The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-12
MMNLEY'S LONG, DELAYED CUBAN MESSAGE
The President Sends Congress Review the Situation Island and
Of His Negotiations With the Government of Spain.

and opening tn4 way to some form of
honorable settlement.
The assassination of Prime Minister
Canovas led to 3 change Of government
I'm Spain. The former administration,
which was pledged to subjugation with
out concession. gave place to that of a
more liberal party, committed long i'm
advance to q policy of reform, involv-
ing the wider policy of home rule for
Cuba and Porto Rico. The overtures
Of this government, made through its
new envoy, General Woodford, and
looking to an Immediate effective amel-
ioration of the condition of the island.
although not accepted to the extent of
admitted mediation in any shape. were
met by assurances that home rule In
an advanced phase would be forthwith
offered to Cuba. without waiting for the
war to end. and that more humane
methods should thenceforth prevail in
the conduct OF hostilities. Incidentally
with these declarations the new govern
ment of Spain continued and completed
the policy already begun by its prede-
cessor of testifying friendly regard for
this nation by releasing American citi-
zens held under one charge or another
connected with the insurrection, so that
by the end Of November not n single
person entitled I'm any way To interna-
tional protection reclined in a Spanish
prison.
Relief for the Sufferers.
While these operations were in prog
ress the increasing destitution of the
unfortunate reconcentrados and the
alarming mortality among them claim
ed earnest attention. The success which
had attended the limited measure OF
relief extended to the suffering Amer
lean citizens by the judicious expendi-
ture through consular agencies of the
money appropriated expressly for their
succor by the joint resolution approved
May "a, 1897. prompted the humane ex-
tension of similar scheme to that
great body of sufferers. A suggestion
to this end was acquiesced in by the
Spanish authorizes. on the gath of
December last caused to be issued an
appeal to the american people, invit-
ing 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 announce
ment of the formation of a central Gu
ban relief committee, with headquar-
ters in New York city, composed OF
members representing the American
Natfunaf Red Cross and the religious
and business elements OF the communi-
ty.
The efforts of that committee have
been untiring, and have accomplished
much. Arrangements for free trans
portation to Cuba have greatly aided
the charitable work. The president of
the American Red Cross and represen-
tatives of other contributory organiza-
tions have generally visited Cuba and
co-operated with the consul general
and the local authorities to make effect
i've distribution of relief collected
through the efforts of the central COM
mittee. Nearly 100000 i'm money and
supplies has already reached the suffer-
ers, and more is forthcoming. The
supplies are admitted duty free. and
transportation to the interior has been
arranged so that the relief, at first
necessarily confined to Havana and the
larger cities, is now extended through
out most. If not all, of the towns where
suffering exists. Thousands of lives
have already been saved.
The necessity for a change I'm the con-
dition of reconcentrados is recognized
by the Spanish government. Within a
few days past the orders of General
Weyler have been revoked: the recon-
centrados are. IL Is said. to be permitted
to return TO their homes and aided tn
resume the self-supporting pursuits OF
peace: public works have been started
to give them employment. and a sum OF
$500, 900 has been appropriated for their
relief.
The war in Cuba is of such a nature
that. short of subjugation or extermi-
nation. a final military victory for eth
er side seems impracticable. The alter
native lies in the physical exhaustion of
the one or the other party. or perhaps
both, a condition which in effect ended
the ten years war by the truce OF Zan-
Jon. The prospect OF such a conclu-
sion of the present strife is contin-
gency hardly TO be contemplated with
equanimity by the civilized world and
least of all by the United States. af-
fected and injured as we are. deeply
and intimately. by it's very existence.
Asked for an Armistice.
Realizing this. it appeared to he my
duty i'm a spirit of true friendliness, no
less to Spain than to the Cubans, who
have so much to lose by the prolonga-
ton of the struggle, to seek to bring
about an immediate termination Of the
war. To this end I submitted, on the
9th ultimo. as a result OF much rep
resentation and correspondence through
the United states minister at Madrid
propositions to the Spanish government
looking to an armisitice until October
1. for the negotiation OF peace with the
good Offices of the president. In addI-
tion. / asked the immediate revocation
of the order of reconcentrados, so as
TO permit the people to return to their
farms and the needy to be relieved with
provisions and supplies. in the United
States cooperating with the Spanish
authorities so as to afford full relief.
The reply of the Spanish cabinet was
received on the night of the 3lst ult
II offers, as a means to bring about
peace in Cuba. tn confide the prepara-
ton thereof to the insular department.
inasmuch as the concurrence of that
a -
a final result. IL being. however. under
stood that the powers reserved by the
constitution to the central government
are not lessened or diminished. AS the
Cuban parliament does not meet until
the 4th Of May next, the Spanish gov
ernment would not object. for its part.
to accept a suspension of hostilities IL
asked for by the insurgents from the
general in chief. to whom IL would per-
tain. in such case. to determine the
duration and conditions OF the armis-
tice.