The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-04-16

vance to a policy of reform involving the wider
priaciple OF home rule for Cuba and Puerto
Rico The overturc5 oi this government. made
through its new envoy. Gen. Woodford, and
looking to immediate andenective ameloria-
ton OF the condition of the island, although not
accepted to the extent of admitted mediation
in any shape. We're met by assurances that
home rule, in advanced phase. would he
forthwith offered to Cuba, without waiting for
the war to end. and that more humane methods
should thenceforih prevail in the conduct OF
ho~tilitleS. Incidentally with these dcclara-
lions the new government OF spain continued
ana completed the policy already begun by itS
predecessor OF teStifyiug friendly regard for
mis- nation by releasing American citizens
held under one charge or another connected
with the inSurrectnu, 50 that. by the end OF
November. not a single person entitled IN any
way to our national protection, remained in q
Spanish prison.
The Starving Cubaus fed.
While these negotiations ware IN progress
the increasing deStitutiou OF the unfortunate
reconcentradoS and the Alarming mortolity
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 ex-
penditu:c through The consular agencies of the
money appropriated expressly for their Succor
by the joint resolution approved May -.
1897, prompted the humane extension OF
II similar scheme of aid to the
great body of sufferers suggestion to
this end was acquiesced in by the Spanish au-
thOrtieS. On the 9Th OF December last, |
caused to be issued an appeal to the American
people. inviting contributions in money or in
kind for the Succor or the starving sufferers in
Cuba; following this on the Sth Of January by
Q similar public announcement OF the forIna-
tion Of central Cuban relief committee,
with headquarters in New York city COM
posed Of three members representing the
American national Red Cross and the religious
and business elements of the community. The
efforts OF that committee have been untiring
.lErF... aFaf
for free TRANSPORTATION to Cuba have greatly
aided the charitable work. The president of
the American Red Cross and representatives
OF other contributory organizations have gen
erOusly visited Cuba and co-operated with the
consul general ana the local authorities to
make effective distribution of the relief collect
ed throu2h the efforts OF the central committee.
Nearly 500 00J in money aud 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, that the relief, at
first necessarily confined to Havana and
the larger cities, is now extended through most,
IL not all. of the towns whore suffering exists
The war in Cuba is of such 4 nature that
short OF SubjugatiOn or determination a final
military victory for either side seems imprae-
ticable The alternative lies in the physical
exhaustion of the one or the other party, or
perhaps OF bOth-a condition which in enect,
ended the ten years war by the truce OF Zan-
Jon. The prospect of such prOtraction and
conclusion OF lle present Sltllc IL II COilluBtuCJ
hardly to be contemplated with equanmity by
the civilized world, and least OF all by the
United States affected and injured as we are,
deeply and intimately by its very existence
ProposItions Submitted to the Spanish.
Realizing this it appears to be my duty, i'll a
spirit OF true friendlincSS, no less to Spain than
TO the CubanS who have 80 much to lose by the
prOlongation of the struggle, to seek to bring
about an immediate termination of the war. To
this end, L submitted. on the 27th ultimo, as a
result of much representation and correspond
ence. through the United States minister at
Madrid, propositions to the Spanish govern
ment, looking to an armisticc until October l,
for the negotiation of peace with the good Of
flceS of the president In addition. 1 asked the
immediate revocation of the order OF reconcen-
tration as to permit the people to return to
their farms and the needy TO be relieved with
provisions ana supplies from the United States,
cooperating with the Spanish authorities so
to afford full relief
The reply of the Spanish cabinet was
ceived on the night OF the 3lst ultimo. 1t Of
fers, as the means to bring about peace in
Cuba, to conlide the preparation thereof to the
iuSular department tnasmuch as the concur
renee OF that body would be necessary to reach
a final result it being however, understood
thatthe powers reserved by the constitution to
the central government are not lessened or di-
minished. AS the Cuban parliament does not
meet until the 4th OF May next. the Spanish
government would not object. for its part, to
accept at once a suspension OF hostilitieS II
asked for by the insurgents from the general
in-chief, to whom it would pertain, in such
case, to determine the duration and conditions
of the armistice
The propositions submitted by Gen Wood
ford and the reply OF the Spanish government
were both I'm the form of brfef memoranda.
the texts OF which are before me, and are sub
stantally in the language above given The
function of the Cuban parliament in the matter
of preparing peace ana the manner OF doing
not expressed in the Spanish memo
randum: but from Gen. WoodfOrd's cxplana-
fVgp a
ing the final conference 1t is understood that
the Spanish government stands ready to give
the insular congress full powers to settle the
terms Of peace with the insurgents. whether
by direct negotiation or indirectly by means OF
legislation does not appear. With this last
oyertures in the direction OF immediate peace
and its disappointing reception by Spain, the
executive was brought to the end OF his effort
Precedents on Recognition.
Turning to the question of recognizing at this
time the independence OF the present insurgent
government in Cuba, lind safe precedents
in our history from an early day. They are
well summed mp in President JackSOn'S mes
sage to congress, December 2l 1885 on the sub
jCct Of the recognition of independence Of Tex
as. lie said: In all the contests that have
arisen out of the revolutions OF France out OF the
disputes relating to the crews OF Portugal and
Spain. out of the separation of American possess
siOns OF both froIl the European governments
and out OF the numerous ana constantly occur
ring struggles for dominion in Spanish Amer
has been the action OF our government that we
have. under the most critical circumstances,
avoided all cenSure ana encountered no other
evil than that produced by transient estrange-
ment of good viii in those against whom we
have been by force of evidence compelled To
decide II has thus made known To the world
that the uniform policy and practice of the
United States is to avoid all Interference
in disputes which merely relate to the internal
government of other nations. and eventu-
ally to recognize the authority of the pre-
vaiing party without reference to our particular
interests and views or to the merits OF the orig"
inal controversy. but on this. as on every other
occasion, safety is to be found in rigid adher-
ence to principle.
In the contest between Spain and the revolt
ed colonies we stood aloof and waited not only
until the ability of the new states to protect
themselves was fully established but until the
danger of their being again subjugltcd had en-
tirely passed away. Then. and not until th2Hl
were they recognized Such was our course in
regard to Mexico herself
Andrew jackson on Texas.
1t is true that with regard to Texas the civil
authority of Mexico has been expelled. its in
Vading army defeated. the chief of the republic
himself captured ana all present power to con-
sole the newly organized government Of to-
days annihilated within its confines But, on
the other hand, there is in appearance at least.
an Immense disparity OF physical force ON the
side OF Texas. The Mexican republic under
another executive is rillYing il forces under a
new leader and menaciug Il fresh invasion to
recover its lost domain.
Upon the issue of this threatening Invasion.
the independence Of Texas may be considered
as suspended. and were there nothing peculiar
in the situation Of the United states and Texas
our Acknowledgement OF its independence ut
such crisis could scarcely bo regarded as
consistent with that prudent reserve with
which we have hitherto held ourselves bound
to treat all similar question:.
Thcreupon Andrew jackson proceeded 10 con-
slider the ri,l, that there might be imputed to
in View Of the former claim on our part or the
territory Gf Texas and Of the asoScd purpose
Of the Texans la seeking recognition or indie
pe udcncr .l ..n iuciteEt 10 III Incorporation OF
Texas f. the union, concluding thus:
prudence Their fore, seems TO dictate |
that W. should still stand aloof
and maintain our present attitude, II
not until Mr4icr itself. or one of the great for
g.; IN ,,,,yrrS shall rrraruiya the iulpnrudcnce