The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-04-15

land had undergone q noticeable change. The
extraordinary activity that characterized the
second year of the war. when the insurgents In
vaded even the hitherto unframed fields OF
Pima 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 CEN
trail and eastern provinces The Spanish arms
reRained q measure OF control IN Flnaf
del Rio and parts OF Havana. but, under
the existing conditions Of the rural country,
without Immediate improvement of their pro-
ductive situation Even thus partially rediS-
trfcted the revOlutiOniStS had 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 administration found itself confronted
with the grave problem Of its day.
Overtures Made Last December.
My message of last. December reviewed the
situation and detailed the steps taken with
view Of relieving its acuteness and opening the
way to some form of honorable settlement
The assassination Of the prime minister, Cano-
vass. led to a change of government in Spain
The former administration pledged to suhju-
cation without concession gave place to that OF
| more liberal party, committed long in adj
vance to policy of reform involving the wider
principle of home rule for Cuba and Puerto
Rico The overtures Of this government, made
through It's new envoy, Gen. Woodford. ana
looking to an immediate and effective ameloria-
| ton of the condition 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 to Cuba. without waiting for
the war to end and that more humane methods
should thenceforth prevail in the conduct OF
hostiities. Incidentally with these declara-
lions. the new government Of Spain continued
and completed the policy already begun by its
| predecessor of testifying friendly regard for
| this nation by releasing American citizens
held under one charge another connected
N a
November. not single person entitled in any
way to our national protection remained in
Spanish prison
The Starving Cubans Fed.
While these negotiations were in progress
the increasing restitution OF the unfortunate
reconcentradoS and the alarming mortality
among them claimed earnest attention The
success which had attended the limited meas
ure Of relief extended to the suffering Ameri-
can citizens among them by the judiciOus ex-
penditure through the consular agencies OF the
money appropriated expressly for their succor
| by the joint resolution approved May 81.
| 1897, prompted the humane extension Of
a similar scheme OF aid to the
| great body Of sufferers suggestion to
this end was acQuieSced in by the Spanish au-
thOritieS- On the 9th of December last I
caused to be issued an appeal to the American
people, inviting contributions in money in
kind for the succOr Of the starving sufferers In
Cuba; following this on the 9Th of January by
ton of a central Cuban relief committee.
with headquarters in New York city, COM
posed Of three members representing the
American national Red Cross and the religious
and business elements of the community. The
efforts of that committee have been untiring
and have accomplished much Arrangements
for free transportation to Cuba have greatly
aided the charitable work. The president of
the American Red Cross and representatives
of other contributory organizations have gen.
1u vic tod ,ha md tod I, fho
consul general and the local authorities to
make effective distribution of the relief collect
ed through the efforts of the central committee.
Nearly goo OOJ in money and supplies has al
ready reached the sufferers and more is forth
coming. The supplies admitted duty
Free and transportation to the interior has
been arranged so that the relief, at
first necessarily confined to Havana and
the larger cities, is now extended through most
II not all, of the towns where suffering exists
Thousands of lives have already been saved
The necessity for u change in the condition Of
the recOncentradOs is recognized by the Span
| iSh government Within few days past the
orders of Gen. Weyler 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 having been ordered to give them en-
| ployment and sum of $500 900 has been appro-
priated for their relief
The war in Cuba is of such nature that
short of Subjugation or determination final
| military victory for either side seems imprac-
| ticable 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 Zan-
| jon. The prospect Of such q protraction and
| conclusion Of the present strife is contingency
hardly to be contemplated with equanimity by
the civilized world and least Of all by the
United States. affected and injured as are,
deeply and intimately by its very existence.
Proportions Submitted to the Spanish.
Realizing this, it appears to be my duty. in a
spirit OF true friendfneSS, 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, the 27th ultimo, as q
result Of much representation and correspond
| ence. through the United States minister at
| Madrid. propositions to the Spanish govern
| ment. looking to an armistice until October l.
for the negotiation OF peace with the good Of
| fees OF the president In addition. asked the
immediate revocation Of the order of reconcen-
tration, SO as to permit the people to return to
| their farms and the needy to be relieved with
| provisions and supplies from the UnitedStates
| cooperating with the Spanish authorities SO
as to afford full relief.
The reply of the Spanish cabinet was re-
| ceived on the night Of the 3lst ultimo. 1t Of
| fers, the means to bring about peace in
CUBA, to confide the preparation thereof to the
insular department.. inaSmuch as the concur
renee of that body would be necessary to reach
o final result, it being, however, understood
| that the powers reserved by the constitution to
the central government are not leSSened or di-
minished 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 q suspension of hostilities if
| asked for by the insurgents from the general
in-chief. to whom it would pertain. in such
L I~N2