Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-04-20


the insurgents invaded even the hitherto
unframed fields of Pinar del Rio, and
carried havoc and restitution up to the
walls of the city OF Havana itself, had
relapsed into a logged struggle in the
central and eastern provinces. The Span
ish arms regained a 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
partially restricted the revolutionists held
their own. and their submission, put for
ward by Spain as the essential and sole
basis of peace, seemed as far distant as
at the outset.
Promise of Autonomy.
In this state of affairs my administra-
ton found itself confronted with the
grave problem of its duty. My message
OF last December reviewed the situation
and detailed the steps taken with a view
OF relieving its acuteness and opening the
way to some form of honorable settle
ment. The assassination of the prime
minister, Canoyas, led to n change OF gov
eminent in Spain. The former admins
tration.. pledged TO suhjugation withou.
concession, gave place to that of a more
liberal party. committed long in advance
to a policy of reform involving the wider
principle of home rule for Cuba and Pu-
elTo Rico. The oyertures of this gov
crnEent, made through its new envoy,
General Woodford, and looking TO an I'M
mediate aud effective amelioration of the
condition of the island. although not ac-
cepted TO the extent of admitted media
tlon III any shape, were met by assurances
that home rule. in an advanced phase,
h.Nf nj !.
out waiting for the war TO end, and that
more humane methods should thenceforth
prevail in the conduct of hostiites. In
cidentally with these declarations the
new government of Spain continued and
completed the policy already begun by its
predecessor of testifyng friendly regard
for this nation by releasing American
citizens held under one charge or an
other connected with the instruction. so
that by the end of November not a single
person entitled in any way to our national
protection remained in Spanish prison.
While these negotiations were in prog
ress the increasing destitution of the I'M
fortunate reconcentrados and the alarm
ing mortality among them claimed ear
nest attention. The success which had
attended the limited measure of relief
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 ex-
tension Of 'milar scheme of aid TO the
great body of sufferers. A suggestion TO
this end was acquiesced in by the Span
ish authorities.
On the 24th of December last caused
to be issued an appeal to the American
people inviting contributions in money or
in Kind for the succor of the starving suf-
ferers in Cuba, following this on the Sth
of January by n similar public announce
ment of the formation of II central Cuban
relief committee, with headquarters In
New York City. composed of three mem
bers representing the American National
Red Cross and the religious and business
elements of the community. The efforts
of that committee have been untiring and
accomplished much. Arrangements for
free transportation TO Cuba have greatly
aided the charitable work. The president
of the American Red Cross and represent
atives of other contributory organizations
have generously visited Cuba and coop
Grated with the Consul General and the
local authorities to make effective distri-
button of the relief collected through the
efforts of the central committee. Nearly
5000, 600 in money and supplies has al
ready reached the sufferers, and more is
Forthcoming. The supplies are admitted
duty free, and transportation to the in
terror has been arranged, so that the re-
lief. at first necessarily confined TO Ha-
vana and the larger cities. is now eX-
tended through most. if not all, of the
towns where suffering exists. Thousands
of lives have already been saved.
Reconcentrado Order Revoked.
The necessity for change i'll the condi-
ton of the reconcentrados is recognized
by the Spanish government. Within a
few days past the orders of General Wey-
Ter have been revoked, the reconcentrados
are, it 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 tnem employ
ment, and a sum of 100000 has been
appropriated for their relief.
The war il Cuba is of such q nature
that, short of subjugation or eXterrnina-
ton, q final military victory for either side
seems impracticable. The alternative lies
in the physical exhaustion of the one or
the other party, or perhaps of both-a
condition which In effect ended the ten
years war by the truce of Zanjon. The
prospect of such protractiOn and con-
cluson of the present strife is a contin-
gent hardly to be contemplated with
equanimity by the civilized world. and
least of all by the United States, affected
and injured as we are deeply and init
mately by it's very existence.
Realizing this. it appeare, TO be my
duty, in Il spirit of true friendliness, no
less to Spain than to the Cubans, who
have so much to lose by the prolongation
of the struggle, TO seek to bring about an
immediate termination of the war. To
this end, | submitted, on the 9th ultimo,
as result of much representation and
correspondence, through the United
States minister at Madrid, propositions to
the Spanish government looking to an
lat I Gov hn tiot ion
of peace with the good Offices of the Pres
ident
In addition | asked The immediate revo-
cation of the order of RECOMMENDATION. 50
as to permit the people to return to their
farms and the needy to be relieved with
provisions and supplies from the United
States, cooperating with the Spanish
authorities so as to afford full relief
The reply of the Spanish cabinet was
received on the night of the 31st ultimo.
1t offers, as the means to bring about
peace in Cuba, to confide the preparation
thereof to the insular department, mas
much as the concurrence of that body
would be necessary to reach final 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 4th of May next,
the Spanish government would not object,
for its part, to accept at once a suSpen-
sion of hostilities, if asked for by the in
surgents from the general in chief, to
whom it would pertain, in such case, to
determine the duration and conditions of
the armiSticc.
The propositions submitted by General
Woodford and the reply of the Spanish
government were both in the form OF
brief memoranda, the texts of which are
before me- and are substantially in the
language above given. The function of
the Cuban parliament in the matter of
"preparing" peace and the manner of it's
doing SO are not expressed in the Span
ish memorandum: but from General
Woodford's explanatory reports of pre-
lminary discussions preceding the final
conference it is unde stood that the Span
ish government stands ready TO give the
insular congress full powers TO settle tho
terms of peace with the insurgents.
whether by direct negotiation or indirect
~ by means of legislation does not ap-
pear.
With this last overture in the direc
Of immediate peace and its disappointing
reception by Spain the executive was
brought to the end Of his effort.
Three Measures Left.
In my annual message of December
last | said:
"Of the untried measures three remain:
Recognition of the insurgents rs belliger-
ents; recognition of the independence OF
Cuba: neutral intervention 10 end he war
by imposing rational compromise be-
| tween the contestants and intervention IN
| favor of one or the other party. speak
not of forcible annexation. Tor that can
not he thought of. That, by our code OF
morality. would be criminal aggression.
! Thereupon ! reviewed these alterna-
I s1.x,N+ a ant