Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-14

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most unsanitary conditions
story Of Misery and Death.
AS she scarcity of food increased with
devastation of the depopulation areas Of
| production de ItltutlOn and want became
misery and starvation. The monthly death
rate increased in an alarming ratio BY
March 1897. according to conservative
| estimates from Official Spanish sources, the
/ mortality among the reconcentrados from
starvation and the diseases thereto incl
dent, exceeded so per csntum of their to-
tai number. No practical relief was &C
corded to the destitute
The overburdened towns already suffer-
ing from the general dearth could give no
aid.
| S)-called zones of cultivation. established
within the immediate area of effective mil
itary control about the cities and fortified
camps proved illusory as a remedy for the
suffering
UncIVlllzsd Warfare
The 1nfortunates, being for the most part
women and children with aged and help
less men, enfeebled by disease and hunger,
could not have titled the soil without tools,
seed or shelter, for their own support or
for the supply of the cities Reconcentra-
ton. adop.ed avowedly as a war measure,
In order to cut off the resources of the in
AS said in my message of last Dece mber,
1t was uncivllized warfare, 1t was exterml-
nation. The onlI peace 1t could beget was
that of the wilderness and the grave.
Insurgents at Hav nna's Wallis
Meanwhile the military situation in the
island has undergone a noticeable change.
The extraordinary activity that CHARACTER
lied the second year of the war, when the
Insurgents invaded even the hitherto un-
harmed fields of Pinar del Rio and carried
havoc and restitution up to the walls of the
city of Havana itself, has relapsed Into
logged struggle in the central and eastern
provinces The Spanish arms regained
measure of control in Plnar del Rio and
parts Of Havana, but, under the existing
conditions of the rural country, without
immediate improvement of their product
I've situation Even thus partially restrict
ed, the reVolutionists held their own and
their submission. put forward by Spain as
the essential and sole basis of peace,
seemed as far distant as at the outset
Confronted by Duty.
In this state of affairs my administration
found itself confronted with the grave
problem of its duty. My messageof last De-
cember reviewed the situation and detailed
the steps taken with view of relieving its
acuteness and opening the way to some
form of honorable settlement The assassi"
nation of the prime minister. Canovas, led
to change of government in Spnin
A Liberal Cabinets Pledges.
The former administration. pledged to
the subjugation without concession gave
place to that of more liberal party COM
mitted long in advance to policy of re-
form involving the wider principle of home
rule for Cuba and Puerto Rico The over
lures of this government made through
It's new envoy, General Woodford, and
looking to an immediate and effective amc-
Iteration of the C ond.tton of the island al
though not accepted to the extent of ad-
mitted mediation in any shape, were met
by assurances thai home rule, in an ad-
vanced phase would be forthwith offered
to Cuba without waiting for the war to end,
and that more humane methods should
thenceforth prevail in the conduct of hos
Titles
Release of America a Prisoners.
Incidentally with these declarations the
new government of Spain continued and
completed the policy already begun by its
predecessor of testifyng friendly regard
fol this nation by releasing American citl-
zens held under one charge or another con-
nected with the insure ction so that, by
the end of November not a single person
CnIlLlCu duy WdytlO Jul ndIlOudl plOLGS
ton, remainediI Spanish prison.
Americas Work of Relief.
While these negotiations we're in progress
the increasing restitution of the unfortun-
ate reconcentrados and the alarming NOR
tally among them claimed earnest atten-
ton, The success which had attended the
limited measure of relief extended to the
suffering American citizens among them
by the judicious expenditure through the
consular agencies of the money appro-
priated expressly for their succor by the
joint resolution, approved May "a. 1897
prompted the humane extension of similar
scheme of aid to the great body of sufferers.
Grhe message then recites the relief work
done by this country and continues: The
necessity for change in the condition of
the reconcentrados Is recognized by the
Spanish government Within a few days
past the orders of General Weyler have
been revoked, the recOncentrados are, 1t is
said, to lie permitted to return to their
homes and aided to resume the self-sup-
porting pursuits of peace public works
have been ordered to give them employ
ment and a sum of S6OO 900 has been APP
propriated for their relief.
Victory for Neither In Sight
The war in Cuba Is of such a nature that
short of subjugatlon or exter minatlon a
final military victory for either side seems
impr acticable The alternative lies in the
! physical exhaustion of the one or the other
party or perhaps both-a condition which
in effect ended the Ten Years war by the
truce of Zankon The prospect of such a
protraction and conclusion of the present
strife is a contingency hardly to be contem-
plated with equanimity by the civilized
world, and least of all by the United States
affected and injured as we are, deeply and
intimately by It's very existence.
His Armlstlcs Proposition.
Realizing this, 1t appeared TO be my duty,
in a spirit of true friendllnsss, no less to
Spain than to the Cubaus who have so
much to lose by the prolongation of the
struggle. to seek to bring about an imme-
date termination of the war. To this ]
submitted to the 9th ultimo. as a result OF
much representation and correspondence
| through the United States minister at Mad
rid, propositions to the Spanish government
| looking to an armlstlce until october LIST
! for the negotiation of peace with the good
| ofices If the President
In ADDITION 1 ask the immediate revoca
ton of he order of concentration so as to
permit the people to return to their farms
and the Needy to be relieved with provts-
ions and supplies from the United States
cooper ating with the Spanish authorities
so as TO afford full relief
The Reply of Spain.
The reply of the Spanish cabinet was
received on the night of the 3st ultimo
II refers as to the means to bring
I L. Ff..Aa AWna