davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-12

similar scheme Of aid to the great body
Of s.ffereIs. 4 suggestion 10 this end
was' acquiescad in by the Spanish au-
il,orities. On the oath of December
last caused to be issued an appeal to
the American people. inviting contribu-
tons in money or in kind. for the sue
cor CT the starving sufferers in Cuba,
following this OF the Sth Of January by
similar pubic announcement of the
formation of a central Cuban relief
committee, with headquarters in New
York city, composed OF three members
representing the American National
Red Cross and the religious and bust
ness clements Of the community. The
efforts OF that committee have been I'M
firing and accomplished much. Ar
engagements for free transportation to
Cuba have greatly aided the charitable
work. The president Of the American
Red Cross and representatives Of other
contributory organizations have gen.
erousiy visited Cuba and co-operated
with the consul general and the local
ton of the relief collected through the
efforts of the central committee. Near
y S200oC0 in money and supplies has
already reached the sufferers. and more
is forthcoming. The supplies are ad-
mitted 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, if not ali. OF the
towns where suffering exists. Thou
sands Of lives have already been saved.
The necessity for change in the con-
dit!on of the reconcentrados is recog-
nized by the Spanish government. With
in few days past the orders of Cen
eral Weyler have been revoked, the
| reconcentTadcs are. it is said, to be per-
| mitted to return to their homes, and
aided to resume the self-supportins
pursuits Of peace; public works have
| been ordered to give them employment,
| and sum of 100000 has been appro-
pIiated for their relief.
| The war in Cuba is OF such a nature
| that short of subjugation or exter-
mination a final military victory for
| either side seems lmpracticaDle. The
| alternative lies in the physical exhaus-
| ton Of the one or the other party. OF
perhaps Of both-a condition which in
! effect ended the ten-years' war by the
truce Of Zanjon. The prospect OF such
| a protractiou and conclusion of the
present strife is q contingency hardly
to be contemplated with equanimity by
| the civilized world, and least of all by
| the United States, affected and injured
| as we are, deeply and intimately by its
| very existence.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-12
IN TIE CASE OF TEXAS.
The Extreme Test Which Was Applied to
That State.

These are the words of the resolute
and patriotic Jackson. They are evil
dence that the United States in addi-
ton to the test imposed by public law
as the condition of the recognition of
independence by a neutral state Ito
wit, that the revolted states shall CON
stitute in fact body polite. having a
government in substance as well as in
name, possessed of the elements of sta
bility," and forming de facto, IF left
to itself. a state among the nations,
reasonably capable of discharging the
duties of a state''), has imposed for its
own government in dealing with cases
like these the further condition that
recognition Of independent statehood is
not due to a revolted dependency until
the danger of its being again subju-
gated by the parent state has entirely
passed away. This extreme test was.
in fact. applied in the case of Texas.
The congress to whom President jack
son referred the question as 'one prob
ably leading to war and therefore
proper subject for "a previous under
standing with that body by whom war
can alone be declared, and by whom all
the provisions for sustaining its perils
must be furnished left the matter Of
the recognition of Texas to the discre-
ton of the executive, providing merely
for the sending of a diplomatic agent
when the president should be satisfied
that the republic of Texas had become
IAN independent state" 1t was so rec
ognized by President Van Buren,. who
commissioned charge daffaires March
z, 1887, after Mexico had abandoned an
attempt TO reconquer the Texan ter
ritory and when there was at the time
no bono fde contest going on between
the insurgent province and its former
sovereign.
l said in NY message Of December
last: 1T is to be seriously considered
whether the Cuban in5urrection pos
sesses beyond dispute the attributes OF
| statehood which alone can demand the
recognition OF belligerency in its ia
ver." The same requirement must Ger
| tainly be no less seriously considered
when the graver issue OF recognizing
| independence is in question, for no less
positive test can be applied to the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-12
ULTIMATUM OF THE 2.th.
Time to Bring About n Termination of the
War.

Realizing this, 1t appeared to be my
duty, in a spirit of true friendliness, nc
less to Spain than to the Cubans who
have so much to lose by the prolonga-
ton of the struggle. to seek to bring
about an immediate termination Ct the
war To this end I submitted on the
9th ultimo, as a result Of much repre-
sentation and correspondence, through
the United States minister at Madrid,
propositions to the Spanish government
looking to an armistice until Oct. l for
the negotiation Of peace with the good
offices OF the president.
In addition. I asked the immediate
revocation Of the order OF reconcentra-
ton, go IS to permit the people to re-
turn to their farms and the needy TO
be relieved with provisions and supplies
from the United States. cooperating
with the Spanish authorities, so as to
afford full relief.
The reply of the Spanish cabinet was
received on the night of the 31st ulti-
mo- 1t offers. as the means to bring
about peace in Cuba, to confide the
preparation there TO the insular depart
ment inasmuch as the concurrence OF
that body would be necessary to reach
final result, il being, however, under
stood that the powers reserved by the
constitution to the central government
are not lessened or diminished. As the
Cuban parliament does not meet until
the ith day Il May next, the Spanish
government would not object, for it's
part. to accept at once a suspension
OF hostilities, if asked for by the in
surgents from the general in chief, to
whom it would pertain. in such case.
to determine the duration and condi-
tons Of the armistice.
The propositions submitted by Cen
eral WoCdford and the reply of the
Spanish government were both in the
form Of brief memoranda, the text of
which are before me. and are substan-
tally in the language above given. The
function of the Cuban parliament in
the matter Of preparing" peace and
the manner Of its doing so are not ex-
pressed in the Spanish memorandum.
but from General Woodford's explana-
tory reports of preliminary discussions
preceding the final conference. il is I'M
derstood that the Spanish government
stands ready to give the insular cen
gress full powers to settle the terms Ct
peace with the insurgents. whether by
| direct negotiation or indirectly by
| means of legislation does not appear.
With the last overture in that direc-
| ton Of immediate peace and its dis
appointing reception Oy Spain the exec
utive was brought to the end Of his eff
| fort.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-12
UNTRILD MEASURES.
President Quotes from His Message of Last
December.

In my annual message Of December
last said: "Of the untried measures
there lemain: Recognition of the in
dependence Of Cuba: neutral interven-
ton; to end the war by imposing a
rational compromise between the con-
testants and the Intervention in favor
of one Of the other party"
l speak not of forcible annexation. for
that cannot be thought of. That. by
our code Of morality, would be criminal
aggression. Therefore / reviewed these
alternatives, in the light OF President
Grant measured words, uttered in 1879.
when after seven years of sanguinary.
destructive and cruel barbarities in Gu
ba he reached the conclusion that the
recognition Of the independence of Cuba
was impracticable and indefensib!e;
and that the recognition OF beIligerence
was not warranted by the facts accord
ing TO the tests Of public law. l COM
msnted especially upon the latter as
pect of the question, pointing out the
Inconvenience and positive dangers of
a recognition Of delinquency which,
while adding to the already onerous
burdens OF neutrality within our own
jurisdiction, could not in any way ex-
tend our influence or effective Offices
in the territory of hostiiities. Nothing
has since occurred 10 change my view
N this regard-and ! recognize as fully
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-12

tain generals bando cf Oct. q, 1896, N
the province Of Pinar del Rio. was
thence extended to embrace all OF the
island to which the power of the Span
ish arms was able to reach by occupa-
ton or by military operations. The
peasantry, including all dwelling in the
open agricultural interior, were driven
into the garrison towns or isolated
places held by the troops. The raising
and movement OF provisions Of all
kinds were interdicted. The fields were
laid waste, dwellings unroofed and
fired mills destroyed and, in short, ev-
erything that could desolate the land
and render it unfit for human habitd-
ton 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 administra-
ton took Office, a year ago, reconcen-
tration-so- calIed-had been made eff
fective over the better part of the -four
central ard western provinces, Santa
Clara, HatanZas. Havana and Pinar
del Rio. Tire agricultural population
to the estimated number of 100000 OF
more, was herded within the towns and
their immediate vicinage, deprived OF
The means of support, rendered desti-
tute Of shelter, left poorly clad and
exposed to the most unsanitary condi-
lions.
As the scarcity of food increased with
the devastation of the depopulated
areas of production. restitution and
want became misery and starvation
Month by month the death rate in
creased in an alarming ratio. BY March
1897, according to conservative est,
mates from official Spanish sources, The
mortality among the reconcentrado.
from starvation and the diseases thertc
incident, exceeded so per centum o.
their total number. No practical relic
was accorded to the destitute. Tht
oyerburdened towns. already suffering
from the general 6earth, could give NJ
aid
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-12
by FIRE AND SWORD,
Fertile Domain of the Island Eayased for
Three Years.

Since the present revolution began in
February. 1895. this country has seen
the fertile domain at our Threshold
rayaSed by fire and sword in the course
Of q struggle unequalled in the history
of the island and rarely paralleled as
TO the number of the combatants and
the bitterness OF the contest by any
revolution Of modern times where a
dependent people, striving to be free,
have been opposed by the power of the
held a once prosperous community re-
duced to comparative want. it's COM
merce virtually paralyzed, its excep-
tional productiveness diminished, its
fields laid waste. its mills in ruins. and
Its people perishing by tens of thou
sands from hunger and restitution. We
have found ourselves constrained. in
the observance of that strict neu-
trality which our laws enjoin and
which the law Of nations commands, to
police our own waters and watch ou-
own seaports in prevention of any I'M
lawful act in aid of the Cubans. Our
trade has suffered; the capital invested
by our citizens In Cuba has been large
~ lost. and the temper and forbearance
Of our people have been so sorely tiled
rs to beget q perilous unrest among our
own citizens. which has inevitably
found its expression from time to time
In the national legislature. so that is.
sues wholly external to our own body
polite engross attention and stand In
the way Of that close devotion to do.
nestle advancement that becomes q
self-coatented commonwealth who's,
primal maxim has been the avoidance
Of all foreign entanglements. All thi.
must needs awaken and has. indeed
aroused the utmost concern on the par
OF this government. as we'll during my
predecessors as my own.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-12
WILLIAM M'KISLEY,

tional policy Of our government IL it
Is to accord with the precept laid down
by the founders of the republic and re-
ligiously observed by succeeding ad-
ministrations to the present day.
The present revolution is but the
successor of other similar instructions
which have occurred in Cuba against
the dominion of Spain, extending over
q period of nearly half a century, each
of which during it's progress has sub
jected the United States to great effort
and expense in enforcing its neutrality
laws, caused enormous losses to the
American trade and commerce, caused
Irritation, annoyance and disturbance
among our citizens, and by the exer-
cises of cruel, barbarous and uncivilized
practices of warfare, shocked the sensi-
bilities and offended the humane SYM
pathies of our people. &c
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-12
WRECK OF THE MAINE.
Spain Offers To Submit All Differences to
Arbitration.

These elements o. danger and disor-
der already pointed out have been
strikingly illustrated by a tragic event
which has deeply and justly moved the
American people. / have already trans
United to congress the report of the ma
val court OF inquiry on the destruction
OF the battleship Maine in the harbor
OF Havana during the night of the 18th
OF February. The destruction of that
noble vessel has filed the national
heart with inexpressible horror. Two
hundred and fifty-eight brave sailors
and marines and two officers of our
navy. reposing in the fancied security
Of friendly harbor. have been hurled
to death: grief and want brought to
their homes. and sorrow to the nation.
The naval court of inquiry. which It
IL needless to say, commands the I'M
qualified confidence of the government
was unanimous in its conclusion that
the destruction of the Maine was
caused by an exterior explosion. that
Of a submarine mine. II did rot as
sumo to place the responsibility. That
remains TO be fixed.
In any event tine destruction of the
Maine. by whatever exterior cause. is
a patent and impressive proof Of q
state of things in Cuba that is intolera-
be. That condition is thus shown to
lie such that the Spanish government
cannot assure safety and security TO a
vessel of the American navy in the
harbor of Havana on q mission of peace
| and rightfully there.
Further referring in this connection
| TO recent diplomatic correspondence q
| dispatch from our minister TO Spain OF
The 18th ultimo contained the statemen;
that the Spanish minister for foreign
affairs assured him positively that
Spain will do all that the highest honor
ana justice require in the matter OF
the Maine. The reply above referred
| to OF the Slst ultimo also contained an
| expression of the readiness of Spain 4
submit to an arbitration all the differ
| ences which can arise in this matter
| which Is subsequently explained by the
| note of the Spanish minister at Wash.
| ington of the 10,h inst. as follows:
| AS to the question Of fact which
| springs from the diversity of views be-
| tween the report of the American and
Spanish boards, Spain proposes that tn;
| fact be ascertained by an impartial in
vestisation by experts. which decision
| spain accepts in advance"
| To this | have made no renly.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-12
WHEN TO RECOGNIZE.
Proper Time the United States Should Take
This Action.

when 1t shall appear hereafter that
there is within the island government
capabie OF performing the duties and
tischarsing the functions of a separate
nation. and having. as a matter of fact.
the proper forms and attributes of ma
tionality, such government can be
promptly ard 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 con-
testants, or as the active ally of the
one party or the other.
AS to the first, it is not to be forgot
ten that during the last few months
the relation of the United States has
virtually been one Of friendly interview
ton in many ways, each not of itself
conclusive, but all tending to the ex-
ertion of potential influence toward
an ultimate pacific result just and hon
orable to all interests concerned. The
spirit of all our acts hitherto has been
an earnest, unselfsh desire for peace
and prosperity in Cuba, untarnished by
differences between us and Spain and
unstained By the blood of American Cit
liens.
The forcible Intervention of the Unit
ed States as neutral to stop the war.
according to the large dictates of hu-
manity and following many historical
precedents where neighboring states
have interfered to check the hopeless
sacrifice Of life by internecene con-
flicts beyond their borders, is justifia-
bic on rational grounds. 1t involves.
however. hostile constraint upon both
the parties to the contest as well as
to force truce as to guide the eventual
settlement.
The grounds for such Intervention
may be briefly summarized as follows:
First, in the cause of humanity and
| to put an end to the barbaritics, blood
shed. starvation and horrible miseries
now existing there, and which the par
ties to the conflict are either unable or
| unwilling TO stop or mitigate. 1t is no
| answer to say this is all in another
] country, belonging to another nation,
and is therefore none Of our business.
1t is specially our duty for 1t is right a;
! our door.
| Second, we owe il to our citizens In
! Cuba TO afford them that protection
! and indemnity for life and property
which no government there can or will
afford. and to that end TO terminate the
conditions that deprive them Of Legal
protection.
Third. the right to intervene may be
justified by the very serious injury &c
the commerce, trade and business o;
our people and by the wanton destruc-
ton of property and devastation Of tile
island.
Fourth. and which is Of the utmos.
4; importance. The present condition o:
affairs in Cuba is a constant menace
to our peace. and entails upon this gov
eminent an enormous expense. With
such a conflict waged for years IN al
island 50 near US and with which oul
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-12
THE WAR MUST STOP,
Spain Can Not Gain Her Object on the
Island.

The long trial has proved that the
object for which Spain has waged the
war cannot be attained. The fire Of
instruction may flame or may smolder
with varying seasons. but II has not
been and it is plain that II cannot he
| extinguished by present methods. The
only hope of relief and repose from a
condition which cannot longer be en-
| dured Is the enforced pacification OF
Cuba. In the name Of humanity, in
the name of civilization. in behalf OF
endangered American interests which
give us the right and the duty TO speak
| and to act. the war in Cuba must stop.
In view of these facts and these con-
siderationsI ask the congress To author
lie and empower the president 10 take
measures 10 secure a full and terminal
ton Of hostilities between the govern
ment Of Spain and the people Of Cuba,
| and to secure In the island the estab-
| lishment :: a stable government, capa-
bic OF maintaining order and observing
its international obligations. ensuring
peace and tranquility and the security
CT its citizens as well as our own. and
to use the military and naval forces Of
the United States as may be necessary
| for these purposes.
And In the interests OF humanity and
to aid in preserving the lives Of the
starving people of the island j recon-
mend that an appropriation be made
out OF the public treasury 10 supple
ment the charity OF our citizens.
| The issue Is now with the congress.
II is solemn responsibility. j have
exhausted every effort 20 relieve the
intolerable condition OF affairs which is
ut our doors. Prepared to execute ev-
cry obligation imposed upon me by the
constitution and the law. / await your
| action.
Yesterday ard since the preparation
Of the foregoing message, official infor-
nation was received by me that the
latest decree OF the Queen Regent Of
Spain directs General Blanco In order
to prepare and facilitate peace. to pro-
claim a suspension OF hostilities. the
duration and details Of which have not
yet been communicated to me. This
fact. with every other pertinent con-
sideration, will, I am sure. have your
just and careful attention in the SOL
emn deliberations upon which you are
| about to enter. II this measure at
tains a successful result, then our as
pirations as a Christian. peace-loving
people will be realized II II fails IL will
be only another justification for our
contemplated action
WILLIAM EKINLEY. J
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-12
IN REGARD TO MEXICO.
When This Country Recognized the Re-
public and People.

"But on this, as on every other trying
occasion. safety is to be found in a rig
il adherence TO principle. In the con-
test between SIain and the revolted
colonies we stood aloCf and waited not
only until the ability Of the new states
to protect themselves was fully estab-
lished. but until the danger of their
being again subjugated had entirely
passed away. Then. and not until then.
We're they recognized. Such was our
course in regard to Mexico herself.
1T is true that with regard to Texas
the civil authority of Mexico had been
expelled, its invading army defeated.
the chief Of the republic himself capt
ured. and all present power to control
the newly-organized government of to-
day annihilated within its confines.
But on the other hand. there is in APP
pearance, at least, an immense dispar-
ity Of physical force on the side OF
Texas. The Mexican republic, under
another executive is rallyinS its
forces under a new leader, and menac-
ing a fresh invasion TO recover its lost
dominion.
Upon the issue Of this threatened in
vasion the independence Of Texas may
be considered as suspended, and were
there nothing peculiar in the situation
Of the United States and Texas our &C
acknowledgements of it's independence at
such n crisis could scarcely be regard
ed as consistent with that prudent re-
serve with which we have hitherto held
ourselves bound to treat all similar
questions"
Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceed
ed to consider the risk that there might
be imputed to the United States mo-
tivcs of selfish interests in view of the
former claim Of cur part to the terri
tory Of Texas and of the avowed pur-
pose Of the Texans in seeking recogni-
ton of independence as an incident to
the incorporation of Texas in the Tn
ion, concluding thus:
prudence, therefore, seems to die
tate that we should still stand aloof
and maintain our present attitude, il
not until Mexico itself, or enc of the
great foreign powers, shall recognize
the independence of the new govern
ment, at least until the lapse of time
or the course of events shall have
proved beyond cavil or dispute the abil-
ity of the people Of that country to
maintain their separate sovereignty
and to uphold the government consti-
tuted by them. Neither of the contend
ing parties can justly complain of this
course. BY pursuing it we are but car
rying out the long-established policy
of our government, policy which has
secured TO us respect and influence
abroad AID inspired confidence al
home"