The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1898-04-15

that more humane methods should thenceforth
prevail in the conduct Of hOstilities.
Policy of the Now Government sF spair'
Incidentally with these declarations the new
governments &C Spain continued and completed
tec policy already tegun by its predecessor OF
testliylng fron 'ly gard for This nation by re-
Teasing American citizens held nader Cne
charge or another canne ted with the inSur-
rection. 40 thet, by the en- I OF Move mber, not a
single PERSON entitled in any way TO our na-
Aondl protection, remained in a Spanish prison.
While these negotiations were in progress
the increasing destitutiOn Of the unfortunate
recommendations and the alarming mortality
among them claimed earnest attention. The
success which had attended the limited meas
ATe OF relief extended 10 the suffering Ameri-
can citizens among them by the judicious ex-
peLdlture through consular agencies Of money
appropriated expressly for their SuccOr by the
joint resolution approved May -, is9s, prompted
tHs humane extension OF mllat scheme OF
aid 70 the great body Of suffer ers a sugges-
tlon to this end was acQuiC seed in by the
spanish authorities.
An Appeal to the American People.
On the 24th Of December last 1 caused to be
issued an appeal to the American people, in
yiting contributions in money or in kind for
lne SuccOr OF the starving sufferers in Cuba
Following this, on the Sth Of January. by a
similar public announcement of the formation
OF q 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 untlrlng and accom-
pnShed much. Arrangements for free trans
portation to Cuba have greatly aided the charita-
Dle 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 elective dis
position Of the relief collected through the cf-
forts Of the central committee. Nearly 800. 900
IN money and supplies has already reached the
sufferers, and more Is forthcoming. The sup
plies are admitted duty free and tranSpOrta-
ton TO the interior has been arranged SO that
the relleI at nrst necessarily confined 10 Ha-
vana and the larger cities, is now extended
through most, il not all. Of the towns where
suffering exists Thousands of lives have al
ready been saved.
Necessity for a Change Recognized.
The necessity for change in the condition Of
the recOnCentradOes Is recognized by the Span
tsh government. Within q few days past the
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
have been ordered to give them employment,
and sum Of 100000 has been appropriated for
their relief
The war in Cuba is of such a nature that
short OF subjugRtiOn or determination a final
military victory for either side seems impracti-
cable. The alternative lies in the physical cX-
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 ZanJOu. The
prospect OF such prOtraction ana conclusion
OF the present strife Is q contingency hardly to
be contemplated with eQuanimlJy bv the civil
lied world, and least of all 10y the United States,
affected ami injured as We are, deeply and inti-
mately by its existence.
Friendly Duty to Both Sides.
Realizing this, il appeared TO be my duty. in
spirit OF true frendlIneSS. no less to Spain than
to the CubanS. who have 50 much TO lose by the
prOlongatiOn Of the struggle, TO seek to uriug
about an immediate termination OF the war. To
this end submitted on the 18th uitimO as
result Of much lpuraSpntati0D and cOrrpSDOn1-
ence through the United States minister at
Madrid, propositions to the Spanish govern
ment looking to an armiStice until October 1,
for the negotiations Of peace with the good
offices OF the president
In addition | ask the immediate revocation OF
the order Of RECOMMENDATION. so aS 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 fun re-
lief
Reply of the Spanish Cabinet.
The reply Of the Spanish cabinet was re-
ceived on the night of the 3lSt ultim9. 1t offers
cOnhde the preparation thereof TO the inSular
department,lnasmucha as the concurrence Of that
body would be necessary TO reach a tinaal result
II being, however, understood that the powers
reserved by the constitution to the central
government are not leSSened or diminished. As
the tuDan 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 hOStllltieS. if asked for bV the
insurgents from the general in chief. to whom il
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 WulC0 are DeIOFe Inc. ana are SuDStaQ-
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 cx-
planatOry reports of preliminary discussions
preceding the final conference il 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 iatiOn or indirectly by
means of legislation does not appear.
Disappointing Reception of Oyertures.
With this last overture in the direction of
immediate peace and its disappointing recep-
tion by Spain. the executive was brought %
the end of his effort.
In my annual message Of December last 1
said: OF the untried measures there remain:
RecOgniu Of the Insurgents as belligeTentS;
recommendation of the independence of Cuba:
neutral Intervention to end the war by impOS-
ing a rational compromise between the con-
teStantS, and Intervention in favor Of one or the
other party / speak not of fOrcible anneXa-
tiOn, for that can not be thought of. That, by
our code OF morality, would be criminal agrees
There upon I reviewed these alternatives. in
the light Of President Grant 5 measured words,
uttered in 1919, when after seven years of san
culinary, destructive and cruel barbaritieS in
Cuba. he reached the conclusion that the recOg-
milton OF the independence Of Cuba was i'm
practicable and indefenSible. and that the
OF belligerenCy 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 recognition OF belligerance which. |
while adding 10 the already OnerOuS burdens of
within our own Jurisdiction could |
not in any way extend our influence or effective |
offices in the territory OF hOsulities-
Views Have Not Changed.
Nothing has since occurred to change nv
view in this regard, and recognize as fully |
now as then that the issuance of proclamation /
lf neutrality, by which process the sO-called /
of bellgerence is published. could /
lf itself and unattended by other action. accom-
plish nothing toward the one end for which we |
cessation Of the misery that affiiCtS the island.
Turning TO the question Of recognizing, at |
his time. the independence OF the present in |
Surgent government IN cuba. we lind safe pre- |
,edentS in our history from an early day. They /
are well summed up in President Jackson's |
message TO congress. December 81. 1895. on the /
subject of recognition Of the independence OF ]
Texas. He said:
One of the Precedents.
In all Of the contests that have arisen out \
II the revolutions Of Fra out Of the dis |
lutes relating to the crews of Portugal and /
spain. out of the separation of the American /
possessions Of both from the European govern
nentS, and out Of the numerous and 4
ninion in spanish America, 50 wisely |
has been the action of our government that we /
nave. under the most critical circumstances.
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
)elled 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
nent Of other nations, and eventually to rec
,gnize the authority Of the prevailing party
without reference TO our particular interests
Ind views. or 10 the merits Of the original con-
roverSy. But on this, aS on every other Occa-
,ion, safety Is TO be found in a rigid adherence
% principle.
Our Former Action Recited.
In the contest between Spain and the re-
-olted colonies we stood aIoof and waited not
,nly until the ability Of the new states to pro-
ect themselves was fully established. but until |