The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1898-04-22

Il rate 1nCr6aS0u IN an alarming ratio. BY
March. 1897. according to conservative es-
tim ates from official Spanish sources. the
mortality among the reconcentradoS, from
starvation and the diseases thereto inci-
dent exceeded fifty per centum OF their
total number.
As I said in my message Of last Decem-
| Der, it was not civilized warfare. 1t was
| determination. The only peace it could
| beget was that OF the wilderness and tho
| grave.
The President then reviews at some
length the impotent military operations
| Of Spain and the efforts made by their
| government to relieve the wretched recon
! centrados.
| Continuing he says: The necessity for a
| change in the condition OF the reconcen-
| trados is recognized by tho Spanish gov
ernment. Within few days past the
| orders of General Weyler have been re-
! voked. the reconcentrados, it is said, are to
be- permitted to return to their homes, and
| aided to resume the self-supportinc pur-
suits 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 q nature
that short of subjugation or eXtermina-
tion, final military victory for either side
seems impracticable.
| Our Duty TO Intervene.
Realizing this, it appeared to be my duty.
in II spirit of true friendliness no less to
| Spain than to the Cubans, who have so
much TO lose by tho prolongation OF the
! struggle, TO seek to bring about an imme-
date termination of the war. To this end.
L submitted on tho 9th ultimo as u result
OF much representation and correspond
| ence through the United States Minister ut
Madrid, propositions to the Spanish govern
ment looking to an armistice until Oct ober
! for the negotiation Of peace with the
| good Offices of the President In addition.
| asked the immediate revocation OF the
| order OF recommendation. so as e. permit
| the people to return to their farms and
| the needy I o be relieved with provisions and
| supplies from the United States. co-operat-
! ing with the Spanish authorities 90 as to
! AFFORD full relief.
! Spain's Reply 10 Our Suggestions.
! The reply OF the spanish Cabinet was re-
! ccived on the night OF the 3Ist ulto. 1t
; Offers, rs the means TO bring about Peace
. in Cuba. to conlldc the preparation there
| OF to the insu!ar Parliament inuSmuch us
| the concurrence OF that body would be nee
| "Ssary to reach u final result, it being
| however. understood that the powers re
served by the constitution t. the central
government are not iessencd or diminished
AS the Cuban Parliament docs not meet I'm
! til the fth Of Alay ncNt. tbs Spanish Gov
! rrnment would not object, For its part, to
! accept at once Il suspension of hOstilities
il asked for by the insurgents from tho
! 'irncral-in- Chief. to whom il would per
| tain in such cas-" TO determine the duration
and conditions OF the arnisticc.
Woodf0rd. and reply OF the Spanish Gov
ernncnt, We're both in the form of brief
! memoranda. the texts OF which are before
me-. and are substantially in the language
above given. The function of the Cuban
, Parliament in the matter of "preparng''
! peace" and the manner Of its doing So arc
| not cNp"cs I'd III the Spanish lnemoran-
: du@: but from General Wooifori's rX-
| planatorN reports Of preliminary discus
| SionS preceding the final conference il is
! understood Snlnisb NJ
stands ready to give the insular Congress
full powers to settle the terms of peace
with the insurgents whether by direct ne
! SOtiat:on or indirectly bv means OF loyisln-
tion docs not appear.
! with this last overture i'll the direction
! oil immediate peace and its disappointing
reception by Spain. tn" Executive was
brought 20 the end OF his effort
! III" President continues his message bv
making liberal eXtra"ts from his commu-
nication 10 Congress last December show
! ing tn" consistent stand he has taken: he
also refers TO the position taken by Presi-
! dent Grant in 1870 as being in line with
! the present Executives policy.
Tho President then points out ..the in
convenience and positive danger OF u roe
| ignition Of hclligcrence which, while
! adding TO tho already onarous burdens of
/ neutrality within our own jurisdiction
! could not in any way eXt"n nd our influence or
! effective Offices in the territory Or hostili-
! ties
Recognition Not Wise.
! Nothing has since occurred. continues
the President, to change my view in this
J regard and ] recognize aS fully now as
= then that the isSuanrr of Il proclamation
of neutrality. by which process the so-
called recognition al b"iiiScrrnrr is pub
/ liS0"d. ""uid. g! :;Scif. and unattended
, by other action. accomplish nothin. to-
ward tho nA" end 10. which we labor: the
: n@tan: pa"i!ica;ion OF Tuba and the cc.;-
alton OF tn" misery that ntilictS the island.
Turning 80 til" question of rc"Ogninin.
at this time the iadcn"Mdrnc" OF tho pros
en- ihSUr-;"nt government in tuh;, we find
Srtr pr""cdrntS III our history from aa early
oar. They are we'll sum:n"d M in prcsi-
dent J""KS"!S m"oS3g" to Congress. De-
"cmbrr 2i. 1886 on Tia" subject of the re-
coSnltlOn OF the Independence of Texas
After quoting this document in full the
PrrSidcat resumes
Nor from the standpoint OF c.lpcdiencc
do think il would he wise or prudent for
this government 10 recognize ut the pres
cnt time tho independence Of til" so-cnllcd
Cuban republic
Such recognition is not necessary In or
der to enable the Unitcd States to inter
vcno and pacify the island. TO commit
this country now to the recognition OF any
particular government in Cuba might sub
lect us to embarrassing conditions OF
international obligation towards tho
organization 80 recognized. In case
of Intervention. our conduct would
bo subject to the approval or disap-
proVai OF Such government: we would be
required to submit to it's direction and to
assume to it the mere relation of u friendly
ally. When it shall appear hereafter that
there is within the island u government
capable OF performing the duties and dis
charging the functions OF u separate M
ton, and having, as Il matter OF fact, the
proper forms and attributes OF nationality
such government can be promptly and
readily recognized, and the relations and
interests of the United states with such
nation djustod.
Intervcnti ion.
There remain the alternative forms OF
intervention to end the war. either rs an
impartial neutral by imposing a rational