The Monte Vista journal., 1898-04-16

ehthleN IN any way TO our protection
remained In Spanish prison.
While these negotiations were In
progress the increasing destitutiOn Of
the unfortunate recOncentrados and the
alarming mortality among them claim
ed earnest attention. The success
which had attended the limited meas
urc Of relief extended to the suffering
American citizens among them by the
judicious expenditure through the con-
sular agencies Of the money appropri-
ated expressly for their succOr by the
joint resolution approved May -. 1897.
prompted the humane extension OF a
similar scheme to that grent body Of
sufferers.
A suggestion to this end was ac0ui-
esced In by the Spanish authorities. On
December oath last. I caused to be Is
sued an appeal To the American people
inviting contributions In money or In
Kind for the succOr Of the starving suf-
fcrcrs In Cuba.
Following this on January Sth came
a similar public announcement of the
formation OF n central Cuban relief
committee, with headquarters In New
York city. composed OF the members
representing the American National
Red Cross and ,lr' religious and bust
Ness elements of the community The
efforts Of that committee have been
tntirlng and accomplished much,
Arrangements for free transporta-
'ion to Cuba have greatly aided the
charitable work. The president OF the
American Red Cross and representa-
tivcs OF other coniributory organiza-
tions. have generously visited Cuba
and co-operatcd with the consul gencr.
nj and the local authorities to make
effective distribution OF the relief col.
lectcd through tile efforts Of the CEN
trnl committee. Nearly SoOO,UDO in
money and supplies has already reach
cd the sufferers and more Is forthcom-
ing. The supplies are admitted duty
Tree, and transportation To the interior
has been arranged. 50 that the relief,
nt first necessarily confined TO Havana
and the larger cities. Is now extended
through most. II not ALL Of the towns
where suffering exists. Thousands OF
lives have alrcad! been saved.
The necessity for a change In the
condition OF the rcconccntru!os is rec.
ognizcd by the Spanish government.
Within few days past the orders Of
General Wheeler have been revoked
the reconccntra,los are. II is said. to bc
permitted To return to their homes and
aided TO resume the scif.supportinr
pursuits Of peace: public works have
been started Ia give them employment.
and sum of S'aDo.G1 has been uppro-
prlr'ed for their relief.
The war In Cuba Is OF such A nature
that. short of subJugation or cx,ermIp.
alton. II final military victory for
either side seems imI rncticnble. The
alternative lies In the physIcul OK.
hnusiion 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 ZnnJon. The proslsrt of
such u prOtraction and conclusion of
the present strife is n contingency
hardly 10 bc contemplated with eslunn
unity by the civilized world. and lens,
OF NIL by the United States, affected
and Injured ns We are deeply nnl In.
timnicly by It's very existence.
Realizing this. 4, appeared to he my
duty. In spiri; of true fricntiiine.s 10
Spain and 10 the Cubans To bring
about an immediate termination Of th,.
war.
To this end submitted on the 9th
ultino. n u result Of much Representa-.
tion and correspondence through the
United States minister at Madrid
propositions TO the Spanish govern.
ncnt. looking tn nm armisiicr urll DE-
tobcr Isl. Tor the negotiation Of pucc
with the good offices of III. President.
In addition. l asked the immediate ~.
vocation Of The order Of rcconcen,ru,Iop
50 far ns To permit the people 10 re-
turn to their farms aud III. E.ctiy 10
In relieved with provision. and sun.
piles from the United S,nics. c>p-opcrat.
Ing with III. Spanish authorities so rs
10 afford full relief.
The reply NJ Spain Offering 10 l.nyr
n peaceful settlement To the Cuban Iur.
Lament was received March aist. This
parliament meets May ith. md In tl,c
meantime the Spanish government OF.
fercsi temporary nrinistire provided
II Were nsked for 10y the Insurgents.
The prois'sitiUi submitted by General
Woodfori nnd the reply To the Spanish
government were iSih In the form OF
brief memoranda. The function Of the
Cuban Parliament In the matter Of
preparing peace and the manner II
Its doing so nrc not Expressed In the
Spanish memorandum.
II II understood TINT the Spanish
insuiar Congress full power 10 sc,tl,.
the terms of peace with the Insurgents )
either by direct negotiation or indi.
r"ctly by mems Of Legislation does no,
appear. with thI. lafi overture for i'm.
mediate peace and lis disappointing
reception 10y Spain. the executive was
brought To III. end of Its efforts.
In my annual message Of December
last ! said;
''pf the untrird measures there ~
mains only recognition Of the ins,r.
gents as bclligcrcnts. recognition Of
the Independence Of cuba. neutral In.
| tcrvcntion nnl forciblc annexation.
Now. Ms then. annexation Is not 20 ir
Thought ~. II II recognized fully ihnt
n declaration of neutrality. by which
bclligcrrncy wHild tn recognized.
would u Itself accomplish nothing"
Turning To the quest on of rrcoynls
Ing nj this time the iI,slctsentlc,,ec II
the present insir.cni government In
| Cuba We nnd safe t,rrrs..icntu In our
own history from nh "nrly 'iny. They
are we'll summed w In President
JnckH0n's message To Congress. Ipc.
c~mtrr -. ik:ti. on the subject of the
rtrognItlon II the Independence of
Texas. lie nld.
I'm all the contests that have arisen
out II thu revolutions oe Fraur,.. out
of th~ disputes relating IA thu cr~ws os
Portugal and NlsNIn. Ott of the nrnurx
tion Of sls~ American onsa~ssIona Of
both from The European governments.
md out of the numerous nnd constant.
ly UcurrinR struggles for slou,inIon In