The times., 1898-04-14
commented upon her visit in hostile


herents of Weyler and who resented his
recall. an expressed hatred of the Unit
ed States. The time of the explosion
must have been calculated for the mo-
ment when the Maine should swing
within the destructive radius of the
mine.
The report of the Spanish board of in
quiry, sedulously promulgated in ad-
vance of that of the Board of the Unit
ed States. finding, after a hurried and
most superficial investiga ton, that the
catastrophe was from an internal and
not from an external cause, was mani
festly false, and was intended to induce
public opinion to prejudge the question.
The duplicity perfidy, and cruelty of
| the Spanish character. as they always
| have been, are demonstrated still to
continue by their manifestations dur
| ing the present war in Cuba. All these
circumstances considered cumulatively,
together with other considerations
which will exactly accord with and add
force to them, undenied and unexplain-
ed as they are by any authority except
ing the baseleSs report of the Spanish
| board of inquiry, warrant the concIu-
| sion stated hereinbefore that the de-
struction of the Maine was compassed
either by the official act of the Spanish
authorities (and the ascertainment of
the particular person is not materiaD,
or was made possible by a negli igence on
their part so willing and gross as TO
be equivalent in culpa Dility to positive
criminal action.
Upon due consideration of all of the rel
evant facts of the relations of this Gov
ernment and Spain, including the de-
Struction of the Maine and of the history
of the rebellion, it is the opinion Of your
committee that the United States ought
TO tza fhn t,,fl. .
the people of Cuba and also ought to in
tervene to the end that the war and it's un-
exampled atrocities shall cease, and that
such independence shall become a set
tied political fact at the earliest possible
moment, by the establishment by the free
action of the people of Cuba, when such
action can be had, of a government in
dependent in fact and form
1T is believed that recognition of the bel
| ligerency of the insurgents in Cuba, If 1t
had been given seasonably when it was
| suggested by concurrent resolutions to
| that effect passed by Congress. would
! have insured the speedy termination of
the war without involving the United
! States in the contest. Such recognition
was not given, and conditions have
| changed so materially since it was thus
| proposed that, if given now, it would fall
! far short in supplying the just require
ments of the present situation in the light
solely of the interests of the Cnited
| States
THE recognition of the independence of
the people of Cuba is justified and de-
manded by the highest considerations Of
duty, right, and policy.
''The insurgents hold the eastern por-
ton of the island, TO the practical ex-
clusion of Spain. This possession ex-
tends over one body of territory COM
prising fully one-half the area of Cuba.
ayfa ipat 1xy of No
peaceful inhabitants of the western por-
ton of the island has so affected the bal
ance of population between these moietieS
of Cuba that the insurgents comprise in
the eastern half nearly one-third of the
population of the island. That third of
the population pays taxes to them, serves
in their armies, and in every way sup
ports, and is loyal to them. This situa-
! ton has existed ever since the first few
| months of the war. The armies of Spain
under Campos Weyler and Blanco, sue
cessively have been repeied in every in
vasion that they have attempted of the
eastern half of the island.
''rhe cause of Spain has con-
! tinually grown weaker and that
| of the insurgents has grown
| stronger. The former is making
no substantial effort for the recovery of
! these lost provinces. Their people are
| secure from invasion and cruel admins
| tration. Spain has never been able To
| subject them TO her unprecedented and
murderous policy of concentration and
! determination Her armies have been
| more than deeimated in the attempt to
| subdue them. Two hundred thousand
! of her soldiers have failed to reduce the
| insurgents. The few re-enforcements
| that she is now sending to Cuba do not
| supply q tithe of her losses caused by
| battle and disease.
Her control over the western portions
! of the island is dominance over a desc
| lation which she herself has created.
Even there she controls only the terri
| tory occupied by her cantonments and
camps. Outside these the insurgents are
| everywhere in presence.
I'm the population of Cuba the native
| born preponderate in a very large pro-
| portion, probably of to l. We have
| been assured by the most unimpeachable
| authority 1--WE mean Senators Proctor,
Gallinger, Thurston and Money! that
| the native-born Cubans everywhere even
within the military lines of Spain, are
| opposed to the parent state. and are in
| sympathy with the insurgents.
We have also been assured by the
same authority that the native Cubms.
| by superiority in education, are better
! qualified than the SDaniards. and are
| thoroughly capable to administer the
| government of the island.
The preceding observations have as
| sumed a certain control and sovereignty
| by Spain over the western portion of Gu
| ba. We have indicated it's character
| 1t is limited to scattered and fortified
| areas and it is not a civil sovereignty
1t is merely a military occupation of for
titled places Even this dominion has
been made possible and continues only
by the infiiction of a policy for which
the history of no people excepting. pos
| ls-f., hot @f
any example. The world knows what
that policy is. and all civilization exc
crates it. 1t consists in compelling. un-
der penalty of death. the rural popula-
ton of the western part of the island 70
leave their homes. their fields. their
stock and other chattels and mass them
selves between the outskirts of certain
designated towns, and a military Gordon
interceptng their return into the coun-
try. AS they departed from their homes
their houses Were burned; the growth of
their fields was trodden down by cav
airy; their agricultural implements. fur
niture and domestic utensils were de-
stroyed their cattle and horses were
swept away by Spain. Throughout wide
areas of a region of unsurpassed fer
tilty, which had been densely populated
for more than two centuries, nor one
living thing, brute or human; not one
habitation; not one productive field is to
b. seen.
For the miserable condition to which
an entire population is reduced Spain
has afforded no substantial relief. and
the evil and distress have become so
huge and her financial debility is so ex-
treme that she is now unable to relieve
even If she could be supposed to have
tho disposition to do So
The result has been that over 200 COG
of the subjects of Spain have been killed