The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-04-13

by month the death rate Increased In
an alarming ratio. BY March, 1897. ac-
cording to conservative estimates from
official sources, the mortality among
the reconcentrados. from starvation
and the diseases thereto Incident, ex-
ceeded so per centum OF their total
number. No practical relief was ac-
corded TO the destitute. The overbur-
dened towns. already suffering from
the general dearth, could give no aid.
So-called zones of cultivation" estab-
lished within the Immediate area of ef-
fective military control about the cities
and fortified camps proved illusory as
a remedy for the suffering. The unfor.
tunates, peing for the most part women
and children with aged and helpless
men, enfeebled by disease and hunger
J could not have titled the soil without
tools seed or shelter. for their own
support or for the supply of the cities.
Recommendation, adopted avowediy as
war measure In order to cut off the
resources Of the Insurgents, worked Its
predestined result AS said In my mes
sage of last December, II was not civ
ilized warfare; IL was determination.
The only peace II could beget was that
of the wilderness and the grave. While
the military situation In the island had
undergone noticeable change, the ex-
sraordlnary activity that characterized
the second year of the war, when tho
insurgents invaded even the hitherto
unharIned fields of Pinar del Rio ana
carried havoc and destruction up to the
walls of the city of Havana itself, had
relapsed into dogged struggle In the
central and eastern provinces. The
Spanish arms regained measure of
control in Pinar del Rio and parts Of
Havana, but under the existing cond-
tions of the rural country, without i'm
mediate Improvement OF their produce
tive situation. Even thus partially re-
stricted the revolutionists held their
own and their conquest and subms-
sion, put forward by Spain as the es.
sential and sole basis of peace, seemed
as far distant as at the outset.
In this state OF affairs my admins
tration found itself confronted with the
grave problem OF its duty. My message
OF last December reviewed the situa-
tion, and narrated the steps taken with
a view to relieving its acuteness and
| opening the way to some form OF hon
of the prime minister. Canovas, led to a
change OF government In Spain. The
| former administration pledged to sub
| 1ugation without concession gave place
| to that of more liberal party. COM
mitted long In advance to a policy of
| reform involving the wider principle of
| home rule for Cuba and Puerto Rico.
through It's new envoy, Gen. Woodford.
| and looking to an immediate and ef-
| fective amelioratiOn of the conditions
| 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
hostilities. Coincidentally with these
| declarations. the new government of
Spain continued and completed the
| policy already begun by its predeces-
sor. Of testifying friendly regard for
| this nation by releasing American citi-
zens held under one charge or another
connected with the insurrection, SO
| that, by the end of November, not
| single person entitled In any way to
our national protection remained In a
| Spanish prison.
While these negotiations were In
| progress the increasing destitution 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
American citizens among them by the
| judicious expenditure through the con-
| sular agencies of the money appropria-
| ted expressly for their succor by the
| joint resolution approved May "a, 1897,
| prompted the humane extension of a
similar scheme of aid to the great body
| of sufferers. A suggestion to this end
was acquiesced In by the Spanish au-
thorities. On the cath Of December last
! caused to be issued an appeal to the
American people, inviting contribu-
tions In money or In any kind for the
| succor OF the starving sufferers in Cuba,
| following n af Ia
similar public announcement of the
| formation Of a Central Cuban Relief
| Committee, with headquarters in New
York City, composed OF three members
representing the American National
Red Cross and the religious and busi
ness elements Of the community. The
| efforts OF the committee have been un-
tiring and accomplished much. Ar
rangements for free transportation to
the Island Of Cuba have greatly aided
| the charitable work. The President of
the American Red Cross and represent
tatives OF other contributory organiza-
tions have generally visited Cuba, and
co-operated with the consul general
and the local authorities to make effec-
tive distribution of the relief collected
through the efforts Of the Central Com
mittee. Nearly 100000 In money and
| supplies had already reached the suf-
ferers, and more Is forthcoming The
| supplies are 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 suf-
fering exists. Thousands Of lives have
already been saved. The necessity for
change In the condition Of the recon-
centrados is recognized by the Spanish
government. Within few days past.
the orders of Gen. Weyler have been
revoked. the reconcentrados are II 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, and sum OF $600.O has
been appropriated for their relief.
The war In Cuba Is OF such q nature
that short of subjugation or extermin-
Stion final military victory for either
side seems impracticable. The alter
native lies In the physical exhaustion
Of the one or the other party, or per-
haps Of both-a condition which In ef-
feet ended the ten years war by the
truce OF Zanjon. The prospect Of such
q protraction and conclusion of the
present strife In a contingency hardly to