Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-04-15
The Presidents Message.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-The long
looked for message of the Presiden
on the Cuban situation was sent t.
Congress to-day.
The President in the preface to thu
document gives a summary of the
history of Cuba for the past half
century, the last three years confilc
in that island, the desolate picture
now presented, the paralyzlng OF trade
in Cuba and the disastrous effect
upon that of the United States, a
well as the interests Of citizens o
this country who have investment
in the island now in the thrOes of war
| He then reviews the action Of The
! United States in its efforts to bring
about a satisfactory state OF affairs II
Cuba, the money expended In en-
deavors to prevent filibuStering anC
the patience with which this country
has viewed the scene and the desOla
ton which has gradually grown dark
er in that unhappy island. He says;
"The policy Of devastation anc
concentration, inaugurated by the
Captain Generals bando of October
81, 1896, in the province ofPmar de
Rio was thence extended to embrace
all of the islands to which the power
of the Spanish arms was able to react
by occupation Or by military opera
tions. The peasantry, including all
dwelling in the open agricultural in
terror, was driven into the garrison
towns or isolated places held by the
troops.
The raising and movement of pro
visions of all kinds were interrupted.
The fields were laid waste, dwellings
unroofed and fired, mills destroyed
and, in short, everything that could
desolate the land and render it unfit
for human habitation or support was
commanded by one or the other OF
the contending parties and executed
by all the powers at their disposal.
"By the time the present admins
tration took Office year ago, re-
concentration-so called-had been
made effective over the better part
ofthe four central and western prov
inces, Santa Clara, Matanzas, Havana
and Pinar del Rio.
The agricultural population, to
the estimated number of 100000 OF
more, was herded within the towns
and their immediate vicinage, depriv-
ed of the means of support, rendered
destitute of shelter, left poorly clad,
and exposed to the most unsanitary
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 in an alarming
ratio. By March 1897, according to
conservative estimates from official
Spanish sources, the mortality among
the reconcentradoes, from starvation
and the diseases thereto incident ex-
ceeded 80 per centum of their total
number"
The President then proceeds to re-
view the military operations in Cuba,
and refers to messages of his own
and his predecessor; TO the efforts OF
Gen. Woodford to bring about an
amelioration of the condition of the
island, their futility; to the movement
Hooking towards the sending Of relief
to the destitute ofCuba; the work OF
the Red Cross Society, and the fact
that thousands of lives had been
saved by the muni6cence of the
United States. The President then
refers to the suggestion sent to
Madrid for an armistid until October
lst in order to have the conflict
brought to a close; also for an i'm
mediate revolution of the order of re-
concentration. The replies of the
Spanish Cabinet were by no means
satisfactory, and the the diplomatic
relations between that country AMI
the United States were brought to an
end. The President then proceeded
to review the history of similar cases
which have come to the notice OF the
United States when Spanish domin-
ion on this side of the ocean has been
thrown off. He says:
"From the standpoint ofexperience
/ do not think it would be wise or
prudent for this government to re-
cognize at the present time the In