Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-04-21

An Appeal to the American People.
On the 24th Of December last caused to be
issued an appeal to the American people, in
viting contributions in money or in kind for
the SuccOr of the starving sufferers in Cuba.
Following this, on the Sth of January, by a
similar public announcement of the formation
of a central Cuban relief committee, with head
quarters in New York city, composed of three
members representing the American national
Red Cross and the religious and business ele-
mentS of the community. The efforts of that
committee have been untiring and accom-
pliShed much. Arrangements for free trans
pOrtatiOn to Cuba have greatly aided the charita-
pie work. The president of the American
Red Cross. and representatives of other con-
trlbutOry organizations have generously visited
Cuba and co-Operated with the conSul-general
and the local authorities to make effective dis
position of the relief collected through the eff
forts of the central committee. Nearly 800 200
IN money and supplies has already reached the
sufferers, ana more Is forthcoming. The sup
plies are admitted duty free, and transporta-
ton to the interior has been arranged, so that
the relief at first necessarily confined to Ha-
vana and the larger cities is now extended
through most, if not all, of the towns where
suffering exists. Thousands of lives have al
ready been saved.
Necessity for Change Recognized.
The necessity for change in the condition of
the reconcentradoes is recognized by the Span
orders of Gen. Weyler have been revoked the
reconcentradoeS are it 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 a sum of 100000 has been appropriated for
their relief.
The war in Cuba is of such a nature that
short of Subjugation or determination a final
military victory for either side seems impracti-
cable. The alternative lies in the physical eX-
hauStion OF the one or the other party, or per-
hapS OF both-a condition which, in effect ended
the ten years war by the truce of Zanion. The
prospect of such a protraction and conclusion
OF the present strife is a contingency hardly to
be contemplated with equanimity by the civil
lied world, and least of all by the United States,
Affected and injured as we are, deeply and init
mately by its existence.
Friendly Duty to Both Sides.
Realizing this, it appeared to be my duty, in a
spirit of true friendlIneSS no less to Spain than
to the CubanS. who have so much to lose by the
prolongation Of the struggle, to seek to bring
this end 1 submitted, the 27th ultimo, as a
result of much representation and correspond
ence, through the United States minister at
Madrid, propositions to the Spanish govern
ment looking to an armfStice until October 1,
for the negotiations of peace with the good
In addition l ask the immediate revocation Of
the order of RECOMMENDATION. to permit
the people to return to their farms and the
needy to be relieved with provisions and sup
plies from the United States cooperating with
the Spanish authorities so as to AFFORD full re-
lief.
Reply of the Spanish Cabinet.
Tho reply of the Spanish cabinet was re-
ceiVed on the night of the 31St ultimo. 1t offers.
as the means to bring about peace in Cuba, to
department, lnaSmuch as the concurrence of that
body would be necessary to reach tinaal result,
IL De1nR, however, UNDERSTOOD llaE the powers
reserved by the constitution to the central
government are not leSsened or diminished. AS
the Cuban parliament does not meet until the
fourth OF May next, the Spanish government
would not object for its part. to accept at once
a suspension of hoStilitieS, if asked for by the
insurgents from the general in chief to whom it
would pertain, in such case. to determine the
duration and conditions of the armistice.
The propositions submitted by Gen. Wood
ford and the reply of the Spanish government
were both in the form of brief memoranda. the
texts Of which are before me, and are substan-
TALLY in the language above given. The
function of the Cuban parliament in the mat
ter of preparing peace. and the manner OF its
doing so are not expressed in the Spanish
memorandum; but from Gen. WoOdfOrd'S eX
planatOry reports OF preliminary discussions
preceding the final conference it is understood
that the Spanish government stands ready to
give tn insular congress full powers to settle
the terms of peace with the insurgents, wheth-
er by direct negot tation or indirectly by
means of legislation does not appear.
Disappointing Reception of Overtures.
With this last overture in the direction of
immediate peace and its disappointing recep-
ton by SPAN, the executive was brought to
the end of his effort
In my annual message of December last
said: "Of the untried measures there remain:
Recogniti n of the insurgents as belligerents;
recommendation of the independence of Cuba;
neutral intervention to end the war by impoS
ing rational COMPROMISE between the con-
testants, and intervention in favor of one or the
other party" L speak not of forcible annexa-
ton, for that can not be thought of. That, by
our code OF morality, would be criminal agrees
sion.
Thereupon 1 reviewed these alternatives. in
the light of President Grant s measured words
uttered in 1873, when after seven years of san
culinary, destructive and cruel barbaritieS in
Cuba, he reached the conc .uSiOn that the recog-
milton of the Independence OF Cuba was i'm
practicable and indefenSible. and that the
recognition Of bellgerency was not warranted
by the facts according to the tests of public
law. commented especially upon the
latter aspect of the question, point
ing out the Inconvenience. and positive
dangers of a recognition of belligerance, which.
while adding to the already onerOus burdens of
neutrality within our own jurisdiction; could
offices in the territory of hostilities.
Views Have Not Changed.
Nothing has since occurred to change my
view in this regard and recognize as fully
now as then that the issuance of proclamation
of neutrality, by which process the SO-callod
recognition of belligerence is published, could,
of itself and unattended by other action. accom-
niish nothing toward the one end for which we
laDor-the instant pacifcatiOn of Cuba and the
cessation Of the misery that aflictS the island.
Turning to the question of recognizing, at
this time. the independence of the present in
Surgent government in Cuba. We find safe pre-
cedents in our history from an early day. They
are well summed up in President Jackson
message to congress- December p, 1886. on the
subject of recognition of the independence OF
Texas. He said:
One of the Precedents.
I'm all of the contests that have arisen out
of the revolutions of Fra ce, out of the dis
Spain, out of the separation Of the Am -rican
possessions of both from the European govern
mentS and out OF the numerous ana
minion in Spanish America, so wisely
consistent with our Just principles
have, under the most critical circum stances,
avoided all cenSure and encountered no other
evil than that produced by transient re-
arrangement of good will in those against
whom we have been by force OF evidence COM
PEELED to decide.
1T has thus made known to thew orldt hat the
uniform policy and practice of the United
States is TO avoid all interference IN disputes
which merely relate to the internal govern
ment Of other nations, and eventually to rec
ognize the authority OF the prevailing party
without reference to our particular interests
and views, or to the merits of the original con-
roverSy. But on this, as on every other occa-
sion, safety is to be found in rigid adherence
to principle
Our Former Action Recited.
In the contest between Spain and the re-
only until the ability of the new states 10 pro-
tect themselves was fully established. but until
entirely passed away; Then and not until then.
were they recognized. Such was our course in
regard to Mexico herself.
1t is true that with regard to Texas the civil
authority of Mexico has been expelled, its in
vading army defeated, the chief of the republic
himself captured. and all present power to con-
troll the newly recoganlZed government of Texas
annihilated within its confines. But on the
other hand, there is, in appearance
at least. an immense disparity of physical
force the side of Texas. The Mexican re-
public. under another executive, is rallying its
forces under q new leader and meuacing
FIRE h invasion to recover its lost domain
Upon the issue of this threatened invasion.
the Independence of Texas may be considered
as suspended: and were there nothing peculiar
as, our Acknowledgement of its independence at
such crisis could scarcely be regarded as con-
SiSteut with that prudent reserve with which
we have hitherto held ourselves bound to treat
all similar questions
President jackson Considered the Risk.
Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceeded to