Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-11

Of communications, beeinnips On the 10th
Of November, 1891, andlcfos{ir ON the 9th
Of March Last. His letters constitute one
Tong .stofy Of distress, 81 sickness destitu.
ton ard death, Until Ipdasd the picture.
even al drawn h tie bIsln Isnsnlke Of old
cial cofa,hun1catlons, Is fsycEinS.
Mr.. Barker devoted cofhrafafiyely little
space to political question:, But 66s Of t2o
Of his letters are along, these lines. Prob
ably the Most notable Of these Il Els eofn-
muhicatlon 8 TIE 10Th Of january last. In
which no volunteers some suggestions to
the Department Of State. FROM thls COM
munication thu following extracts are
taken: When Spain will Admit defeat no
mortal in my humble Judgment, dare pre-
dict. That her plan Of settlement, auton-
omy, Is failure, and that with this failure
passes from under her dominion the island,
Is not to be Questioned. Pending this adj
mission on her part thousands Of human
beings, guiftless Of bringing on or having
any part in the instruction, are dying for
want OF s1stenance. This condition must
continue to increase. The United States in
taking action relative to Cuba-which
seems nevitable-desires to avoid a clash
with Spain. Then let Congress alter our
citizenship laws by amending the statute
relative to the declaration required by per-
sons becoming citizens by naturalization 20
that the subjects or citizens of any govern
ment at present residing in Cuba may go
before any United States consul in that
Island and make declaration Of intention of
becoming a citizen Of the United States,
wnicn Shall enttle them to recognition as
citizens until the expiration Of two years,
ho
United States until five years shall have
elapsed 'efore being granted naturalization
papers. With such a privilege 1 am conf
dent 90 per cent of the resident Spaniards.
the hitherto dominant party and taxpayers.
will avail themselves of this opportunity of
repuklng the mother country for attempt
ing to foist upon them changes in thu exist
ing laws OF the island. Such step would
cause the home subjects as well as the gov
eminent to acQuiesce without disturbance
in the loss Of the island"
MI. Barker then suggests that the United
states shall offer her good offices to Spain
with q view Of securing an armistice of
ninety days duration for the purpose of
discussing terms of settlement between
Spain and the insurgents, the United States
TO be the umpire. Pending negotiations he
would have all troops quartered and h.Id
IN the large fortified coast towns. in order
that the concentrates may return to the
country and employment. He adds that the
relief from the United States must bs con-
tinued or the people must starve so long as
there Is an armed Spanish soldier in the
country, since these people, for fear of be-
ing murdered, do not go to their country
homes"
"A Reign OF Terror ind Anarchy.
On the 18th of January Mr.. Barker saws:
In this consular district a reign of terror
and anarchy prevails which the authorities.
II SO disposed, are utterly powerless to con-
troi or in any measure subdue. Aside from
the suffering and desperation caused by the
Unparalleled restitution 1 regard the situa-
ton as rapidly assuming critical stage
AS stated heretofore. in no way have the
authorities departed from the policy pur-
sued by the late, but not lamented, Gen.
Weyler. Spanish troops, as we'll as the
guerillas under the cruel chiefs Carreras,
Olavarrietta and Lazo. continue to despoil
the country and drench it with the blood
of non-combatants. Although the 'bando'
of the captain general provides that labor
ers may return to estates ii restricts their
operations to those having garrison. Last
week number belonging to the Sta Ana
estate, located within q league of Sagua
and owned by Mr. Gdorgd Throndike of
Newport, r. l., were driven off after re-
turning, and refused permit asa protection
by the military commander, Mayor Lomo
one of the trusted officers under the Wey-
Ter regime
The latter part of Mr.. Barkers cores
pondence, beginning with the 18th of
March, is devoted to a statement of the re-
lief iabors and an estimate of the funds re-
quired 10 continue this work. He states
that from the 18th of February to ths 18th
OF March he cared for 200 persons, in
creasing 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 committees and others, to
each of whom he gives due credit. Having
done this Mr.. Barker stated his opinion to
be that if provision could be made to care
for 5000 persons in that province what
ever might be left would manage to sur
vive. He thought that to keep 25,OOO per-
sons alive would require 50 tons Of provi-
sions a month He then stated that of the
5000 utterly destitute in that city the
mayor had in manner relieved about one
third of the number with rations of rice
and beans. In this communication Mr..
Barker indicated that the Spanish local au-
thorities were willing to accept aid from
the United States, and he added that whils
he had been generally doubtful Of the will
ingness of the military authorities to
receive this assistance he had accepted
their cooperation when convinced of their
good intention.
On the oath of March Mr.. Barker in
creased 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 fifty tons were needful for
that time. and that the distress was far
greater than his former reports had shown.
In the letter Of this date he recounts the
particulars of visit 20 Santa Clara, the
seat of government of the province Of the
same name, where, he says, he learned
from his own agents and also from the
governor of the province that the number
Of persons in actual want exceeded any
estimate which he had previously sent TO
the government, and he had said only three
days before that he thought twenty tons
per month should be added to the eighty
tons previously suggested. In this COM
munication of the 10th of March Mr.. Bark
or gave. s.'The Distress is simply heart