Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-08

INC unulun Oh inc HuNhi Cuurt,t intib y
crisis in our relations with Spain and
toward Cuba was at band. So strong
was this belief that 1t needed but
brief executive suggestion to the Con-
gress to receive Immediate answer to
the duty of making instant provision
for the possible and perhaps speedily
probable emergency Of war, and the
remarkable, almost unique, spectacle
was presented of unanimous vote
of both Houses, on the 9th of March,
appropriating $50, 1000 for the
national defence and for each and
every purpose connected Herewith, to
| be expended at the discretion of the
President. That this act of FRO
vision came mono too soon was dis
closed when the application Of the
| fund was undertaken. Our COASTS were
practically undefendcd. Our navy
needed large provision for increased
ammunition and supplies and even
| members to cope with any sudden at
| tack from the navy Of Spain, which
| comprised modern vessels of the high
est type of continental perfection. Our
army also required enlargement of men
| and munitions. The detail of the
hurried preparation for the dreaded
contingency is told in tho reports of
the Secretaries OF War and of the
Navy, and need not be repeated here.
1t is sufficient to say that the out
break of war, when it did come, found
our nation not unprepared to meet
the conflict.
Nor was the apprehension Of coming
| strife confined to our own country.
1t was felt by the continental powers,
which, on April 9Th, through their
ambassadors and ENJOYS, addressed to
the executive an expression of hope
that humanity and moderation might
mark the course of this government
and people, and that further negotia.
tions would lead to an agreement
which, while securing the mainten-
ance of peace, would afford all neces-
sary guarantees for the establish
ment of order in Cuba. In responding
to that representation, said | shared
the hope the ENJOYS had EXPRESSED
that peace might be preserved in a
manner to mitigate the chronic con-
dition of disturbance in Cuba, so in
furious and menacing to our interests
and tranquility, as well as shocking to
our sentiments OF humanity. and.
while approaching the humanitarian
and DISTINGUISHED character of tho COM
munication they had made on behalf
of the Powers, stated the confidence
of this government, for its part, that
equal appreciation would be shown for
its own earnest and unselfish endeayors
to fulfill duty to humanity by end
ing situation the indefinite prolonga-
tion of which had become insufferable.
NEGOTIATIONS WITH SPAIN.
Still animated by the hope Of a
peaceful solution and obeying the
dictates Of duty, no effort was relaxed
to bring about a speedy ending of the
Cuban struggle. Negotiations to this
objection continued actively with the
government of Spain, looking to the
immediate conclusion of six months
armistice in Cuba, with a view to effect
the recognition of her peoples right
to independence. Besides this, the
J instant revocation Of the order of re-
concentration was asked, so that the
sufferers, returning to their homes and
aided by united American and Spanish
, effort, might be put in a way to sup
! port themselves, and, by orderly re-
sumption of the well nigh destroyed
productive energies of the island, con
tribute to the restoration of its tran.
guilty and well being.
, Negotiations continued for some little
time at Madrid, resulting in offers by
the Spanish government which could
! not but be regarded as Inadequate. Il
! was proposed TO confide the preparation
: of peace TO the insular parliament, ye
to be convened under the autonomou!
! DEGREES of November. 1897, but with
out impairment in anywise of the con
stitutional powers of the Madrid gov
eminent, which, to that end, would
grant an armistice, If solicited by tn,
insurgents, for such time as the gen
, eral in chief might see fit to fix. How
! and with what scope of discrotionar,
= powers the insular parliament was ex
? pected to set about tho preparation o
peace'i did not appear. II it were t,
} be by negotiation with the insur 1onts
!, the issue seemed to rest on the sid
!. with body chosen by q fraction o
y the electors in the districts unde
= Spanish control, and on the other witt
u the insurgent population holding tn
e interior country, unrepresented in tn
y so-called parliament, and defiant q
= the suggestion Of suing for peace.
q Grieved and disappointed at thi
- barren outcome of MY sincere endeavor
u to reach practicable solution, fel
> it my duty to remit the whole ques
=, tion TO the Congress. In the messag
! of April 18th, 1898, ! announced tina
II with this last overture in the directio
y of immediate peace in Cuba, and il
~ disappointing reception by Spain, th
effort of the executive was brought [
an end. i again reviewed the altel
native courses Of action which ha
y been proposed, concluding that TIL
!. only one consonant with intornationi
81 policy and compatible with our firm
~ set historical traditions was intervei
~ ton as u neutral to SOP the VT
~ and check the hopeless sacrifice of lif
u, even though that resort involved Tho
sn tile constraint upon both the parties
or the contest, as we'll to enforce true
~ as to guide the eventual settlement.
VI The grounds iustifying that step wer
~ the interests of humanity the duty
Z. protect the life and property of OF
~ citizens in Cuba; the right TO chez
~ injury to our commerce and poop
VI through the devastation OF the islam
u. and, most important, the need of r
on moving at once and forever the co
slant menace and the burdens entailt
" upon our government by the unce
y tainties and perils of the situate
". caused by the uncomfortable disturban
~. in Cuba. said;
". The long trial has proved that t
~ object for which Spain has waged I
~ war cannot be attained. The fire
~. ~ insurrection may fame or may smold
- with varying seasons, but 1t has n
~ been, and it is plain that ii cannot
'o extinguished by present methods. T
only hope Of relief and repose fire.
a condition which can no longer
of | endured ia the enforned napi fcation