The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1898-03-28


Spanish military protection OF by con-
sent of the revolutionists in consicera-
ton of tribute paid.
Under the inl,uman policy of Weyler not
less than 900 self-supporting, simple,
peaceable defcnselesS country people were
driven from their homes in the agricultural
portions OF the Spanish provinces 10 the
cities and imprisoned upon the barren
waste outside the residence portions OF
these cities and within the lines OF en-
trenchment established a little way be-
yond. Their humble homes were burned,
their fields laid waste. their implements or
husbandry destroyed. their live stock and
food supplies for the most part contiscated
Most of these people were old men, women.
and children. Slow starvation was thelr
inevitable fate.
a conservative estimate indicates
that 10000 Of these people have al
ready persisted from starvation.
The government Of Spain has never
contributed one dollar to house, shel-
ter, feed OF provide medical attention
for those OF its own citizens. Such q
spectacle exceeds the scenes Of the IN
ferno, as painted by Dante.
There has been no amejioration OF tnc
situation except through the charity o. Tue
people Of the United States. IheFe mas
been no dplinlJtion IN the death rate ai;io't'
these reconcentrados except as the "ea'A
supply Is constantly diminished AhG'e IS
no relief and no hope, except tnrouGh tHe
continued charity of the American people
until peace has been fully restored IN the
island.
Spain cannot put an eng to the existing
conditions. She cannot conquer The lh7Ui
gents. She cannot re-eStaDllSh h"r soF
ereignty over any considerable portion OF
the interior OF the island. The reVo!unoh-
lists. while able to maintain Themselves
cannot drive the Spanish army from the
fortified soacoast towns.
The situation then, is not war as we
understand it, but g chaos OF devasta-
ton and depopulation Of underlined
duration, whose end no man can sea.
In detailing the incidents and rccN'ng the
facts that came under his opSerVat'oh' az
Thurston said he had no desire 10 aed4 Az
horrors.
.Jr had my way" said he, Il would
shield them in public even II by photo
graphic productions OF the awful sc"neS
hat 1 viewed in all their original Ghastll-
ness"
OF +ho 10000 men Spain had sent to cuoa
less than &C. 0G9 were now available tof duty
or returned to Spain lGcapacitated. 1t Isl
currently reported 1909 are now sick IN the
hospitals in the island. The army was n
poor condition and un2er laX discipline.
II do not believe" said he, that the en-
tire Spanish army in Cuba could stand an
engagement in the open heAd it5aIa;3l -V'o''
well disciplined American soldiers.
OF tine Spanish soldiers he sad that
they of all people on earth would most
,,lally welcome any result which W"uio
enable Gnc.n to return TO their homes.
THE pictures in the American newspaper"
Of TIE starving reconcentrado5 are true
They can al he duplicated by the thons-
anGs l mover saw, and please God may
never again see, so deplorable a sight IS
the rccoDcentrad0s in the suburbs OF Ma
tpnzas. | can never forget to my dying
dav the hopeless anguish in tnclr despair
ing eyes Buddi@d about their Nltio bark
huts they raised no voice of appeal to US
Tor aims as We went among them.
Appeal Through Sad Eyes.
"NIcp. women aud children stand ailing,
furnishing. Their only appeal comes from
their sad eyes, through which oI:e looks as
through an open window into their aSohlz-
lag souls"
In MataDzas the people mad done al tH'y
,,nsat,,l,r could 90 for The re"onccD'r3d04,
but it was TOO true that many MaianIa5
peopio who resided il fine houses scarcely
knew where their own ucNt meal was 10
come frOm The governor was Wiling mat
the rcconnentrnGos should repa@a the Uo-
cha to their homes nut the great majority
were physically unable to GO Thcir fate
was SLOW death by starvation. The gov
error OF MatanHas MI Thurston said,
could see no end to this condition of at~
fairs ana suggest no relief except through
the Gated States.
"TRe government Of Spain has not ard
Will not appropriate one dollar to save