The state herald., 1898-04-15

obculcnt To that prcccpt of the con-
stltuiion which commands the Prcsi-
deh, 10 give from time TO time to the
Congress information of the state OF
the Union and TO recommend 10 their
consideration such measures ms he
shnll judge necessary and expedient,
II becomes my duty to address your
body with regard TO the grave crisis
thnt has arisen in the relations of the
United States 10 Spain, brought about
by the warfare that for more ihan
three years has ragged in the neighlor-
Ing island of Cuba do so because of
the intimate connection of the Cuban
question with the states of this Union
ana the grave responsibility which II
Is now incumbent upon the nation Ia
adopt must needs bear to the tradi-
tiohal policy Of our government II Is
IN accord with the prccepts laid down
by the Founders of the republic and re-
iigiously observed by succeeding
Americans to the present time.
The present revolution is successor
To other similar ones which occurred in
CUBA under the dominion of Spain. cN-
tending over II period of nearly half
century, each of which, during its
progress has subjected the United
Si;ltes TO great effort and expense in
enforcing its neutrality laws. caused
enormous losses To American trade and
commerce, caused agitation and dis
iuiDahce among our citizens and by the
exercise of cruel, barbnrouS and unciv-
lllHcd practices of warfare. shocked
me sensibiliiles and offended the hu-
man sympatliles of our people.
since the present revolution began,
III February, lS95. this fertile domain
has at every threshold been ravagcd
ny ilre and sword in the course of n
struggle unequalcd in the history of
ihe island and rarely parallclcd MS to
inc number of the combaiants and the
bitterness of the contest
All this must needs awake and
mas indeed aroused the utmost concern
on the part Of this government. as well
during my predecessors term. as In
my own.
In April, 1896. the evils hy which
our country suffered through the Cuban
war became so oncr0us that my prcde-
cessor made IN effort to bung about a
peace through the mediation of this
government in any way that might
tend to an honorable adjustment of the
contest between Spain and her revoltcd
colony on the basis of some effective
scheme of self-government for Cuba
under the nag and sovereignty of
Spain.
II failed. The war continued unabat-
ed ana the army of the Insurgents in
no wise lcsSrned, \ once prosperous
community has been reduced 10 COM
rnrntive want and its people have per.
ishcd 10y tens Of thousands from hun.
ger and dcstiiution. our trade has
suffered; the capital Invested hy our
citizens in Cuba has been entirely lost
nnd the temper and forbelrance of our
people have been 50 sotely tried ps to
bcgct n perllous unrest among our own
citizens which has Inevitably found lis
expression from time TO time In the
national Legislature, so that issues
We're not wholly external 10 our own
body polite. demanding attention and
standing In the way Of that close dcyo.
iion TO domestic advancement,
Fhc policy Of devastation and con.
conirntlon inausurnted by the captain
generals order TO I'nndo of October ~
ls0b. IN the province OF pinnr del lilo
was extended To embrace all OF the
island To which the power Of the Span
lSh arms wns able 10 reach. Every
thing that could dcsolnte the land and
render II unit for human hahiiaiion or
support was commanded 10y one or the
other OF the contcndmg parties and ny.
ccutcd 10y all the powers at their dis.
posnl.
by the time the present adminlsira.
lion took Office a ycnr ago. the agrlcul-
,urnl population, TO the estimated mum.
Der Of 100000 or norr. was hcrded
within the towns nnd their Immediate
vicinity, deprived of the means Of sun.
port. rendered destitute OF shelter leTt
poorly clad aud exposed To the
most unsanilary conditions. By March
!, 1877 n conservative estimate from
Spanish sources, the mortality among
the recunceniradOs from starvation
and the diseases thereto Incident. .N.
cectlrd 30 per cent. a. their total mum.
ber. So-callpd ZONES Of cultIyntIou"
established within the immediate nr,,n
of effective military control aboui ibc
cities aud fortified camps proved lllu.
sorry.
rhc unforiunntcS, being for the most
part women and children. with nprd
and helpless men. onfeebleh by hun.
ger. could not have Tiled the soil with.
out tools, seed or shelter for their own
support or for the supply Of The cities.
Recommendation. adopted hyowc,lly ms
n war measure In order 10 cut on the
resources Of the Insurgents, worked lts
prc,lcstlnod results.
As ! said In my message of last DE.
.s.fta1asT IA mai .stNlll...l
" was determination. The only n.nrr
II could hcgc' was that of the wilder.
ness nnd the grave.
M"nnwhll" Tie military situation In
III" Island hhd undergone n noticeable
change. III" extraordinary ncilyliy
that characterized the second yenr of
war, when the Insurgents invaded the
hitherto nnhnrmei fields of pinnr del
l,io mud carried havoc aud dosirurilon
M In the walls of the city of Ilnynnn
itself, had rrlnpscd Into dorrod
struggle In the central nnd eastern
provinces.
Even thus partially restricted, th,.
rvyolutionistN held their own nnd iholr
conquest aud submission. put forward
hy Spain NJ The essential nnl sole I'm.
sis Of peace. seemed ~ far Distant MS
NJ The outset. In this state of affairs
my administration found itself con.
frout"d with the grave pr, blcm Of lis
duiy. Ny message NJ Inst December
reviewed III" sliilnilun aud nnrrnird
steps taken 20 open the way for som.
form uf honorable settlement.
III" nsgiHslnniinn of The prime min
lister, fehur cnnONns. lcd Ia n change
uf government In Rnnlu. Tho forntrf
administration pledged Ia sublugnilon
Mllhpul concession, gave place Ia lhnt
OF y mofr liberal pnrly, committed