La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-04-16

| Without concession. gave pace 10 that
OF more liberal party, committed
| long in advance to n policy Of reform
involving the wider principle OF home
rule OF Cuba aud Porto Rico, the over
lures OF this government, although not
| accepted To the extent OF admitted
mediation In any shape. were met by
assurances that home rule, In an ad-
vanced phase. would be forthwith Of
fered to Cuba, without waiting for the
war to end. and that more humane
methods should thenceforth prevail in
the conduct OF hostlities.
| American citizens held under one
| charge or another connected with the
insurrection We're released and by the
end Of November. not single person
| entitled In any way to our protection
remained In Spanish prison.
| While these negotiations were in
progress the increasing dcstitution OF
the unfortunate reconcentradOs and the
alarming mortality among them claim
ed earnest attention. The success
which had attended the limited meas,
| ure of relief extended TO the suffering
| American citizens among them by the
| judicious expenditure through the con-
susar agencies of the money appropri-
atcd expressly for their succor by the
joint resolution approved May "a. 1897.
prompted the humane extension of n
similar scheme TO that great body Of
| sufferers.
A suggestion to this end was acqui-
esced in by the Spanish authorities. on
| December oath last, l 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-
| ferers in Cuba.
Following this on January Sth came
similar public announcement of the
formation OF n central Cuban relief
committee. with headquarters in New
York City. composed OF the member
representing the American National
Red Cross and the religious and bust
ness elements of the community. The
efforts OF that committee have been
untiring and accomplished much.
Arrangements for free trnnspOrta-
ton to Cuba have greatly aided the
charitable work. The president OF the
American Red Cross and representa-
tives OF other contributory Orghniza
tions. have generously visited Cuba
and co-operated with the consul gener-
nj and the local authorities to make
effective distribution Of the relief col
lected through the efforts OF the cen
tral committee. Nearly S2N.OOO In
money and supplies has already reach
cd the sufferers and more In forthcom-
ing. The supplies are admitted duty
free. and transportation TO the interior
has been arranged. 70 that the relief,
at 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 already been saved.
| The necessity for change In the
condition OF the reconcentrados In rec
ognizcd by the Spanish government.
| Within few days past the orders of
General Wheeler have been revoked.
the reconcentra,los are. II IL said, to t,e.
permitted TO return to their homes and
aided TO resume the self-supporting
pursuits of pence: public works have
been started To give them employment,
and sum OF SG00,O0O has been appro-
priated for their relief.
| The war In Cuba is OF such nature
that. short of subjugation or extermin-
alton. finnl military victory for
fseither side seems impractIcabIe. The
alternative Hes in the physical ex-
haustion 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 Zanjon. The prospect OF
such protraction and conclusion of
the present strife is n contingency
hardly 10 be contemplated with equan-
unity by the civilized world, and least
| of all by the United States, affected
and injured rs we are deeply and in
timntely by its very existence
Realizing this, II appeared to be my
duty. in spirit OF true friendliness to
| Spain and TO the Cubans to bring
about an immediate termination of the
war.
To this end submitted on the 9th
ultimo. as n result OF much representa-
ton and correspondence through the
United States minister at Madrid,
propositions to the Spanish govern
ment, looking TO an armistice until Oc-
tober LIST. for the negotiation Of peace
with the good offices Of the President
In addition. l asked the immediate re-
vocation of the order of Recommendation
| 50 far as TO permit the people to re-
turn to their farms and the needy to
be relieved with provisions and sup
plies from the United States, co-operat-
ing with the Spanish authorities 10 as
to afford full relief.
The reply of Spain Offering to leave
a peaceful settlement to the Cuban Par
lament was received March 31st. This
parliament meets May 4th, and In the
meantime the Spanish government Of
fered q temporary armistice provided
| 1t were asked for by the insurgents.
The proposition submitted by General
Woodford and the reply to the Spanish
i government we're both In the form Of
brief memoranda. The function OF the
Cuban Parliament in the matter OF
\ preparing" peace and the manner OF
its doing 50 are not expressed In the
Spanish memorandum.
1t Ii understood that the Spanish
government stands ready to give the
insular Congress full power to settle
the terms Of peace with the insurgents
either by direct negotiation or indf-
rectly by means Of legislation does not
appear. With this last overture for inn
mediate peace and Its disappointing
/ reception by Spain, the executive was