The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-04-23


a this government, made through its new en-
voy. Gen. Woodford. and looking TO an imme-
diate and effective anrlloratlpn OF the cohil-
tion OF the island. although not accepted to ne
extent of admitted mediation Ia any shape,
were met by assurances that home rule, IN an
advanced phase, wo-... be forthwith offered -
cuba. without waiting Tor the war 10 end. ami
that more humane methods should thenceiorth
prevail IN the conduct ~ hostilltles
Policy of the New Government of spain.
Incidentally with these declarations. the new
government OF spain continued anu completed
the policy already begun by It's predecessor or
testifying friendly reeasd for this nation by re-
leasing American citizens he'd under one
rcCtion. SO that. uy the eLd oi November. not
single person entitled In ans way - oar na-
tional protection remained IN spanish prison.
While these negotiations were ia prNsfe>s
the increasing GeslitutiOn of the unfortunate
recommendations ana the alarming moftaiity
among them claimed earnest attention. the
success which had ATTENDED the limited meas
ure OF relief extended 70 the suffering Antri-
can citizens among them by the ludiclou> ex-
pcndit urc through consular agencies 81 money
appropriated expressly Tor their succor oy me
JOINT rcsolutionapproNe sd May -. fy' prompted
the humane extension ~ similar scheme of
aid TO the great body OF sufferers \ sugSe>-
ton TO this end was acQule>ced III Oy the
spanish authorities
An Appeal to the American People.
On the s4th of December last caused 20 be
issued an appeal to tie American people, IN
wiling contributions in money or IA KIND FOR
the suCcOr or the starving sufferers IN uDA
Following this on the SIN 81 January. by
similar public announcement OF the formation
OF a central uhan relief committee wlth head
quarters IN New York city, composed OF three
members representing the American national
Red Cross ana the religious ami business cie-
nent~ OF the community. The eiorts OF that
committee have been untlrirg and actum-
pllshed much. Arrangements for free trans
portatiOn 10 cuba have greatly aided the charta-
bic work The president ot tue American
Red Cross. aud representatives. 81 otutr con-
tributury organizations have generously visited
cuba and co-opernted with the consul-general
ana the local authorities 60 make elective dis
position OF the relief collected through the ef-
forts OF the central committee. Nearly S-OoVvO
N money and supplies has already reached the
sufferers, ana more j. forthcoming The sup
plies are admitted duty free, and transporia-
tion 70 the interior has been arrang 4. 50 that
the relief at flrst necessarily confined 10 ha-
yana and the larger cities. j. now extended
through most. II not all, Of the towns where
suffering exists Thousands ot lives nave al
ready been saved.
Necessity for Change Recognized.
The necessity for change in the condition OF
the reeoncentradoes i recogni .ed by the span
ish government Within few days past the
orders OF Gen. Wesior have been revoked, the
rccOncD ntradocs are IL is >ald.tO Oe permitted 10
return to their homes and aided 70 resume the
Seif-supporting pursuits " peace public works
have been ordered 70 gi-e them employment.
and sum Of >o1OOoO has been appropriated Tor
their relief
The war in Cuba IS OF such nature that
short OF subjugaion or determination a final
military victory for either side seems impracti-
cable The alternative lies in the ply steal ex-
haustion OF the one or the other party. or per-
haps OF beth a condition which. IN eject,
the ten years war by the truce o. IanJon. The
prospect OF sucn protAction ami conclusion
Of the present strife !, % contingency hardly TO
be contemplated with equanimitv by the civil
lied world, and least OF al py the United states
affected AMI injured rs We are deeply and inti-
mately by its existence.
Friendly Duty TO Both Sides.
Realizing this. It appeared to be my duty. in a
spirit OF true friendlincs. no less TO spain than
- the Cubans. who have 50 much TO lose By the
prolongation vf the struggle. 10 seek 70 nsins:
ABOUT an immediate termination OF the war 10
this end submitted. on the 9Th uitino. as q
result OF much representation and correspond
encc through the United states minister al
Madrid. propositions To the Spanish govern
ment looking 70 an armi,tice until October /,
for the negotiations Of peace with the good
In addition ask The Immediate revocation OF
the order OF RECOMMENDATION. so as TO permit
the people to return 20 their farms and the
needy TO be relieved with provisions aud sup
plies from the United States cooperating with
the Spanish authorities 50 as 10 AFFORD full re-
lief
Reply of the Spanish Cabinet.
The reply OF the Spanish cabinet was re-
ceived on the night OF the 3lst ultimo II oilers
as the means To bring about peace in Cuba. to
cOniue the preparation thereof to the insular
department. inasmuch as the concurrence OF that
body would be necessary TO reach finaal result
IL being, however. understood that the powers
reserved by the constitution TO the central
government are not le>Sened or diminished. As
| the Cuban parliament does not meet until the
| fourth OF May next, the Spanish government
| would not object for rs part 70 accept at once
| a suspension of hostilities, IL asked for by the
| insurgents from the general in chief TO whom 1t
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 ,vernment
were both In the form Of brief memoranda. the
texts OF which are before me. and are substan-
4 t41l In NrfIn MI. uts ha
function OF the CUBAN parliament In the mat
ter Of preparing peace. and the manner of its
doing so are not expressed IN the Spanish
memorandum. but from Gen. Wo0dford's ex-
piauatury reports OF preliminary discussions
preceding the final conference. IL IS understood
that the span 81 government stands ready to
give IN insular congress full powers 10 settle
the terms 81 peace with the Insurgents. wheth-
cr by direct neyOt taton or indirectly by
means OF legislation does not appear.
Disappointing Reception of osertures.
with this last overture in the direction OF
immediate peace and its Disappointing recep-
tion by SPAN. the executive was brought 10
the en4 ~ MS effort
said: "Of NE untried measures there remain .
RecoHniti Il ~ the Insurgents a. belliscrentSs
recommendation OF the Independence OF Clba.
neutral intervention ~ emu The war by irpo>-
ing rational compromise between the con-
testants, and intervention ln favor Of one or the
other party ] speak not ~ iOrciblc anneXa-
tion, for that can not De thought o. That by
our code OF morality, would be- criminal agrees
sion.
There upon / reviewed these alternatives in
the light az President Grant 4 measured words.
uttered Ia l-s5 when after seven years 81 san
culinary. destructive ana cruel barDartics in
Cuba lac reached the conclusion That tine recp--
nirlon OF the lndcpcuufuc, OK Cuba was inn
practicable ana inlcfcn>inle. and that .he
recognition OF oelllIerency w.l~ not warranted
hy the facts according 20 the tests OF public
law. 1 commenced especially upon the
latter aspect OF the question. point
ing out the Inconvenience. aud positive
dangers Of a rcronifipn uf belligerance which.
while adding TO the ALREADY onerous burdens ~
neutrality within our own jurisdiction. could
not IN any way extend our influence or effective
Offices in the territory on ho,tllsties
Views Have Not Changed.
Nothing has since occurred 70 change my
view IN this regard. aud recognize as fully
now a. then that the issuance OF "a proc lamatlon
OF neutrality. by which process tnc ~o-caiicd
recognition ~ belligercnee Is published. could,
o; Itself ana unattended Dy other action. accom-
plish nothing toward the one end FOR which We
iaDOr the instant pacificatiOn Of cuba ana the
cessation of the misery that afiilctS the island.
Turning t. the question OF recognizing. az
l this time. the Independence OF the present in-
| surgcnt government IN Cuba. we lind safe pre-
ccdcntS in our history from an early day. they
are well summed up IN President Jackson ;
message to congress. December 81 1870. on the
/ subject OF recognition Of the indcpe ndcnce OF