The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-11

adopted avowedly as war measure in
order to cut off the resources OF the insur-
gents. worked its pcstflential result. AS
said in my message of last December. 1t
was not civilized warfare; it was exter-
mination The only peace it could beget
was that Of the wilderness and the grave.
Insurgents Cannot BE Conquered.
Meanwhile. tine 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 TO the walls of the city of Havana
itself. had relapsed into a dogged strug
gle in the central and eastern provinces.
The Spanish arms regained a measure of
control i'm Pinar del Rio and parts of
Havana. but, under the existing con-
ditions Ct the rural country. without i'm
mediate Improvement of their productive
situation. Even thus partially restricted
the revolutionists held their own and
their conquest and submission. put for
ward by Spain as the ESSENTIAL and sole
basis of peace. seemed as far distant as
at the outset
saRasta's Friendly Regard.
In this state of affairs my administra-
tion 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 to some form of honorable settle
ment. The assassination Of the prime
minister, Canovas, led to a change of
government in Spain. The former ad-
ministratiUn, pledged to subjugatioa
without concession, gave place 10 that Of
a more liberal party. committed long in
advance to policy Of reform involving
the wider principles Of home rule for
. Cuba and Porto Rico. The overtures OF
this Government. made through its new
envoy. Ger. Woodford and looking 70
an immediate and effective amelioration
Of the condition Of the island. although
not accepted to the extent Of admitted
mediation in any shape. were met by as
surances that home rule in an advanced
phase. would be forthwith offered to
Cuba. without waiting for the war to
end. and that more humane methodI
should thenceforth prevail in the conduct
OF hostilities. Coincidentally with these
declarations. the new government Of
Spain continued and completed the pol
icy already regUn by its predecessor. Of
tcstifying friendly regard for this ma
ton by releasing American citizens held
under one charge or another connected
with the insurrection, so that. by the end
Of November, not a single person enu-
tied in amy way to our national protec-
ticn remained in a Spanish prison.
American Charity.
While these negotiations were in prog
ress. the increasing destitution Of the
unfortunate reconcentrados and the
alarming mortality among them claimed
earnest attention. The success which had
attended the limited measure OF relief ex-
tended to the suffering American citizens
among them by the judicious expenditure
through the consular agencies Of the
money appropriated expressly for their
succor by the Joint resolution approved
May "a 1897, prompted the humane eNten-
sion OF similar scheme of aid to the
great body of sufferers. A suggestion 10
this end was acquiesced in by the Span
fish authorities. On the oath Of December
last. ] caused to he issued an appeal 10
the American people. inviting contribu-
tions in money or in kind for the succo1
Of the starving sufferers in Cuba. follow
ing this on the Sth Of January. by a simi-
lar public announcement of the forma-
tion OF a central Cuban relief committee.
with headquarters in New York City. com
posed Of three members representing the
American National Red Cross and the re
ligious and business elements Of the
community. The efforts of that commit
tee have been untiring and have accom-
plished much. Arrangements for free
transportation TO Cuba have greatly aid
ed the charitable work The president
of the American Red Cross. and represen-
tatives Of other contributory organizations
have generously visited Cuba. and co-op-
Grated with the consul general and the
local authorities to make eefTctive distri-
button Of the relief collected through the
efforts Of the central committee. Nearly
5000. 600 in money and supplies has already
reached the sufferers. and more is forth
coming. The supplies are admitted duty
free and transportation to the interior
has been arranged, so that the relief. at
first necessarily confined TO Havana and
the larger cities is now extended through |
most, if not all. of the towns where suf- |
fering exists. Thousands of lives have al |
ready been ssyed. The necessity for /
change in the condition of the reconcen-
trados is recognized by the Spanish gov |
ernment Within a few days past. the
orders of Gen. Weyler have been revoked.
and the reconcentradOs, are, it is said, to |
be permitted TO return to their homes.
and aided to resume the self-supporting /