The times., 1898-04-12
7 He NJ { SSA GE
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poorly clad, and exposed TO the most un-
sanitary conditions, AS the scarcity Of
food increased with the devastation OF
the depopulated areas Of production, des-
titution and want became misery and
starvation. Month by month the death
rate increased is an alarming ratio. BY
March. 1897. according to conservative es-
Inmates from official Spanish sources
the mortality among the reconcentrados
from starvation and the diseases thereto
incident, exceeded 80 per centum of their
total number. No practical relief was
accorded to the destitute. The overbur-
dened towns. already suffering from the
general dearth, could give no aid. So
called zones Of civilization established
within the immediate area of effec-
tive military control about the cites and
fortified camps proved illusory as a rem
edy for the suffering. The unfortunate
being for the most part women and chill
dren with aged and helpless men. enfee-
bled by disease and hunger, could no,
have titled the soil without tools, seed or
shelter. for their own support or for the
supply of the cities. Recommendation
adopted avowedly as a war measure in
order TO cut of the resources Of the insur-
gents, worked its pesulenual result. As I
said in my message of last December. it
was not civilized warfare; it was exter-
mination. The only peace it could beget
was that Of the wilderness and the grave.
Insurgents Cannot Re Conquered.
Meanwhile, the military situation in
the island had undergone a noticeable
change. The extraordinary activity that
characterized the second year Of the
war when the insurgents invaded even
the hitherto unharmed fields Of Pinar del
Rio, and carried havoc and destruction
up 70 the walls of the city of Havana
itself, had relapsed into logged strug-
gle in the central and eastern provinces.
The Spanish arms regained measure Of
control in Pinar del Rio and parts Of
Havana, but, under the existing con-
diuons Ct the rural country, without i'm
mediate Improvement of their productive
situation. Even thus partially restricted
the revoluuonists held their own and
their conquest and submission, put for
ward by Spain as the ESSENTIAL and sole
basis Of peace, seemed as far distant as
at the outset.
Sagasta's Friendly Regard.
In this state of affairs my administra-
ton found itself confronted with the
grave problem Of IS duty. My message
OF last December reviewed the situation.
and narrated the steps taken with view
10 relieving its acuteness and opening the
way to some form Of honorable settle
ment The assassination Of the prime
minister, Canovas, led to a change of
government in Spain. The former ad-
ministration, pledged to subjugation
without concession, gave place to that Of
more liberal party, committed long in
advance TO a policy Of reform involving
The wider principles Of home rule for
Cuba and Porto Rico. The overtures OF
This Government, made through its new
envoy Ger woodford, and looking tc
an immediate and effective amelioratior
Of the condition Of the island although
not accepted to the extent Of admitted
mediation in any shape, were met by as
surances 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 thenceforth prevail in the conduct
Of hosulities. CoincidentaIly with these
declarations, the new government Of
Spain continued and completed the pol
icy already begun by its predecessor. of
testifying friendly regard for this ma
ton by releasing American citizens held
under one charge or another connected
with the insurrection, so that, by the end
OF November, not a single person ee1ti-
tied In any way 70 our national protec-
ton remained in q Spanish prison.
American Charity.
While these negotiations were in prog
ress, the increasing desdtution Of the
unfortunate reconcentrados and the
alarming mortality among them claimed
earnest attention. The success which had
attended the limited measure Of relief ex-
tended to the suffering American citizens
among them by the iudicious expenditure
through the consular agencies Of the
money appropriated expressly for their
succor by the Joint resolution approved
May q, 1897. prompted the humane exten-
sion Of a similar scheme Of aid TO the
great body Of sufferers. A suggestion tc
this end was acquiesced in by the Span
fish authorities. On the 18th Of December
last ! caused TO be issued an appeal to
the American people, inviting contribu-
tions in money or in kind for the succor
Of the starving sufferers in Cuba, follow
ing this on the Sth Of January, by a simi-
lar public announcement Of the forma-
ton Of central Cuban relief committee
with headquarters in New York City. com
posed Of three members representing the