The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-06
THE CUBAN TROUBLES
LEADING UP TO WAR.
A Review of the Conditions Which
Led to This Country Trying TO
stop the War In the Island.

III my last annual message very full con-
sf.erati3u was given TO the QUESTION Of the
siuty Of the government Of the United
States toward Spain assd the Cu6an 4nssir-
fectlon as being BY far the most important
pfDbseni with when @e were called upon
10 deal The considers lions then advanced
and the exposition Of the views therein ex-
IsFessad disclosed Inv sense 81 the extreme
gravity Of the situation. Setting aside. as
logically unfounaed. or practically mad
Missile, the recognition Of the Cuban In
surgeais as beiIigeFents. the recognition Of
the Independence Of CuEa, neutral inter-
yentfon TO end The war by importing "A ra-
tional compromise between the contestants.
Intervention In favor OF one or the other
parties. and the forcibie annexation OF the
ISLAND ! concluded IL waS honestly due to
our friendly relations with Spain that she
should be given q reasonable chance 10
realize her expectations OF reform 10 which
shs had become irreyocabiy committed.
Within few weeks previously she had
announced comprehensive plans, which IL
was confidently asserted would be effiea-
eiogs 90 remedy the evils 50 deeply affect
ing cur own country, So injurious 10 the
true Interests Of the mother country as
well as 10 those Of Cuba and so repuEDant
10 the universal sentiment Of humanity.
The Failure of Autonomy.
The ensuing months brought little sign
OF real progress toward the paciticatlon of
Ca5a The AUTONOMOUS administration set
Gp IN the capital and some az the principal
cities appeared not 10 gain the favor % the
Inhabitants nor to be able 10 extend their
influence 10 the large extent of territory
held hy the insurgents. while the military.
obviously unable tG cope with the SIN ac-
I've rebellion. continued many OF the most
Objectionable and offensive policies OF the
government that had preceded.
Terrible Condition of Reconcen-
frados-
No Il nEibie relief was afforded the vast
number Of unhappy reconcentrados despite
The reiterated professions made in that re-
Farsi, and the amount appropriated by Spain
10 that end. The proffered eSpedient or
zones or cultivation proved niuSory In
deed no less practical nor more deiuSiNe
prpiniSe Of succoT could well have been ten
d<red 90 the exhausted and destitute peo-
pie. stripped % all that made tie and home
dear and herdei H. strange region among
uDsympath"tic strangers hardly less ne
etssitous than themselves.
Relief Extended by This Country.
By the end Of December the mortality
among them had fTsghtfuily increased
Conservative estimates from Spanish
sources placed the. deaths among these dis
tfeSsed people AZ over ~ per cent. from the
tine Gen. VIEWERS decree af reeonrentra-
dos was enforced With the acoueacence
q the Spanish authorities scheme was
adopted fer relief by charitable conirihu-
tons raised IN this country and dstribu, Ell
Under The direction OF the consul general
and the several cousnis. by noble and ear
nest Individual effort through the organ
iked agencies or the American Red Cross
Thousands of lives were thus saved, bu,
mary thousands more were Inaccessible 10
such forms OF aid
The war continued on the old footing
without comprehensive plan. develop
INK only the same stasmudic encoun-
ie's, barren az strategic result that had
marked the course Of the earlier ten years
Rebellion well as the present iusurres-tf IN
rom rs start No alternative save ply u :
cal exhaustion OF either eomhsstanf ami
there withsl the practical ruin of the ISL
and. lay IA sight bat how far distant no
ase could ventura 10 conjecture.