Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-04-20
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Congress Notified Of the Conditions
in Cuba. $
THOROUGH REVIEW OF FACTS.
Recognition of the Present Government
In Cuba L. Opposed-NIaine Disaster
Shows That Spain Can Not Protect
Neutrals In Cuban Waters.

Washington, April 1.-The president
today sent message to the congress Of
the United States, substantially as fol-
lows:
1.-THE present revolution is but the sue
cessor Of other similar instructions which
have occurred in Cuba against the do
rninion of Spain. extending over a period
at nearly half a century. each of which.
during Its progress. has subjected the
United States to great effort and expense
In enforcing it's neutrality laws. caused
enormous losses to the American trade
and commerce, caused irritation, annoy
ance and disturbance among our citizens,
and by the exercise of cruel. barbarous
ana uncivilized practices of warfare.
shocked the sensibilities and offended the
humane sympathies of our people.
We have found ourselves constrained,
In the observance OF that strict neutral
ify which our laws enjoin and which the
law OF nations commands, to police our
own waters and watch our own seaports
In prevention of any unlawful act in aid
OF the Cubans. Our trade has suffered.
tho capital invested by our citizens in
Cuba has been largely lost, and tho tenn
per and forbearance OF our people have
been so sorely tried as to beget q perilous
unrest among our own citizens.
In April. 1886, the evils from which our
country suffered through the Cuban war
became SO onerous that my predecessor
made an effort to bring about peace
through the mediation of this government
In any way that might tend to an hon
orable adjustment Of the contest be-
tween Spain and her revolted colony, on
the basis Of some effective scheme of self
government for Cuba under the flag and
sovereignty of Spain. 1t failed, through
tho refusal of the Spanish government
then In power to consider any form of
mediation. or indeed any plan OF settle
ment which did not begin with the actu-
nj submission of the insurgents, to the
mother country. and then only on such
terms as Spain herself might see fit to
grant. The war continued undated.
The resistance OF the insurgents was In
no wise diminished.
The policy OF devastation and concen-
tration inaugurated by the captain-gen-
erals bando of Oct. p. 1896. in the prov
ince of Pinar del Rio. was afterward ex-
tended to embrace all of the island to
which the power of the Spanish arms was
able to reach by occupation or by mill
tary operations. The peasantry. includ-
ing all dwelling in the agricultural in
terror. were driven into the garrison
towns or isolated places held by the
troops. The raising and movement of
provisions of all kinds were interdicted
rooted and fred. mills destroyed, and, in
short, everything that could desolate the
land and render II UNIT for human hab-
ttatfon or support was commanded by
one or the other OF the contending par
ties, and executed by all the powers at
their disposal. The agricultural popula-
ton, to the estimated number of 800, 900
or more. was herded within the towns
and their immediate vicinage, deprived
nj the means OF support. rendered desti-
tute Of shelter. left poorly clad. and ex-
posed to the most unsanitary conditions.
As the scarcity of food increased with
the devastation of the depopulated areas
OF production, restitution and want be-
came misery and starvation. Month by
month the death rate increased in an
alarming ratio. BY March, 1897, accord
ing to conservative estimates from off,
cial Spanish sources. the mortality among
the reconcentrados from starvation and
the disease thereto incident, exceeded so
per centum OF their total number. No
practical relief was accorded to the des-
titute. The unfortunates, being for the
most part women and children, with aged
and helpless men. enfeebled by disease
and hunger. could not till the soil, with
out tools, seed or shelter. for their own
support or for the supply of the cities.
Recommendation. adopted avowedly as q
war measure in order to cut Off the re-
sources of the insurgents. worked its
predestined result. As said In my mes
sage OF last December, II was not civil
ICED warfare; it was determination. The
only peace 1t could beget was that of the
wilderness and the grave.
Meanwhile the military situation In
the island had undergone a noticeable
change. The extraordinary activity that
characterized the second year OF the war,
when the insurgents invaded even the
- ~ h.. ~...yA AL M
and carried havoc and restitution up to
the walls OF the city of Havana itself,
had relapsed into a logged struggle in
the central and eastern provinces. The
Spanish arms regained a measure of con-
troll In Pinar del Rio and parts of Ha-
vana, but. under the existing conditions
of the rural country. without immediate
Improvement Of their productive situa-
uon. Even thus partially restricted the
revolutionists held their own. and their
submission. put forward by Spain as the
essential and sole basis OF peace, seemed
as far distant as at the outset.
In this state of affairs, my admins
tration found itself confronted with the
grave problem Of its duty. My message
of last December reviewed the situation
and detailed the steps taken with view
OF relieving Its acuteness and opening the
way to some form OF honorable settle
ment. The assassination OF the prime
minister, Canovas. led to a change of
government in Spain. The former ad-
Ininistration. pledged to subjugation with
out concession, gave place to that of n
moro liberal party, committed long In
advance to q policy OF reform involving
tho wider principles of home rule for
Cuba and Porto Rico. The overtures of
this government. made through it's new
envoy, Gen. Woodford. and looking to an
immediate and effective .amelioration of
the condition of tho island. although not
accepted TO the extent OF admitted medi-
alton in any shape. were met by assur-
ances that home rule. in an advanced
phase, would be forthwith offered to
Cuba without waiting for the war 10
end, and that more humane methods
should thenceforth prevail In the conduct
Of hostilities.
while these negotiations were In prog
ress. the increasing destitution of the
unfortunate reconcentrados ana the
alarming mortality among them claimed
earnest attention. Tho success which had
attended the limited measure of relief ex-
tended to the suffering American citizens
among them by the judicious expenditure
through tho consular agencies OF the
money appropriated expressly by tho joint
resolution, approved May "a. 1897. prompt-
ed the humane extension Of q similar
scheme OF aid to tho great body
Of sufferers. A suggestion to this
end was acQuiesced In by the Spanish
.,.Skn~aes>~ n, thu olth