The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-04-22

National Red Cross and the religious and
business elements of the community. The
efforts of that committee have been I'M
firing and accomplished much. Nearly
5000, 900 in money and supplies has already
reached the sufferers, and more is forth
coming. Thousands of lives have already
been saved. The necessity for change
is recognized by the Sjanish gov
eminent. Within few days past
the orders of Gen. Weyler have
been revoked, the reconcentrados
are, it is said, to be permitted to return
to their homes, and aided to resume the
self-supporting pursuits of peace public
works have been ordered to give them
employment, and a sum of $6OO,OOO has
been appropriated for their relief
THE war in Cuba is of such a nature
that short of subjugation or extermina-
ton, final military victory for either side
seems impractcable. The alternative lies
in the physical exhaustion 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. Inc
prospect of such protraction and con-
clusion of the present strife Is a con-
tlngency hardly to be contemplated with
equanimity by the civilized world. ana
least of all by the United States, affected
and injured as we are, deeply ana init
mately, by its very existence.
Realizing this, it appeared to be my du-
ty, in a spirit of true friendliness, no less
to Spain than to the Cubans, who have
so much to lose by the PRONUNCIATION OF
the struggle. to seek to bring about an
immediate termination of the war. TO
this end / submitted, on the 9th ultlmo.,
as a result of much representation and
correspondence through the United States
minister at Madrid, propositions to the
11-I
tice until Oct. /, for the negotiation or
peace with the good offices of the presi-
dent.
1.-The reply of the Spanish authorities
was received on the night of the 31st
ultimo. 1t offers, as the means to bring
about peace in Cuba. to confide the prep
aration thereof to the insular department.
inasmuch as the concurrence of that body
would be necessary TO reach final result,
it being, however, understood that the
powers reserved by that constitution to
the central government are not lessened
or diminished. AS the Cuban parliament
does not meet until the fourth of May
next, the Spanish government would not
object for its part, to accept at once
suspension of hostilities, If asked for by
the insurgents from the general-in-chief,
to whom It would pertain, in such case,
to determine the duration and conditions
of the armstice. From Gen. Woodfords
explanatory reports of preliminary discus
sions preceding the final conference it is
understood that the Spanish government
stands ready to give the insular congress
full powers to settle the terms of peace
with the insurgents, whether by direct
negotiations or indirectly by means of leg
islation does not appear.
with the last overture in the direction
of immediate peace and it's disappointing
reception by Spain, the executive was
brought to the end Of his effort.
I'm my annual message of December
last I said:
d" of the untried measures there remain:
Recognition of the insurgents as belliger-
ents, recognition of the independence of
Cuba. neutral Intervention to end the war
by imposing q rational compromise be-
tween the contestants and Intervention in
favor of one or the other party. 1 speak
not of forcible annexation, for that can
not be thought of. That, by our code of
morality. would be criminal aggression.
"Thereupon ] reviewed these alterna-
tives. in the light of President Grants
measured words, uttered in 1875, when
after seven years of sanguinary destruc-
tive and cruel barbarities in Cuba he
reached the conclusion that the recogni-
ton of the independence of Cuba was i'm
practicable and indefensible, and that the
recognition of |beligerence was not war
ranted by the facts according to the tests
of public law. l commented especially up
on the latter aspect of the question, point
ing out the inconvenience and positive
dangers of a recognition of belligerency
which, while adding to the already oner-
Gus burdens of neutrality within our own
jurisdiction, could not in any way extend
our influence or effective offices in the ter
ritory of hostilities. Nothing has since
occurred to change my view in this re-
garland / recognize as fully now as then
that the issuance of a proclamation of
neutrality, by which process the so-called
recognition of belligerence is published
could. of itself and unattended by other
action, accomplish nothing toward the one
end for which we labor, the instant paci-
fication of Cuba and the cessation of the
misery that aftiicts the island.
Turning to the question of recognition
at this time of the independence of the
present insurgent government in Cuba, we
find safe presidents in our history from
an early day. They are well summed up
in President Jackson'S message to con-
gress, Dec. q, 1886, on the subject of the
recognition of the independence of Texas
He said: The uniform policy and practice
of the United States is to avoid all inter-
ference In disputes which merely relate to
the internal government of other nations.
and eventually to recognize the authority
of the prevailing party without reference
to our particular interests and views or
to the merits of the original controversy.
But on this as on every other trying
occasion, safety is to be found in a rigid
adherence to principle. By pursuing it,
we are but carrying out the long-estab-
lished policy of our government a policy
which has secured to us respect and influ-
ence abroad and inspired confidence at
home"
The president continues:
81 do not think 1t would be wise or pru-
dent for this government to recognize at
the present time the independence of the
so-called Cuban republic. To commit this
country now to the recognition of any par
ticular government in Cuba might subject
us to embarrassing conditions of interna-
tional obligation toward the organization
so recognized When it shall appear here
after that there is within the island gov
eminent capable of performing the du-
ties and dscharging the functions of a
separate nation. and having. as a matter
of fact, the proper forms and attributes
of nationality, such government can be
promptly and readily recognized, and the
relations and interests of the United
States with such nation adjusted.
There remain the alternative forms Of
intervention to end the war, either as an
impartial neutral. by imposing a rational
compromise between the contestants, or
as the active ally of the one party or the
other. I .tfE..h. ~.
1.-The forcible Intervention of the United
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