The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-12

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consul in that island and make declara-
ton of intention of becoming a citizen OF
the United States which shall entitle
them to recognition as citizens, until the
expiration of two years. when they shall
be required to reside IN the United States
until five years shall have elapsed before
being granted naturalization papers
With such a privilege, / am confident
that 90 per cent of the resident Spaniards
the hitherto dominant party and tax
payers, will avail themselves of this OPP
portunity of rebuking the mother coun-
try for attempting to foist upon them
changes in the existing laws of the land.
UGH a step would cause the home subjects
as well as the government to acquiesce.
without disturbance. in the loss of the
island"
ARMISTICE SUGGESTED.
Mr.. Barker then suggests that the
United States shall offer her good Offices
to Spain with view of securing an arms
tice of ninety days duration, for the pur-
pose of discussing terms of settlement
| between Spain and the insurgents, the
| United States 10 be the umpire. Pending
| negotiations, he would have all troops
quartered and held in the large fortified
coast towns. in order that the reconcen-
| trados may return to the country and to
| employment. He adds that the relief from
the United States must be continued or
| the people must starve SO long as there is
| an armed Spanish soldier in the country,
since these people. for fear of being muir
! dered, do not go to their country homes -
TERROR AND ANANCHY.
On the 18th of January, Mr.. Barker
| says:
I'm this consular district a reign of
terror and anarchy prevails. which the
authorities, if so disposed, are utterly
powerless to control or an any measure
| subdue. Aside from the suffering and des-
peration caused by the unparalleled des-
titution, I regard the situation as rap
idly assuming a critical stage. As stated
heretofore, in no way have the authori-
ties departed from the policy pursued by
the late, but not lamented, General Wey-
Ter. Spanish troops, as well as the guer-
riIas under the cruel chiefs Carreras,
Olavaritta and Iazo, continue to despoil
the country and drench il with the blood
OF non combatants. Although the ''bando"
of the captain general provides that labor
ers may return to estates, it restricts
their operations to those having a garri-
son. Last week a number belonging 10
the Santa Ana estate located within a
league of Sagua. and owned by Mr.
George Thorndike of Newport, r. /, were
driven off after returning and refused
permit as protection by the military
commander, Mayor Iomo, one of the
trusted officers under the Weyler regime"
MIR. BARKER'S RELIEF WORK.
The latter part of Mr.. Barker's CORE
spondence, beginning with the 18th of
March, is devoted to a statement of the
relief labors and an estimate of the funds
required to continue this work. He states
that from the 18th of February to the
18th of March he cared for 200 persons,
increasing the number on the relief list
after that date to 1000.
He then details the work done by the
Red Cross society. the various local COM
mittees, and others, each of whom he
gives due credit. Having done this, Mr..
Barker stated his opinion to be that of
provision could be made to care for 1000
persons, in that province, whatever might
be left would manage to survive. He
thought that to keep %, 900 persons alive
would require so tons of provisions a
month.
He then stated that of the 5000 utterly
destitute in that city, the mayor had in
a manner relieved about one-third of the
number with rations of rice and beans.
In this communication Mr.. Barker indi-
Gated that the Spanish local authorities
were willing to accept aid from the
United States and he added that while he
had been generally doubtful of the WILL
ingness of the military authorities to re-
ceive this assistance, he had accepted their
cooperation when convinced it was ten
dered with sincerity. On the oath of
March Mr. Barker increased his estimate
as to the amount of food necessary to
keep life in The people of that province.
In the telegram of that date he said
that fifty tons were needed for that time
and that distress was far greater than
his former reports mad shown. In the
letter of this date he recounts the partic-
ulars of a visit to Santa Clara. the seat
of government of the province of the
same name where he says he learned
governor OF the province. that the number
of persons In actual want exceeded eSti-
mates which he had previously sent TO the
government and ne had said only three
days before that he thought twenty tons
per month should be added to the eighty
tons previously suggested
LIKE BEASTS OF THE FIELD.
In this communication of the 10Th of
March Mr.. Barker says:
THE distress is simply heart -ending.
Whole families. without clothing 70 hide
nakedness. are sleeping on the bare
ground. without bedding of any kind
without food save to such as we have been |
able to reach with provisions sent by our
own noble people and the most distress !
ing feature is that fully 80 per cent are |
all without medical attention or medi- |
cine"
Mr. Barker adds that # s. 200 could be |
telegraphed to Consul General Lee bian- |
kets. cots and medicines could be pur-
chased there and in several towns ada |
cent. and thus save thousands who must /
die If compelled to await the sending /
of these supplies from the United States. I
AZ have" he says, found The civil gov !
ernor willing TO lend every aid IN his /
pover. but he admits that he can DO moth /
ing htrt assist with his civil officials in |
expecting relief sent by the United States. /
The military obstructs IN every possible /
way"
SPANS LYING PRETENCES.
In the earlier portion % bis correspond /
ence. Mr. Barker indicates the reasons /