The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-04-19

relapsed into logged struggle in the cen
trail and eastern provinces. The Spanish arms
regaihed a measure of control in Pinar del
Rio and parts of Havana, but, under the ex-
listing conditions of the rural country without
INN ediate Improvement Of their productive
SITUATION: Even thus partially restricted the
feyolutionists held their own and their sub
mission put forward by Spain is the essential
ana sole basis Of peace, seemed as far distant
as at the outset. In this state Of affairs. nv
administration found itself confronted with
The Grave Problem of It's Duty.
My message Of last December received the
situation and detailed the steps taken with g.
view of relieving it's acuteness and opening
the way to some form of honorable settlement;
The assassination Of the prime minister, Coto-
vas, led to change of government in Spain.
The former administration pledged tre sub
Jugation without concession. gave place to
that OF more liberal party. committed LONG
In advance to policy of reform involving
the wider principle of home rule for Cuba,
and Puerto Rico The overtures of this gov
eminent, made through it's new envoy Gen.
Woodford, and looking to an immediate and
efective amelioration Of the condition 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 forthwith offered to Cuba,
without waiting for the war to end, and that
more humane methods should henceforth pre-
vail in the conduct of hostii lies. incidentally
with these declaration the new government
of Spain continued and completed the policy
ALREADY begun by it's predecessor of testifying
friendly regard for this nation, by releasing
American citizens held under charge
another connected with the Instruction, SO
that by the end of November, not a single
person entitled in any way to national
protection remained in Spanish prison.
While these negotiations in progress,
the increasing restitution of the unfortunate
reconcentradoes and the alarming mortality
among them claimed earnest attention. The
success which had attended the limited meas
ure of relief extended to the suffering Ameri-
can citizens among them by the judicious
penditure through the consular agencies of
the money appropriated expressly for their
succor by the joint resolution approved May
2, 1897, prompted the humane extension of
similar scheme of aid to the great body of
sufferers A suggestion made of
Suspension of HOstiIities,
if asked for by the insurgents from the gen
eral in chief, to whom it would pertain in
such case to determine the duration and con-
ditions of the armistice. The propositions sub
mitted by Gen. Woodford and the reply of
the Spanish government were both in the form
of brief memoranda, the text of which
above given.
The function of the Cuban parliament in
the matter of preparing peace with the man.
ner of its doing not expressed in the
Spanish memorandum but from Gen. Wood
cussions preceding the final conference it is
understood that the Spanish government stands
ready to give the insular congress full powers
to settle the terms of peace with the insur-
gents whether to this end was acquesced in
by the Spanish authorities. On the oath Of
December last, 1 caused to be issued an ap-
tributions in money or in kind for the succor
of the starving sufferers in Cuba, following
this on the 8th of January by a similar pub
lie announcement of the formation of a CEN
trail Cuban relief committee, with headquarters
in New York city, composed of three members
representing the American National Red
Cross, and the religious and business elements
Of the community. The efforts of that com
mittee have been untiring, and accomplished
much. Arrangements for free transportation
to Cuba have greatly aided the charitable
work. The president of the American Red
Cross and the representatives of other con-
tributory organizations nave generously VISIT
ed Cuba and co-operated with the consul gen
eral and the local authorities to make eff
fective distribution of the relef collected
through the efforts of the central committee.
Nearly 5000, 900 in money and supplies has al
ready 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 extending through most II not all OF the
towns where suffering exists. Ihousahds OF
lives have already been saved
The necessity for change in the condition
Of +ba reconcentradoS is recognized by the
enanish government. Within few days past,
the orders of Gen. Weyler have been revoked,
the reconcentrados are, 1t Is sald, 70 De per- per-
mitted to return to their homes and alded
TO resume the self supporting pursuits or
neace. public works have been ordered to
give them employment and a sum OF S6oo;OVo
bas been appropriated for their relief. The
war in Cuba is of such nature that snort
of subjugation determination nhdl mn mn
4orxy vi
HE The alternative lies in the physical ex-
haustion of the one or the other party OF per per,
hans Of both, a condition which in effect ended
the fen years war by the truce OF AanJohn.
The Drospect of such a protractlon anu coh-
clusion of the present strife is a contingency
hardly to be contemplated with equanlulty
bv the civilized world and least OF all py the
Tinted States affected and injured as we
are deeply and intimately by its very exist
ence Realizing this it appears to be my duty
IN shirt of true friendliness, no less 70
c,ain than to the Cubans who have SO nucn
to lose by the pro1ongation of the struggle, 10
seek to bring about an immediate ternlHallon
of the war.
To this end 1 submitted on the 2Ith ultlrno'
as q result of much representation and CORE
srondence drought the United States minister
81 Madrid propositions to the Spanish govern
u,ent looking to an armistice until Oct. l,
60. the promuIgation of peace. IN ADDITION
asked the immediate revocation OF the order
IF recommendation, to permit the Leople
70 return to their farms and the needy TO be.
relieve with provisions and suppnes from We
tGnited States operating with the Spanish
o,,tborities so as to afford full relief Inc
renlv If the Spanish cabinet was received on
+te rfrht of the 31st ultimo. 1t offers as the
- as 70 bring about peace in Cuba to conf1de
49, 1,,ranaratioa thereof to the 1nSuIar Depart
III inasmuch as the concurrence OF that
- would he necessary to reach hral result,
1sart.ed Nv the constitution to the central gov
-,,onf a re not lessened or diminished. As tue
cI.n. oorl;ament does not meet until the
esl az of Nav next, the Spanish government
lo I'LL MT object for its psrt to accent at
49, suspension Of hostillt1es II asked Dy
tIe Insurgents from the general-in-cnleI, 70
whom it would pertain In such case 10 deter