The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-12-08
SPAIN AND CUBA.
A Resume of the Conditions Which
Led Up to the War.

Led Up to the War.
In my last annual message very full con-
sideration was given to the question of
the duty of the government of the United
States toward Spain and the Cuban in
surrection as being by far the most i'm
portant problem with which we were then
called upon to deal. The considerations
then advanced, and the exposition of the
views therein expressed, disclosed my
sense of the extreme gravity Of the stu
alton. Setting aside, as logically un-
founded or practically inadmissible, the
recognition Of the independence of Cuba,
neutral intervention to end the war by i'm
posing a rational compromise between the
contestants, Intervention in favor of one
or the other party, and forcible annexation
OF the island. I concluded it was honestly
that she should be given a reasona BILE
chance to realize her expectations of re-
form to which she had become irrevocably
ly she had announced comprehensive plans,
which 1t was confidently asserted would
be e11cacious to remedy the evils so deep
to the true interests of the mother country
as well as to those of Cuba, and so repug-
nant to the universal sentiment Of hui
The ensuing month brought little sign of
real progress toward the pacification of
Cuba. The autonomous administration set
up In the capital and some Of the prin-
Of the Inhabitants nor to be able to extend
their influence to the large extent Of ter
ritory held by the insurgents while the
with the still active rebellion, continued
many Of the most Objectionable and often
siye p policies oil Of the g oXsrnment . that had
forded the vast numbers of unhappy re-
concentrates despite the reiterated pro-
LESSONS made in that regard and the
end. The proffered expedient Of zones OF
cultivation proved illusory; indeed, no less
practical nor more delusive promises OF
exhausted and destitute people, stripped OF
all that made life and home dear and
herded in strange region among unsym.
pathetic strangers hardly less necessitous
BY the end Of December the mortality
among them had frightfully increased.
estimates from Spanish
tressed people at over 40 per cent. from the
time Gen. Weyler's decree of reconcentra-
ton was enforced. With the acquiescence
adopted for relief by charitable contribu-
lions raised in this country and distrib-
uted under the direction of the consul-gen-
nest individual effort through the organ
lied agencies of the American Red Cross
Thousands Of lives were thus saved. but
| such forms of aid.
The war continued on the old footing
without comprehensive plan, developing
only the same spasmodic encounters, bar:
rem OF strategic result, that had marked the
course Of the earlier ten years. rebellion as
well as the present insurrection from Its
start No alternative save physical ex.
haustion of either combatant and there.
Witha! the practical ruin of the island lay
| in sight, but how far distant no one could
VentuIo to conjecture.
Destruction of the Maine.
At this juncture. on the 18th of Febru.
battleship Maine. while rightfuily lying ir
the harbor of Havana on a mission of in.
| ternatlonal courtesy and good villa
ror Of which stirred the nations heart bro.
foundly. 1t is q striking evidence Of tn.
po1se and sturdy good sense Distinguishing
our nata9na! character that this shocking
DdoW, falling upon generous people, al
ready deeply touched by preceding events
In Cuba, did not move them to an instant
| desperate resolve to tolerate no longer the
order at our doors that made possible such
deed by whomsoever wrought Yet tn.
instinct OF justice prevailed and the natior
anxlously awaited the result Of the search
ing investigation at once set on foot. The
nnding of the naval board Of inquiry estab.
nshed that the origin of the explosion wa.
| halted through lack Of positive testimony
TO nx the responsibility OF its authorship.
| 49, Action of Congress.
| All these things carried conviction to tn.
| most thoughtful, even before the fndinf
OF the naval court, that q crisis In our re-
| iations with Spain toward Cuba was a,
hand. So strong was this belief that Il
| needed but a brief executive suEees
ton to the congress to receive imme
date answer to the duty of making instan,
provision for the possible and perhap.
speedily probable emergency of war, and tn,
remarkable, almost unique, spectacle wa:
presented OF q. unanimous vote of boti
houses on the 9Th of March, appropriatins
$5O,0OO,O 600 for the national defenses and fol
| eacn and every purpose connected there
with, to be expended at the discretion O.
the president" That this act Of provision
came none too soon was disclosed when thu
application of the fund was undertaken
Our forts were practically undefended.. Oul
navy needed large provision for increased
| ammunition and supplies, and even mum
bers to cope with any sudden attack from
the navy of Spain, which comprised mod
ern vessels of the highest type of cont
/ mental perfection. Our army also required
| enlargement of men and munitions The
| details OF the hurried preparation for thu
dreaded contingency is told in the report,
OF the secretaries of war and OF. the navy
ana need not De repeated here. It is suff1
| Gent to say that the outbreak of tn,
war, when It did come, found our nation no,
Eunprepared to meet the conflict.
| - Efforts Continued.
sim animated by the hope Of peaceful
Solution and obeying the dictates Of duty
i NO e1ort was relaxed to bring about 4
/ epeedy ending of the Cuba nstruggle.sNe
/ Eotiattons 70 this object continued actively