The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-04-14
A MESSAGE ON CUBA.
President Mckinley Informs Con-
gress on Cuban Matters.
WRECK OF TIE BATTLESHIP MAINE.
The Catastrophe Referred to as Proof of
spain's capacity to Govern Cuba and
Powers Asked for the PresI-
dent to stop the War.


dent yesterday sent the following mes
sage 10 the congress of the United
States:
Obedent TO that precept Of the constitution
which commands the president to give from
time to time the congress information OF the
state OF the union and TO recommend to their
consideration such measures as he shall Judge
necessary and expedient It becomes my duty
now to address your body with regard to the
grave crisis that has arisen in the relations of
the United States 10 Spain by reason Of the
warfare that for more than three years has
ragged in the neigh boring island Of Cuba do
so because OF the intimate connection OF the
Cuban question with the state OF our own union
and the grave relation the course which is now
incumbent upon the nation TO adopt must needs
bear TO the traditional policy OF our govern
mentH IL is to accord with the precepts laid down
by the founders of the republic and religiously
observed by succeeding administrations 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 a
period of nearly half a century, each of which,
during its progress, has subjected the United
States to great effort and expense in enforcing
Its neutrality laws. caused enormous losses to
the American trade and commerce, caused irri-
tatlon, annoyance and disturbance among our
citizens, and by the exercise OF cruel, barbar-
Gus and uncivilized practices OF warfare
shocked the sensibilities and offended the hu-
name sympathies of our people. Since the
present revolution began in February, 1895,
this country has seen the fertile domain at our
Threshold rayaged by lire and sword in the
course OF q struggle unequaled in the history Of
the island and rarely paralleled as to the num-
Der of the combatants and the bitterness OF
the contests by any rev Jlution of modern times
where d dependent people. striving to be free.
have been opposed by the power OF the sovereign
state. Our people have beheld once prosperous
community reduced to comparative want. its
commerce virtually paralyzed. tta exceptional
productiveness diminished It's fields laid waste,
its mills in ruins and Its people perishing by
tens OF thousands from hunger and restitution.
We have found ourselves constrained in the
Observance OF that strict neutrality which our
laws enjoin and which the law OF nations COM
mands. to police our own waters and watch our
own seaports In prevention OF any unlawful act |
in aid OF the Cubans. Our trade has suffered: |
tho capital Invested by our citizens In Cuba has
been largely lost and the temper and forbear-
ance OF our people have been sorely tried as |
TO beget perilous unrest among our own citi- |
zens. which has inevitably found its expression |
from time to time in the national legislature |
so that issues wholly external to our own body |
polite engross attention and stand in the way |
OF that close devotion to domestic advancement /
that becomes a self-contented commonwealth |
whose primal maxim has been the avoidance OF |
Ril foreign entanglements All this must |
needs awaken and has indeed aroused the ut
most concern on the part Of this government as
we'll during my predecessors as my own
EnOrA To bring About Peace
In April. 1885, the evils from which our coun-
Try suffered through the Cuban war became so
)nerous that my predecessor made an effort to |
bring about q peace through the mediation of
his government In a-v way that might tend to
M haxossale, adjustment OF the contest be-
.ween Spain and her rovolted colony, on the
basis OF some effective scheme OF self-govern-
nent for Cuba under the flag and sovereignty |
IL Spain 1t failed, through the refusal of the
spanish government then in power. to consid-
Elrwx
settlement which did not begin with actual
OF the insurgents to the mother
ountry. and then only on such terms as Spain |
ersef might see ut to grant The war con-
inued undated. The resistance OF the In
urgents was In no wise diminished
Policy OF Devastation.
The efforts Of Spain were increased both by |
he dispatch of fresh levies to Cuba and by the |
EDITION to the horrors of the strife OF a new |
nj irhaman phase happily unprecedented in |
ne modern history OF civilized Christian peo-
les, The policy OF devastation and ooncentra-
IonS inaugurated by the captain generals
ando OF October 81. 1890 in the province of ,
mar del Rio was then extended to emil brace oil
the island TO which the power OF the Spanish /
rms was able 10 reach by occupation or mill ,
AIRY operations The peasantry, including all | !
yelling In the open agricultural interior, were
riven into the garrison towns or isolated .
laces held by the troops. The raising and :
ovement OF provisions OF all kinds were in
'rdicted- The fields were laid waste dwell .
gs unroofed and fred. mills destroyed, and In =
tort. everything that could desolate the land :
I'd render 1t unfit for human habitation or :
lpport was commanded by one or the other OF :
e contending parties. and executed by all the | .
overs at their disposal .
BY the time the present administration took | =
hce, year ago. RECOMMENDATION called, | =
I'd been made effective over the better part | !,
the four central and western provinces :,
lnea Clara, MatanzaS Havana and Pinar del r.
% The agricultural population, to the es- | =,
mated number OF 500. 900 or more. was de- | h
lived OF the means of support. rendered desti- l.
te OF shelter, left poorly clad and exposed to | o
e most unsanitary conditions As the scar | a
~ OF food increased with the devastation of a
e depopulated areas OF production destitu-
n and want became misery and starvation
onth by month the death rate increased in
alarming ratio. BY March, 1897 according 81
conservative estimates from ofieinl Span n
, sources, the mortality among the rsconcen- II
Ados from starvation and the diseases there | ~
incident exceeded 80 per cent OF their total -
moeE No practical relief was accorded to u
0 destitute The ov erburdened towns al "
ady suffering from the general dearth could "
re no aid So-ealled zones OF cultivation | Il
taolished within the immediate area of ef- "
tive military control about the cities | VI
iortined camps proved illusory as q rem H'
for the suffering. The unfortu- "
ties, being for the most part women and chill u
IN with aged and helpless men. enfeebled By - -
'ease and hunger. could nos have titled the | 1t
WITHOUT TOOLS. seed or shelter, for their | NS
a support or for the supply OF the cities. VI
concentration adopted avowedly as q war &c
assure In order TO out OF the resources OF the uI
urgents worked Its predestined results As on
AID In my message OF last December it was
civilized warfare; 10 was determination 40
e only peace 1t could beget was that of the tr'
derness and the grave IN
Relapsed into n Dogged Struggle ne
the military situation in the is 20
% nao undergone noticeable change. The m
raordinary activity that characterized the | a.
ond year OF the war. when the insurgents in oF
led even the hitherto unframed fields OF | -
-, 80. -. -. tIeu nafoe anu RESTITUTION no
! relapsed into logged struggle in the CEN | 80,
] and eastern provinces The Spanish arms
aimed a measure of control in Pfnar
Rlo and parts OF Havana but under
existing conditions Of the -ur,I .o,--.-r tin
hout immediate improvement of their pro- go