The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-04-21

all means OF support, rendered destitute
Of shelter, left poorly clad and exposed
to the most unsatisfactory conditions.
sunerings Of Recommendation.
AS the scarcity Of food increased with
the devastation of the depeopled areas of
production. restitution and want became
misery and starvation. Month by month
the death rate increased in alarming ra-
ito. and by March, 1888, according to con-
servative estimates from official Spanish
sources. the mortality among the recon-
centrados from starvation and the dis
eases thereto incident exceeded 50 per
certum of the total number. No practical
relief was accorded to the destitute The
overburdened towns, already suffering
from the general dearth, could give no
aid. So-called zones Of cultivation, estab-
lished within the immediate area of effect
i've military control. about the cities and
fortified camps, proved illusory as rem
edy for the suffering. The unfortunates
being for the most part women and chill
dren, with aged and helpless men, en-
feebled by disease and hunger, could not
have titled the soil without tools, seeds
or shelter, for their own support or for
the supply of the cities.
RECOMMENDATION adopted avowedly as a
war measure. to cut of the resources of
the insurgents worked It's predestined re-
suit. As said in my message of last
December. it was not civilized warfare;
it was determination, and the only peace
1t could beget was that Of the wilderness
and the grave.
~
Meanwhile the military situation in the
Island has undergone noticeable change.
The extraordinary activity that charac-
terized the second year OF the war, when
the insurgents invaded even the hitherto
unframed fields of Pinar del Rio and car
ried havoc and restitution up to the walls
Of the city Of Havana itself, had relapsed
into logged struggle in the central and
eastern provinces. The Spanish army re-
gained measure of control in Pinar del
Rio and parts of Havana, but under the
existing conditions OF the rural country,
without immediate improvement of their
productive situation. Even thus partial
ly restricted, the revolutionists held their
own, and their submission, put forward
by Spain as the essential and sole basis
of peace. seemed as far distant as at the
outset. In this state Of affairs my ad-
ministration found itself confronted with
the grave problem of its duty. My mes
sage Of last December reviewed the sit
uation and detailed the steps taken with
view of relieving the acuteness and
opening the way to some form Of hon.
orable settlement.
Sagasta's Vain Promises.
The assassination Of the prime minis
ter, Canovas, led to a change of govern
ment In Spain. The former administra-
ton. which pledged subjugation without
concession, gave place to that Of more
liberal party. committed long in advance
to policy of reform involving the wider
principle Of home rule for Cuba and Porto
Rico.
The overtures Of this government made
through it's new envoy, General Wood
ford, and loking to an immediate effective
amelioration of the condition of the
island. although not accepted to the ex-
tent of admitted mediation in any shape,
were met by assurances that home rule
In an advanced phase should be forthwith
offered to Cuba, without waiting for the
war to end, and that more humane meth
DDS should thenceforth prevail in the con-
duct Of hostilities
Incidentally with these declarations the
new government Of Spain continued and
completed the policy already begun by
Its predecessor of testifying friendly re-
gard for this nation by releasing Ameri-
can citizens held under one charge or
another connected with the instruction,
SO that by the end of November, not
single person entitled in any way to our
national protection remained in Spanish
prison.
The Relief Movement.
While these negotia tons were in progress
the increasing restitution OF the unfor-
tunate reconcentrados and the alarming
mortality among them claimed earnest at
tention. The success which had attended
the limited measure of relief extended to
the suffering American citizens among
them by the judicious expenditure,
through the consular agencies, OF the
money appropriated expressly for their
succor by tho joint resolution approved
May a. 1897, prompted the humane ex-
tension of similar scheme to- that great
body of sufferers. A suggestion to this
end was acuuiesced in by the Spanish au-
thoritiee. On the oath of December
caused to be issued an appeal to the
American people, inviting contributions IN
money or In kind for the succor OF the
starving sufferers in Cuba.
Following this, on the 9Th OF January,
was a similar public announcement of the
formation of a central Cuban relief COM
mfttee. which had headquarters In New
York city, composed of members rep
resenting the national Red Cross and the
religious and business elements OF the
community. The efforts OF that COM
plished much. Arrangements for free
transportation to Cuba have greatly aided
the charitable work.
The president Of the American Red Cross
and representatives of other contr1butory
organizations have generally visited CUBA
ana co-operated with the consul-general
and the local authorities to make effective
~ fA enIl0Cfe0 through
the efforts of the central committee. Near
" 100000 in money and supplies mas
reached the sufferers and more IL FORTH
coming. The supplies are ADMITTED outy
free and transportation to the interior
has been arranged 80 that the RELIEF AZ
first necessarily confined to Havana ana
the larger cities y now extended through
most. II not all, Of the towns where SUI
ferinx exista Thousands Of lives have
already been saved
The necessity for q change In the con-
ditiou OF the reconcentrados is recognised
BY the Spanish government. Within 2
few days past the orders OF General Wey-
Lar hava heen revoked, the reconcentra-
dos are, 1t is said. to be permitted TO re-
turn to their homes, and aided to resume
the self-supporting pursuits OF peace; puD-
lie works have been started to give them
employment. and Z sum OF $50. 900 has been
appropriated for their relief
spain,s Cause Hopeless.
The war in Cuba Is Of such nature
that, short of subjugation or extermina-
ton. . f1nal military victory for the other
side seems impracticable. The alternative
ne IN the physical exhaustion OF the one
81 the other party, or perhaps both, con-
6ition which in effect ended the 10 years
war By the truce OF Ian Jon. The pros
necf 81 such Z. protrAction ana conciu-
ION Of the present strife is contingency
hari1ly 9 Be- contemplated with equa-
nimity by the civilized world. and least g!