The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-04-14

jugation without concession gave nlaoa ~
mat In OF a more liberal party, committed long
IN advance to a policy of reform involving
the WIDER principle of home rule for Cuba
and Puerto Rico. The overtures of this gov
eminent, made through its new envoy Gen.
Woooiord, and looking to an immediate and
enectiVe amelioration of the condition of The
lsiand, although not accepted to the extent
u u, auil,ltteo mediation in any shape were met
ny assurances that home rule in an advanced
pnase would be forthwith offered to cuba
Mlthout waiting for the war to end, and that
more humane methods should henceforth nre
vail in the conduct of hostili.ies Incif1antal1v
WIN these declarations the new government
OF spain continued and completed the policy
tr1endly regard for this nation, by releasing
american citizens held under one charge or
a 4hot connected with the Instruction, so
mat by the end of November, not a single
person entitled in any way to our national
pr0tect1on remained in Spanish prison,
-, WINE these negotiations were in progress,
the increasing restitution of. the unfortunate
reconcentradoes and the alarming mortality
among them claimed earnest attention The
Success sc rs whleh mad attended the limited meas
ure or relief extended to the suffering Arneri-
can citizens among them by the judcious ex
Penolture through the consular agencies Of
the money appropriated expressly for their
succor by the joint resolution approved Nav
z: 1897, prompted the humane extension of a
SIMILAR scheme of. aid to the great body Of
sufferers. A suggestion was made Of
suspension of Hostilities,
II asked for by the insurgents from the gen.
eral in chief, to whom it would pertain in
S SuGn case to determine the duration and con-
oltlons or the armistfce. The propositions SUBJ
mitted by Gen. Woodford and the reply Of
the Spanish government were both in the form
OF brief memoranda, the text Of which are
before me, and are substantially the language
above given. .gz, ~
The function, of the Cuban parliament in
the matter of preparing peace with the man
ner or its doing SO not expressed in the
spanish memorandum; but from Gen. Wood
tords explanatory reports of preliminary dis
"a mol nyofa
understood that the Spanish government stands
ready to give the insular congress full powers
to en settle the terms Of peace with the insur
by the Spanish authorities. On the Oath of
December last, I caused to be issued an ap-
peal to the American people, inviting con-
tributions in money or in kind for the succor
OF the starving sufferers in Cuba, following
this on the 9Th of January by similar pub
lie announcement, of the formation of a CEN
trail Cuban relief committee, with headquarters
IN New York city, composed of three members
Cross. and the religious and business elements
Of the community. The efforts Of that COM
mittee 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 the representatives of other con-
tr1butory organizations have generously visit
ed Cuba and co-operated with the consul gen.
eral and the local authorities to make eff
fectiVe distribution of the relief collected
through the efforts of the central committee.
Nearly $1,000 600 in money and supplies has al
ready reached the sufferers, and more is forth
coming. 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 extending through most If not all of the
towns where suffering exists. Thousands Of
lives have already been saved.
The necessity for a change in the condition
Of the reconcentrados is recognized by the
Spanish government. Within a few days past,
the orders of Gen. Weyler have been revoked,
the reconcentrados are, it is said to be per-
mitted 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 5000 900
has been appropriated for their relief. The
war in Cuba is of such nature that short
Of subjugation or determination a final mill
tary victory for either side seems impractical
bile. The alternative lies in the physical
haustion of the one or the other party or per-
haps of both, condition which in effect ended
The prospect of such protraction and con-
clusion of the present strife is q contingency
bv the civilized world and least Of all by the
United States, affected and injured as we
are, deeply and intimately by it's very exist
ence. Realizing this it appears to be my duty
in a. spirit of true triendliness, 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. F.S .a,E II
Armistice Proposed.
To this end submitted the 9th ultimo,
as result of much representation and corre-
spondence, drought the United States minister
at Madrid. propositions to the Spanish govern
ment looking to an arnistice until Oct. i,
for the PRONUNCIATION of peace. In addition. I
asked the immediate revocation of the order
of Recommendation. SO as to permit the PEOPLE
to return to their farms and the needy to be
relieve. with provisions and supplies from the
United States, operating with the Spanish
authorities SO as to afford full relief. The
reply of the Spanish cabinet was received
the night of the 31st rltino. It offers as the.
r'cans to bring about peace in Cuba to confde
the preparation thereof to the insular depart
n N iOoC o11ah nc Of fIot
body would be necessary to reach a final result
it being, however, understood that the powers
reserved Ey the constitution to the central gov
eminent not lessened or diminished. AS the
Cub an parliament does not meet until the
fourth of May next, the Spanish government
would not object for its ns.rt to acce,t at ::
cree a suspension of hostilities If asked by !,
the insurgents from the eneral-in-chief,3 to
whom it would pertain in such case to- deter
mine the duration and conditions Of the arrnis-
tice. The propositions submitted by Cen Wood
ford and the renly of the Spanish government !
the texts of which are before me, and are \
substantially in TIE language above given. The 4
function of the Cuban parliament in the mat
ter of preparing peace and the matter OF
It's doing so are not expressed in the Spanish
memorandum; but from Gen. sWoodfords 5ex11
planatory reports OF preliminary discussions
preceding the final conference it is understood
that the Spanish government stands ready to /
give the nsular congress full powers to settle 4
the terms OF peace with the insurgents. AWheth-
err by direct negotiation Indirectly by means
of legislation does not aonear. d -
E. With this last overture in the direction Of
Immediate peace and its disappointing recep-
ton by Spain the executive brought to
the end OF his effort. E% PILE
In my annual message Of December last I
said: tOf the untried measures there re-
main: Recognition of the insurgents Jas bel
ligerants recognition Of the independence Of
Cuba; neutral Intervention to end the war,
by imposing rational compromise between
the contestants and Intervention in favor of
one or the other party. I speak rot Of forcible
annexation for that cannot be thought Of.
That. by our code Of morality,
Would Be Criminal Aggression.
Thereupon I reviewed these alternatives In
the light Of President Grant s measured words,
uttered in 1876 when, after seven years of
sanEufnary, destructive and cruel barbarities
In Cuba. he reached the conclusion that the
recognition Of the independence OF Cuba was
fmpracticable and indefensible. and thai the