Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-11

problem OF Its duty. My message OF last
December reviewed the situation, and mar
rated the steps taken with a view to re-
ieving it's acuteness and opening the way
to some form Of honorable settlement. The
assassination of the prime minister, Cano-
vas. led to a change of government in
Spain. The former administration, pledged
to subjugation without concession, gave
place to that Of more liberal party, COM
mitted long in advance to a policy Of re-
fern involving the wider principle of home
rule for Cuba and Puerto Rico.
The overtures of this government made
through Its new envoy, General Woodford,
and looking to an immediate and effective
anelioration Of the condition Of the island,
although not accepted to the extent Of ad-
mitted mediation in any shape, were met
by assurances that home rule, in an ad-
vanced phase, would he forthwith offered
to Cuba, without waiting for the war to
end, and that more humane methods should
thenceforth prevail in the conduct of hos
tilities. Coincidentally with these declara-
tions, the new government of Spain con-
til Ted and completed the policy already
begun by its predecessor, of testifying
friendly regard for this nation by releasing
American citizens held under one charge
or another connected with the insurrection,
so that, by the end of November, not sin
gle person entitled in any way to our ma
ticnal protection, remained in Spanish
prison.
While these negotia tions wers in progress,
the increasing destitution of the unfortu-
nate reconcentrados and the alarming NOR
tality among them claimed earnest atten-
ton. The success which had attended the
limited measure of relief extended to the
suffering American citizens among them by
the judicious expenditure through the con-
sular agencies OF the money appropriated
expressly for their succor by the joint reso-
luton approved May "a, 1897, prompted the
humane extension of a similar scheme of
aid to the great body of sufferers. A sug
gestion to this end was acquiesced in by
the Spanish authorities. On the 9th of De-
cember last. 1 caused to be issued an ap-
peal to the American people, inviting con-
tributions in money or in kind for the sue
cor of the starving sufferers in Cuba, fol-
lowing this on the 9Th of January by
similar public announcement of the forna-
tion of central Cuban relief committee.
with headquarters in New York city, COM
posed of three members representing the
American National Red Cross and the re-
l!gious and business elements of the COM
nunity.
The efforts of that Committee have been
untiring and have accomplished much. Ar
range,nents for free transportation to Cuba
have greatly aided the charitable work.
The President of the American Red Cross,
and representatives of other contributory
organizations have generously visited Cuba
and co-operated with the Consul General
and the local authorities to make effective
distribution of the relief collected through
the efforts of the Central Committee. Near
ly $2OO,OO0 in money and supplies has al
ready reached the sufferers, and more is
forthcoming. The supplies are admitted
duty free, and transportation to the in
terror has been arranged, SO that the relief,
at first necessarily confined to Havana and
the larger cities, is now extended through
most, if not all, of the towns where suf-
fering exists.
Thousands of lives have been saved The
necessity for change in the condition Of
the reconcertrados is recognized by the
Spanish government. Within a few days
past, the orders of General Weyler have
been revoked; the reooncentrados are, it is
said, to be permitted to return to their
homes, and aided to resume the self-sup-
porting pursuits Of peace; public works
have been ordered to give them employ
merit, and a sum of s6OOOOO has been ap-
pi opriated for their relief
The war in Cuba Is of such a nature that
short of subjugaticn or determination a
final military victory for either side seems
inpracticable. The alternative lies In the
physical exhaustion of the one or the other
party, or perhaps of both-a condition
which In effect ended the ten years war
by the Truce of Zapjon. The prospect of
such protractlon and conclusion of the
present strife is d contingency hardly to be
contemplated with equanimity by the civ
ilized world. and least Of all by the United
States, affected and injured as we are,
deeply and intimately by it's very existence.
An Immediate End of the War.
Realizii this, 1T appeared to be my duty,
in spirit of true friendliness, no less to
Spain than to the Cubans who have SO
much to lose by the prolongation Of the
struggle, to seek to bring about an imme-
date termination of the war. To this end
submitted, on the 9th ultimo, as a result
Of much representation and correspondence
through the United States minister at
Madrid, propositions to the Spanish gov-
ernment looking to an armistice until Oc-
tober first for the negotiation Of peace with
the good offices of the President.
In addition, asked the immediate revo-
cation of the order of Recommendation. so
as to permit the people to return to their
farms and the needy to be relieved with
provisions and supplies from the United
States. cooperating with the Spanish au-
thorities, SO as to afford full relief.
the reply Of the Spanish cabinet was re-
ceived on the night of the S1st ultimo. It
offers. as the means 10 bring about peace
in Cuba, to confide the preparation thereof
to the insular parliament, inasmuch as
the concurrence of that body would be
necessary to reach a final result, 1t being
however, understood that the powers re-
served by the constitution to the central
government al i.ot lessened or diminished.
As the Cuban parliament does not meet
until the 4th of May next, the Spanish
government would not object, fQr its part,
to accept at once suspension of hcstili-
ties If asked for by the insurgents from the
general-in-chief. to whom it would pertain,
in such cases, to determine the duration
and conditions Of the armistice.
The propositions submitted by General
Woodford and the reply of the Spanish
l,axI,