Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-12
HERE IS THE MESSAGE.
It is Sent in to Congress, Predictions to
the Contrary Notwithstanding.

'N' S'NVi hHleht Tor cuba, under the flag
ana sovereignty OF Spain. IL failed.
through the refusal Of the Spanish Gov
ernment then In power TO consider any
form OF mediation or. indeed, any plan of
settlement, which did not begin with the
actual submission OF the insurgents to
the Mother Country, and then only on
such terms as Spain herself might see fit
to grant
Ihe war continued undated. The re-
sistance of the insurgents was in no wise
diminished. The efforts of Spain were in
creased, both by the dispatch Of fresh
levies 10 Cuba. and by the addition 10
the horrors of the strife of a new and
inhuman phase, happily unprecedented In
the modern history Of civilized, Christian
peoples.
DENASTATION-CONCENTRATION.
"The policy Of devastation and concen-
tration inaugurated by the Captain-Gen-
erals bando of October p, 1886, in the
Province of Pinar del Rio. was thence
extended TO embrace all Of the island to
which the power of the Spanish arms was
able TO reach, by occupation or by mill
tary operation. The peasantry. including
all dwelling in the open agricultural in
terror were driven into the garrison
towns or isolated places held by the
troops. The raising and movement of pro-
visions Of all kinds were interdicted
"The fields were laid waste dwellings
~. H.. en-. 4
I'm short everything that could desolate
the land and render il unfit for human
habitation or support was commanded 10y
one or the other Of the contending par-
ties and executed by all the power at
their disposal. by the time the present
administration took Office. year ago.
recommendation, so-called, had been made
effective over the better part Of the four
central and western prOVinces-SInta
Clase Matanzas. Habana. and Pinar del
Rio. The agricultural population, TO the
estimated number OF 100000 or more. was
herded within the towns ana their imme-
diate vicinage deprived of the means Of
support, rendered destitute of shelter,
left poorly clad, and exposed to the most
unsanitary conditions.
MISERY AND STARVATION.
"As the scarcity Of food increased with
the devastation Of the depOpulated areas
of production, destituton and want be
came misery and starvation. Month by
month the death-rate increased in an
alarming ratio. BY March. 1891 according
to conservative estimates from official
Spanish sources. the mortality among the
rccOncentradOs. from starvation and the
diseases thereto incident. exceeded so
per centum Of their total number. No
practical relief was accorded TO the des-
titute. The over-burdened towns. already
suffering from the general dearth could
give no aid. and sO-called zones Of cul-
vation,' established within the immediate
area Of effective military control, about
the cities and fortified camps, proved
illusory as a remedy for the suffering.
The sufferers being for the most
part women with aged and helpless men.
enteebled 10y disease and hunger, could not
not have titled the soil without tools,
seed. or shelter, for their own support or
for the support of the cities. Reconcentra-
tion, adopted avOwedly as a war mea-
sure, in order to- cut Off the resources Of
the insurgents. worked its predestinod
result. As / said in my message Of last
December, it was not civilized warfare;
it was determination. The only peace It
could beget was that Of the wilderness
and the grave.
MILITARY SITUATION.
Meanwhile the military situation in
the island had undergone a noticeable
change The extraordinary activity that
characterized the second year Of the war,
when the insurgents invaded even the
hitherto unharmed fields Of Pinar del
RIO. and carried havoc and destruction
up 10 the walls of the city Of Habana it.
self, had relapsed into a dogged struggle
IN the central and eastern provinces.
The Spanish arms regained a measure OF
control in Pinar del Rio and parts of
Hahana; but. under the existing condi-
tions Of the rural country. without i'm
mediate Improvement of their reproduc-
tive situation. Even thus partially re-
stricted the revoutonists held their own,
and their conquest and submission, put
forward by Spain as the essential and
sole basis of peace. seemed as tar dis
tant as at the outset.
In this state of affairs, my admins
tration found itself confronted with the
grave problem OF its duty My message
of last December reviewed the situation,
and narrated the steps taken with view
to relieving its acuteness, and opening
The WAY 10 some form of honorable set
tlement.
PROMISE OF HOME RULE.
"The assassination of the Prime Minis
ter Canovas. led to change OF govern
ment i'm Spain. The former administra-
ton. pledged 90 subjugation without con-
cession. gave place TO That OF more
liberal party, committed long IN advance
10 a policy Of reform, involving the wider
principle OF home rule for cuba ana
Puerto Rico. The overtures of this gov
ernment. made through its new envoy.
General Woodford. and looking TO an i'm
mediate effective ameliOration OF the con-
dition of the island although not ac-
cepted to the extent of admitting media
tiou i'm any shape, were met by assurances
that home rule in an advanced Phase
would be forthwith offered 10 Cuba,
without waiting for the war 10 end, ana
that more humane methods should hence
forth prevail in the conduct of hostilities.
"Coincidentally with these declarations
the new Government Of Spain continued
and completed the policy already beSuh
bv its predecessor of testifying friendly
regard for this nation. by releasing
American citizens held under one charge
,r another connected with the insurrec-
-ion so thar. by the end OF November
NOT a single person entitled in any way
fo our national protection remained in
Spanish prison.
AMERICAN RELIEF MEASURES.
"While these negotiations were in pro-
gress the increasing destitution OF the re-
and the alarming mortality
among them claimed earnest attention
The success which had attended me
limited measure Of relief eXtended 10 the
sufferino American citizens among them,
40 tbe iudlcious expediture through the
,1neular agents Of the money appro-
,rioted expressly for their succor by the