River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-12-08
SPAIN AND CUBA.
A Resume of the Conditions which
Led Up to the War.

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A Resume of the Conditions which
Led Up to the War.
In my last annual message very full con
sidcratiOn 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 10 deal The considera lions
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 I'M
founded or practically inadmissble, the
recognition of the independence of Cuba,
neutral Intervention 10 end the war by inn
posing a rational compromise between the
contestants, Intervention In favor of one
or the other party, and forcible annexation
OF the island, | concluded II was honestly
due TO our friendly relations with Spain
that she should be given a reasonable
chance 10 realize her expectations of re-
form 70 which she had become irreVoCably
committed. Within a few weeks previous
~ she mad announced comprehensive plans,
which 1t was confidently asserted would
be cttiCaclous 10 remedy the evils SO deep
~ affecting our own country, so injurious
10 the true interests of the mother country
rs well as TO those or Cuba, and so repug-
hant TO the universal sentiment OF hui
mainly.
The ensuing month brought little sign of
real progress toward the pacifCation of
Cuba. The autonomous administration set
up Ia the capital and some of the prin-
clpal cities appeared not to gain the favor
Of the inhabitants nor TO BE- able to extend
their influence to the large extent of ter
TitOry held by the insurgents while the
military arm, obviously unable to cope
with the stlll active rebellion continued
many Of the most Objectionable and often
stve policies OF the government that had
preceded it. No tangible relief was Rf-
f0rded the vast numbers of unhappy re-
concentrates despite the reiterated pro
IesSions made IN that regard and the
amount appropriated by Spain TO that
end. The proHered eNpedient of zones of
cultivation proved illusOry indeed. no less
practical nor more delusive promises of
SucCOF could We'll have been rendered TO the
exhausted and destitute people stripped Of
all that made life and home dear and
herded In "a strange region among unsym-
pathetic strangers hardly less necessftous
than themselves.
BY the end of December the mortality
among them had frightfully increased
Conservative estimates from Spanish
sources placed the deaths among these dis
tFessed people a over ~ per cent. from the
time GEN Weyler's decree of reconcentra-
OF the Spanish authorities a scheme was
adopted for relief by charitable contribu-
tons raised in this country and distrib-
uled under the direction of the cOnsul-gen-
eral and several consuls by noble and ear
lest individual effort through the organ
lied agencies Of the American Red Cross
Thousands Of lives were thus saved. but
many thousands more were inaccessible to
suCn 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 Instruction from its
start No alternative save physical ex-
hauStion of either combatant and there
Withal the practical ruin of the island lay
IN sight, but how far distant no one could
venture to conjecture.
Destruction of the Maine.
At this juncture, on the 18th of Febru-
airy last, occurred the destruction of the
bdtlIeShlp Maine, while rightfully living in
the harbor of Havana on a mission of in
ternatlOnai courtesy and good villa
catastrophe the suspicious nature and hor-
ror Of which stirred the nations heart pro
ioundly. 1t IS striking evidence of the
poise and sturdy good sense distinguishing
our natlQnal character that this shocking
pONy' laIiInS upon generous people, al
ready deeply touched by preceding events
IA Cuba, did not move them to an instant,
desperate resolve to tolerate no longer the
existence OF condition of danger and dis
order at our doors that made possible such
a deed by whomsoeVer wrought Yet tho
instinct OF justice prevailed and the nation
ahAlously awaited the result of the search
ing investigation at once set on foot The
nhding of the naval board of inquiry estab-
GsHed that the origin of the explosion wa .
external by a submarine mine, and onIv
matted through lack Of positive testimony
TO TX the responsibility of its authorship
Action OF Congress.
All these things carried conviction to the
3
on tiie AdNdI court Jhat crisis in our
latluus with Spain toward Cuba was Al
haha 50 strong was this belief that il
tOu to the congress TO receive imne-
date answer TO the duty OF making instant
provision Tor the possible and perhaps
speedily probable emergency of war'and the
remarkable, almost unique, spectacle was
presented Of a unanimous vote OF hofF
houses on the 9Th of March, appropriatng
S51,yuJ GOO for the national defeuses and for
tdcA ana every purpose conEected there
with, 10 bs expended at the discretion of
iae president Ihat this act Of provision
came none too soon was disclosed when the
Application of the fund was undertaken.
our forts were practically unde Tended. our
navy needed large provision for increased
ammunition and supplies, and even num-
bers to cope with any sudden attack from
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 the
dreaded contingency is told in the reports
Of The secretaries Of war and Of the navy,
cieEt 10 say that the outbreak of the
war; " hen il did come found our nation not
uEprepdred to meet the conflict.
Nor WAS the apprehension of coming
strife confined 10 our own country. Ii was
felt by the continental powers which, on
ENJOYS, addressed to the executive an eX-
preston of hope that humanity and mod
Grafton might mark the course of this gov
eminent ard people. and that further nego-
tidtons would lead to ar agreement which
While securing the maintenance Of peace
would affirm all necessary guarantees for
the REQ Establishment of order IN Cuba In
responding TO that representation. ! also
shared the hope that the ENJOYS had eN-
pressed that peace might be preserved i'm
"a manner 20 terminate the chronic condi-
tiOn IF disturbance IN Cuba so injurious
and menacing 70 our interests and tran
guilty, as well as shocking TO our senti-
mcHfs of humanity. and while appreciat-
ing the humanitarian ard diSiutercsted
character Of the communication they had
a. hrl| q II ArsAF
confidence OF this government, for its part
that equal apnre citation would be shown Tor
It's own earnest and urscitish endeavors to
fuifll duty 10 humanity by ending it,
uatnD, the Indefinite prOlOuEatiOu OF WI en-
had become iusufferable,
Efforts Continued.
StiH animated by the hope OF peaceful
solution and aheYing the dictates Of duty.
no effort WAS relaxed to bring about a
speedy ending of the cuba rStruggle Ne
lltlati0ns to this object continued actively
vita the government Of Spain, looking 10
the immediate conclusion of a six months
ctraistlce IN Cuba with View 10 effect the
pendence. Sc Sides this the instant revo-
cation of the order of Recommendation was
asked, so that the sufferers. returning TO
tErlr homes and aided by united American
and Spanish effort might he put In way
u support themselves and. by orderly re-
sumption of the well-nigh destroyed pro-
duetI"e energies Of the island. contribute
70 the restoration Of its tranquility and
weii-being.
time at Madrid resulting in offers by the
spanish government which could not but
be regarded as Inadequate. Il was pro-
posed 10 eouHde the preparation Of peace
TO The iuSUlar parliament, yet to he con
VeDed under the autonomous DEGREES of
November. 1897, but without impairment in
any wise of the constitutional powers of
the Madrid government. which to that
end. would grant an armisttCe, IL solicited
by the insurgents. for such time a $ the
general in chief might see fit 70 fix How
and with what scope Of discretionary
powers the iusular parliament was eN-
peCfed to set about the preparation of
peace did not appear If ii were to be BIZ
n goJiation with the insurgents. the issue
seemed to rest on the one side with a body
chosen by s. fraction of the electors in the
districts under Spanish control, and on
the other with the insurgent population
holding the interior country, unrepresented
in the so-cal}ed parliament. and defiant
at the suggestion Of suing for peace
CONGRESS ASKED TO ACT.
whole Question submitted to Legis-
lators on April II.
Grfeved and disappointed at this barren
49, a-.s4a go. Is