN.
Unsatisfactory correspondence with
Spain-Our Relief Measures.


SDain-Our Relief Measures,
In this state of affairs my administration
| found itself confronted with the grave prob
lem of it's duty. My message of last Decem-
Der reviewed the situation and narrated the
steps taken with view to relieving it's
acuteness and opening the way to some f-rm
of honorable settlement. The assassination
of the prime minister, Canovas, led to a
change of government in Spain. The
former administration, pledged to sub
Jugation without concession, gave place to
that of more liberal party, committed long
i'll advance to a policy of REFORM involving
the wider principle of home rule for Cuba
and Porto Rico. The overtures of this
government made through its new envoy
General Woodford, and looking to an imme-
date and effective ameloration of the con-
ditions of the island, although not accepted
to the extent of admitted mediation in any
shape, were met by assurances that home
rule, in an advanced phase would be forth
with offered to CUBE, without waiting for
the war to end, ard that more humane
methods should thenceforth prevail in the
conduct Of hostlities. CoincidentaIly with
these declarations, the new government Of
Spain continued and completed the policy
already begun by its predecessor, of testi-
flying friendly regard for this Nation by re-
leasing American citizens held under one
charge or another connected with the insur-
rection, SO that by the end of November
not single person entitled in any way to
our national protection remained in Span
ish prison.
While these negotiations were in progress
the increasing destitution of the unfortunate
reconcentrados and the alarming mortality
among them claimed earnest attention. The
success which had attended the limited
measure OF relief extended to the
suffering American citizens amcng them,
by the judicious expenditure through
the consular agencies, of the money
appropriated expressly for their sue
cor by the joint resolution approved May
"a, 1897, prompted the humane extension of
a similar scheme of aid to the great body
of sufferers. The suggestion to this end was
acquiesced in by the Spanish authorities:
On the oath of December last, I caused to
be issued an appeal to 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
by similar public announcement of the
formation of central Cuban relief COM
mttee, with headquarters in New York city,
composed of three members representing
the American National Red Cross and the
religious and business elements of the COM
munity The efforts of that committee have
been untiring, and accomplished much Ar
rangements for free transportation to Cuba
have greatly aided the charitable work. The
president of the American Red Cross and
representatives of other contributory or
ganizations have generously visited Cuba
and co-operated with the consul general and
the local authorities to make effective dis
tribution of the relief collected through the
efforts of the central committee. Nearly
$20O,OOo in money and supplies has already
reached the sufferers and more is forth
coming. The supplies are admitted duty
free, and transportation to the interior has
been arranged, SO that the relief, at first
necessarily confined to Havana and the
larger cities, is now extended through most
if not all, of the towns where suffering ex-
lists. Thousands of lives have already been
saved.
WEYLER'S ORDER REVOKED.
The necessity for a change in the condi-
ton of the reconcentrados is recognized by
the Spanish government. Within a few
days the orders of General Weyler have
been revoked. the reconcentrados are, it is
said. to be permitted to return to their
MONIES anu dlQeu W ItSuIHe Inc SeH-SuppOTt-
ing pursuits of peace; public works have
been ordered to give them employment, and
sum of 100000 has been appropriated for
their relief
The war in Cuba is Of such nature that,
short of subjugation or determination, a
final military victory for either side seems
impracticable. The alternative lies i'll the
physical exhaustion of the one or the other
party, or perhaps of both-a condition
which, in effect, ended the ten years war by
the truce of Zanjon. The prospect of such
protraction and conclusion of the pres
ent strife is a contingency hardly to be con-
templated with equanimity by the civilized
world, and least of all by the United States
affected and injured we are, deeply and
intimately by It's very existence. Realizing
this it appeared TO be my duty, i'm a spirit
of true triendliness, no less to Spain than
to the Cubans, who have so much to lose
by the prolongation of the struggle. to
bring about ali immediate termination of
the war. To this end l submitted on the
9th utimo as a result of much representa-
tion and correspondence through the
United States minister at Madrid PROPOSE
tions to the Spanish government looking 10
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