The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-04-16

d this government made through its new en-
voy. Gen. Woodford, and looking TO an imme-
date and effective ameliOratlOn OF the cOndl-
tion OF the island, although not accepted TO the
extent of admitted mediation in any shape,
were met by assurances that home rule. IN an
advanced phase, would be forthwith offered 10
Cuba, without waiting for the war TO end, and
that more humane methods should thenceforth
prevail in the conduct Of hostlllties.
Policy of the New Government of Spain.
Incidentally with these declarations, the new
government Of Spain continued and completed
the policy already begun By its predecessor OF
teStifying friendly regard for this nation by re-
leasing American citizens he'd under one
charge or another connected with the 1nsur-
recuOn. 50 that. by the enc OF NOTemoer, not a
single person entitled i'll any nay to our ma
tiOnal protection, remained in 4 Spanish prison.
While these negotiations were in progress
the increasing deStitutlOn OF the unfortunate
reconcent, ADDE'S and the alarming mortality
among them claimed earnest attention. The
success which had attended the limited meas
ure OF relief extended to the suffering Amerl-
can citizens among them by the Iudiclous eX-
penditure through consular agencies OF money
appropriated expressly for their Succor by the
JOINT reSOlutIOu approved May "a. lr91, rompte
the humane extension OF a similar scheme OF
aid TO the great body of sufferers A SugSeS-
ton to this end was acquiesced in by the
Spanish authorities.
An Appeal to the American People.
On the 24tn OF December last l cauSel to be
issued an appeal 10 the American people, in
yitlnS contributions in money or IN kind for
the Succor OF the starving sufferers IN I uOa.
FOLLOWING this, on the Sth or January, ID. n
similar public announcement OF the formation
Of a central Cuban relief committee, with head
quarters in New York city, composed Of three
members representing the American national
Red Cross and the religious anu business ele-
mentS of the community. The efforts OF that
committee have been untiring and accom-
plished much. Arrangements for free trans
narration Ia mia have greatly aided the clarIta-
bic work. The president OF tue American
Red Cross. and representatives of OtEer con-
trlbutory organizations have generously visited
CUBA anu cO-OpeTatcd with the cOnNul-generaI
anu the local authorities to make euectIye dis
position o! the relief collected through the eff
forts OF the central committee. Marty F2OJ,UU
in money and supplies has already reached the
sufferers, ami more Is forthcoming. The sup
plies are admitted duty free, AMI transporter
tiOn to the interior has been arranged, so that
the relief ut first necessarily confined to Ha-
vana and the larger cities. is now extended
through most, II not all, Of the towns where
suffering exists. Thousands OF lives have al
ready been saved.
Necessity for a Change Recognized.
The necessity for q change in the condition Of
the recOncentradocS is recognized by the Span
iSh government. Within q few days past the
orders OF Gen. Weyler have been revoked, the
recOnccntradOeS are.l is said to be permitted TO
return to their homes and aided to resume the
Self-SuppOrting pursuits OF peace; public works
have been ordered to give them employment,
anu a SUM Il [OStsNOO ASp ON1A !
their relief.
The war in Cuba is OF such a nature that
short Of SubjuEaJiOn or determination Il final
military victory for either side seems impracti-
cable. The alternative lies in the physical eX-
hauStion of the one or the other party, or per-
hapS OF both u condition which, i'll effect ended
the ten years war by the truce of ZanJon. The
prospect of such a prOtraCtlUn anu conclusion
OF the present strife Is a contingency hardly TO
be contemplated with equanimIty by the civil
lied world, and least OF all by the United States,
affected an injured as we are, deeply and init
mately by its existence.
Friendly Duty to Both Sides.
Realizing this, it appeared to be my duty, in a
spirit of true friend hess, no less to Spain than
to the CubanS. who have 50 much to lose by the
proiOngatlOu Uf the struggle, to seek to nrlng
about an immediate termination of the war. 10
this end 1 submitted. on the 9th uitimO. as 4
result Of much representation and correspond
ence. through the United States minister at
Madrid, propositions to the Spanish govern
m.nt looking to an armiStice until October l.,
for the negotiations Of peace with the good
In addition | ask the immediate revocation of
the order Of recommendation, so as to permit
the people to return to their farms and the
needy to be relieved with provisions and sup
plies from the United States cooperating with
the Spanish authorities so as to afford full re-
lief.
Reply of the Spanish Cabinet.
The reply OF the Spanish cabinet was re-
| ceiyed on the night of the 3fSt ultimO. 1t offers,
as the means to bring about peace in Cuba, to
contiie the preparation thereof to the inSular
department. I%nasInucha as the concurrence OF that
body would be necessary to reach a itnaal result,
it being, however. understood that the powers
reserved by the constitution TO the central
government are not leSSened or diminished. As
the Cuban parliament does not meet until the
fourth OF May next, the Spanish government
would not object. for its part to accept at once
"A suspension of hoStilities. if asked for by the
insurgents from the general in chief, to whom it
would pertain, IN such case. to determine the
duration and conditions OF the armiStice.
The propositions submitted by Gen. Wood
ford and the reply of the Spanish e vernment
were both in the form of brief memoranda, the
texts OF which are before me, and are SubStan-
italy in the language above given. The
function of the Cuban parliament in the mat
ter OF preparing" peace. and the manner OF its
doing so are not expressed in the Spanish
memorandum; but from Gen. WoodfOrd'S eX-
planatOry reports OF preliminary discussions
preceding the inal COnfere zee, 1t is understood
that the Spanish government stands ready to
give tn inSuIar congress full powers to settle
the terms OF peace with the insurgents, wheth-
er by direct neG0t iatiOn or indirectly by
means OF legislation does not appear.
Disappointing Reception of Oycrtures.
With this last overture in the direction Of
immediate peace ana its disappointing recep-
liUn by Span, the executive was brought to
the end Of his effort.
In NV annual message OF December last l
said: OF the untried measures there remain:
Recogniti Il of the INSURGENTS as DeliiEerentS:
recommendation Of the independence of Cuba:
neutral intervention to end the war by ImpnS-
ing a rational compromise between the con-
teStantS, and Intervention in favor OF one or the
other party" 1 speak not of fOrclble anncXd-
ton, for that can not be thought OF. That, 10y
our code OF morality, would be criminal aggreS-
sion.
Thereupon l reviewed these alternatives. in
the night of President Grant, measured words,
uttered in 1879. when after seven years of san
culinary, destructive and cruel DaTOdritieS in
Cuba. he reached the conc uSlOn that III" reCO-E-
nj ION of the Independence OF CUBA was i'm
practicable ana iuiefenSlOie. anu that the
recognition OF bclligerency was not warranted
by the facts according to the tests of public
law. | commented especially up II the
latter aspect OF the question, point
ing out the inconvenience. aId positive
dangers of 4 recognition Ol beIllgerdnce which.
wuile adding TO the already OneruU> burdens Of
neutrality within our own jurisdiction. cuuiu
not in any way extend our influence or effective
offices IN the territory OF hUstlllteS.
Views Have Not Changed.
Nothing has since occurred u change ms
view in this. re gard, anu / recognize a. fully
now as then that the issuance of u proclamation
Of neutrality, by Whlcn process tIe So-ca.l''d
recognition of Dclligerence IL published. could,
OF Itself anu UNATTENDED by other action. accom-
pliSh nothing toward the one end FOR which we
IaDor-the instant pacIiicatlon Of Cuba and the
cessation Of the misery that atiIctS the island.
Turning to The question OF recognizing, at
this time, the independence OF the present in
Surgent government IN Cuba. we inu safe pre-
cedcntS in our history from an early day. lney
are well summed up in Pres eat jackson s
message to congress. December q. 1856. on the
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