Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-04-14
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
TURNS THE CUBAN QUESTION OVER TO CONGRESS-
Mr. Mckinley Says the Present Situation is Inolcrabe and
Asks that Power be Given Him to Terminate Hos
tiites.

| OF government in Spain. The former
administration. pledged to subjuga tior
without concession. gave place to that
or more liberal party. committed
| long in advance to Il policy of reform
involving the wider principle Of home
rule of Cuba and Porto Rico. the over
lures of this government, although no
/ accepted to the extent of admitted
mediation in any shape. We're met by
assurances that home rule, In an ad
vanced phase, would be forthwith of
fcred to Cuba. without waiting for the
war 10 end. and that more humane
methods should thenccforth prevail in
the conduct of hostlitics.
American citizens held under one
charge or another connected with the
insurrection were released and by the
end of November. not n single person
entitled In any way to our protection
remained in n Spanish prison.
While these negotiations We're In
progress the increasing destitution OF
the unfortunate reconcentrados and the
alarming mortality among them claim
cd earnest attention. The success
which had attended the limited meas
ure of relief extended to the suffering
American citizens among them b. the
judicious expenditure through the con
sulnr agencies of the money appropri-
atcd expressly for their succor by the
joint resolution approved May "a. 1897.
prompted the humane extension of Il
similar scheme to that great body OF
sufferers.
A suggestion to this end was acqui-
esced in by the Spanish authorities. On
December 24th last. I caused to be is
sued an appeal to the American people
n x.nn ~ fril Inn n nnn n
kind for the succor of the starving suf-
ferers in Cuba.
Following this on January Sth came
n similar public announcement Of the
formation of II central Cuban relief
committee. with headquarters in New
York City, composed of the members
representing the American National
Red Cross and the. religious and bust
ness elements of the community. The
efforts of that committee have been
untiring and accomplished much.
Arrangements for free transporta-
tion to Cuba have greatly aided the
charitable work. The president OF the
American Red Cross and representa-
tives of other contributOry organiZa-
tions, have generously visited Cuba
and co-operated with the consul gener-
nj and the local authorities to make
effective distribution of the relief col
lectcd through the efforts of the CEN
trail committee. Nearly 100000 In
money and supplies has already reach
ed the sufferers and more is forthcom-
ing. 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 extended
through most. IL not all. of the towns
where suffering exists. Thousands of
lives have already been saved.
The necessity for n change in the
condition of the reconcentrados Is rec
ogniZcd by the Spanish government
Within n few days past the orders of
General Wheeler have been revoked.
the reconcentrados are. II Is said. TO be
permitted to return to their homes and
aided to resume the self-supporting
pursuits of peace: public works have
been started to give them employment
and n sum Of S6OO.O 900 has been appro.
priated for their relief.
The war In Cuba is of such n nature
that, short of subjugatlon or extermin.
alton. final military victory for
either side seems impracticable. The
alternative lies In the physical eX.
haustion of the one or the other party
or perhaps Of both-a condition which
in effect ended the ten years war by
the truce of Zanjon. The prospect OF
such n protraction and conclusion of
the present strife Is n contingency
hardly to be contemplated with euuan
unity by the civilized world, and least
of all by the United States. affected
and injured as we are deeply and in
timately by its very existence.
Realizing this. it appeared to be my
t,.tt F,,t.
Spain and TO the Cubans to bring
about an immediate termination of the
| war.
| TO this end | submitted on the 27tl
ultimo, as a result of much representa-
| ton and correspondence through the
| United States minister at Madrid
propositions to the Spanish govern
ment, looking to an armistice until Oc
tober 1st, for the negotiation of peace
with the good offices of the President
In addition. l asked the immediate re
vocation of the order of recommendation
! so far as to permit the people to re
| turn to their farms and the needy tc
| be relieved with provisions and sup
plies from the United States. co-operat
| ing with the Spanish authorities SO q!
to afford full relief.
The reply of Spain offering to leave
a peaceful settlement to the Cuban Par
lament was received March 31st This
parliament meets May 4th. and in the
meantime the Spanish government Of
fered q temporary armistice provided
1t We're asked for by the insurgents.
The proposition submitted by Genera
Woodford and the reply to the Spanisl
government We're both in the form OF
brief memoranda. The function Of the
Cuban Parliament in the matter OF
preparing" peace and the manner Oi
its doing so are not expressed in the
Spanish memorandum.
1t is understood that the Spanish
government stands ready to give the
insular Congress full power to settle
the terms of pence with the insurgents
either by direct negotiation or indi
rectly by means of legislation does moi
appear. With this last overture for i'm
mediate peace and lis disappointing
reception by Spain, the executive was
brought tO tho end of IFS efforts