The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-04-16
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
SENT TO CONGRESS WITHOUT FURTHER
DELAY.
The President Says tho Wax in Cuba Must
Cease...He Asks for Authority to Uso
Force to Secure Peace on the Island-..
The Message in Full.
THE MESSAGE.

Obediept to that precept OF the constl-
tuition which commands the President
to give from time to time the congress
information of the state of tho Union
and to recommend to their considera-
ton such measures rs he shall Judge
necessary and cxpedient, it becomes
my duty now to address your body
with regard to the grave crisis that
has arisen in tho relations of the
United States to Spain by reason OF
the warfare that for more than three
years has ragged in. the neighboring
island Of Cuba.
| Since the present revolution began
in February, 1895, this country has
seen the fertile domain at our thresh-
old ravaged by fire and sword in the
course Of struggle unequalled in the
history of the island and rarely paral.
leled as to the number of combatants
and the bitterness of the contest by
any revolution of modern times where
a dependent people, striving to be
free, have been opposed by the power
Of the sovereign State.
The war in Cuba is of such nature
that short of the subjugation or eS-
termination a final military victory
for either side seems impracticable.
The alternative lies in tho physical ex'
haustion of the one or the other party
or perhaps both-a condition which IN
effect ended the ten years. war. lbs
prospects of such a protractioh and
conclusion of the present strife is
contingency hardly to be contemplated
with equanimity by the civilized
world and least of all by the United
States, affected and injured, as we
are, deeply and intimately by its very
existence.
Realizing this it appeared to be my
duty in spirit to the friendliness nc
less to Spain than to the Cubans, who
have so much to lose by the prolonga
ton Of the struggle to bring about al
, immediate termination OF the war
To this end l submitted on the 2otI
ultimo as result of much presenta
= ton and correspondence to the Span
;sh government looking to an arms
tice till October LIST, FOR the negotla
tion Of peace with the good offices Q
the President. in addition l aske
}. the immediate revocation of the orde
# Recommendation, so as to permit IN
neon]e to return to their farms and tn
. needy to be relieved with provision
" sunnlied from the United States, CT
eperating with the Spanish author
ties 80 as to afford full relief.
The reply of the Spanish cabin
was received on the night of the 81
ultimo. 1t offers as the means
bring about peace in Cuba, to come
the preparation thereof to tho 1nsul
parliament inasmuch as the copcu
renee of that body would be nocessa
to reach final result, it being, no
over. understood that the powers
served in the constitution by the &c
tr,, Government are not lessened or
-. m;n,shed, AS the Cuban parllame
does not meet until the fourth OF NJ
rext, the Spanish government "o'
not object for its part to accep,
once a cessation of hosti]ities II ASK
y for By the insurgents from the gone
" in chief, to whom it would pertain
anch case to determine the durat
and conditions of the arrist1ce'' =
nd The propositions submitted by u
era] Wooaford and the reply, OF
Snanish government were pom III
fnrm Of brief memoranda, the tcxts
which are before me, and are sups'
TALLY in the language gwen any, 2;er y,
The action of the Cuban parllam
in the matter Of "prerarlng peace
the manner of its doing So are
eTn,a;ned in the Spanish memo'
Ann hit from General Wocd1o
nrel;minary reports of preliminary
4r ccussions preceding the tInal con con
80 ence, it is understood the n =; "a
e government stands ready to give
insular government full poWer.to n
tiate peace with the lnsui =
kept whether directly, Or indirectly rect yn 1t
not appear. With this las' 70; tsG =;
in the direction of peace ana l's a. a.
pointing reception by SPAN, !n'
ecutiye was brought to the eno O.
effort. ;,+ ~ ex
los. ence do I think it would De WI
prudent for this government 10 ~
pize at the present time the lnael
ence Of the so-called Cuban repu
ner, Such recognition is not ; neee s9a1
order order to enable the United sta'
intervene and pacify the 's 81 No.
commit this country now TO rec
ton Of any particular go7e a,1, ha,
Pufs Cuba Cub light subject us to emo a,
uomo mo conditions Of international OF
l1OLue | AAS %S H. concentration 81