Arizona republican., 1898-04-12

October 21, 1896. When the present administration took office a reco1cen- tration-so called-had been made eff fective over the better part of four provinces. Destitution and want be- came misery and starvation. The dsath rate increased at an alarming rate By March, 1897, according to official Spanish sources, merely among the reconcentrados, from starvation and disease, it exceeded 50 per cent of the total number. No practical relief was accorded the destitute who unfortu- nate!y were for the most part women and children.
 IT WAS INTERPRETATION.
 "As said in my message of last De- cember, it was not civilized warfare it was extermination. Meanwhile the military situation in the island had undergone a noticeable change. Elk traordinary activity had given way to a dogged struggle. The revolutionists held their own and their submission, put forward by Spain as sole basis of peace, seemed as far distant as at the outset In this state of affairs my administration found itself confronted with a grave problem of its duty. The overtures of this government through it's envoy, General WoodfoTd, although not accepted to the extent of admit ting mediation, were met by assurances T., al h ods in the conduct of hostilities.
 SPAIN SMILED.
 "The new government of Spain tes- tifed its friendly regard for this na- tion by releasing the American citizens , held under one charge or another in prison entitled to cur protection. While negotiations were in progress, increasing destitution and mortality among the unfortunate reconcentrados claimed earnest attention. The hu- manitarian schemes of the Americans were acquiesced in by the Spanish au- 1 thorities. Much relief was afforded The necessity for a change in the con- dition of the reconcentrados was recog. nized by the Spanish government. The ! orders of General Weyler have beer revoked, the reconcentrados are to be permitted to return to their homes public works are to be started to givt them work, and $6OO,OOO has been ap propriated for relief.
 "The war in Cuba is of sucf a nature that final victory l for Spain seems improbable Realizing this it appears to be m. duty, no less to Spain than to the Gu bans, to seek to bring about an i'm mediate termination of the war.
 have submitted to the Spanish govern ment propositions locking to an ar mistice until October 1 for the nego tiation of peace. In addition I aske, the immediate revocation of the orde of recommendation. The reply was re ceived on the 31st ultimo. It offers a means of peace to confide the prep arations thereof to the insular depart ment, inasmuch as a concurrence Q that body would be necessary to fina
 
 stands ready to give the insular con gress full power to settle the terms 0 peace with the insurgents.
 l A REJECTED OVERTURE. With this last overture in the direc tion of immediate peace and it's disap pointing reception by Spain, the execu tive was brought to the end of his ef forts.
 'In my December message I said Of the untried measures there renal recognition of the insurgent bellig erents, the recognition of the inde pendence of Cuba, intervention t end the war by imposing a rationa compromise between the contestant and intervention in favor of on or the other opposing parties. I spea not of forcible annexation, for tha cannot be thought of
 Nothing has since occurred t change my views in this regard an I recognize as fully now as then tha the issuance of proclamation of neu trality, by which process the so-calle recognition of belligerency is pub lished, could, of itself, accomplis nothing toward the end for which w labor, the instant paciication of Cub and the cessation of misery. Turnin to the question of recognizing at thi : time the independence of the presen insurgent government in Cuba, w find precedents in our earlier history It has been known to the world tha the uniform policy and practice of tn 5 United States is to avoid all interfer } ence in disputes which relate to inter : national government among other na tions."
 IS CUBA READY?
 The president dwells at length upo the expressions of President Jackso , in the matter of the recognition c Texas, as indicating the position tn i limited States should take in the Gu