The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-04-14
The Presidents Message.

The present revolution il but the -uc.
cessor Of other similar iDsurrections
winch nave occurred IN cuba against the
| dominion OF Spain. extending over a
| period OF nearly half d century. each Of
which during its progress, has subjected
| the United States 10 great .fiort ana *.
pense IN enforcing its neutrality Laws.
caused enormous LOSSES TO American
trade and commerce, caused irritation.
annoyance and disturbance among our
citizens, and by the exercise Of cruel.
barbarous and unciyilized practices Of
warfare, shocked the seH-i1ilities and
offended the humane sympathies Of our
people.
By the time the present administration
took office ear ago, recoueeutration-
so called-had been made effective over
the better part Of the four central and
western provinces. Santa Clara. MAtau-
z4s, Havana and Pinar Del Rio The
agricultural population 10 the estimated
number OF 300, 900 or more. was herdcd
within the towns and their immediate
vicnage, deprived of the means Of sup
port, rendered destitute Of shelter. left
poorly clad and exposed 10 the most uu-
sanitary conditions. As the scarcity Of
food increased with the devastation Of
u.
destitution and want became misery and
starvation. AS | said in my message Of
last December it was not civilized war
fare. 1t was determination. The only
peace it could beget was that of the
wilderness and the grave.
After abiding to the increased desti-
tuition among Cubans and the issue of his
appeal to the American people for contri-
button for the succor of starving suf-
relief committees and the National Red
Cross organization, he states that $780,
600 had already reached these people
and thousands of lives have been saved
The necessity of a change was apparent
to the Spanish government and within a
few days Weyler's "reeoncentrado" order
has been revoked and efforts put forth to
better the condition of these starving
people.
The President reviews the diplomatic
correspondence between the two nations
and the efforts made by his government
for peace in Cuba, referred to his
message in December last and the posi-
ton taken by him at that time, discussed
the question of recognition of the bellig
erency of the insurgents, recognition of
independence of Cuba and intervention,
taking the ground that the two former
are contrary to well established policy
of our government. citing Presidents
jackson and Grant in support of this
theory.
In regard to intervention the President
says:
There remain the alternative forms of
intervention to end the war, either as an
impartial neutral by imposing rational
compromise between the contestants, or
as the active ally of the one party or the
other. AS to the first, it is not TO be for
gotten that during the last few months.
the relation of the United States has
virtually been one of friendly interven-
ton in many ways, each not of itself
conclusive, but all tending to the eXertion
of a potential Influence toward an ulti-
mate pacific result Just and honorable 10
all interests concerned. The spirit of all
our acts hitherto has been an earnest,
unselfish desire for peace and prosperity
in Cuba, untarnished by differences be.
tween us and Spain, and unstained by
the blood of American citizens.
The forcible intervention of the United
States as a neutral to stop the war, sc-
cording to the large dictates of humani-
ty and following many historical prece-
dents where neghboring states have in
terfered to check the hapless sacrifices
of life by internecine conflicts beyond
their borders, is justifiable on rational
grounds. 1t involves, however, hostile
constraint upon both the parties to the
contest, as well to enforce truce as to
guide the eventual settlement The
grounds for such Intervention may be
briefly summarized as follows
First-ln the cause of humanity and
to put an end to the barharitles, blood
shed. starvation and horrible miseri s
now existing there, and which the
parties to the conflict are either unable
or unwilling to stop or mitigate. 1t is
no answer to say this is all in another
country belonging to another nation and
is therefore none of our business. Ii is
specially our duty for it is right ar our
door.
Second-We owe ii to eur citizens in
Cuba to afford them that protection and
indemnity for life and property which
no government there can or will afford,
and TO that end to terminate the condi-
tions that deprive them of legal protect
ion.
Third-rhe right to intervene may be
justified by the very serious injury 10 the
commerce, trade andi business of our
people and by the wanton destruction of
property and devastation of the Island.
Fourth-And which is of the utmost
importance. The present condition of
affairs of Cuba is a constant menace Ia
our peace, and entails upon this govern
ment an enormous expense. With such
a conflict waged for years in an island so
near us and with which our people have
such trade and business relations-When
the lives and liberty of our citizens are
in constant danger and their property
DESTROYED and themselves ruined
where our trading vessels are liable to
seizure and are seized at our very door,
by warships of the foreign nation, the
expeditions of tllibustering that We are
powerlesS altogether tn prevent, and the
irritating questions and entanglementS
thus arising-all these and others that
need not mention with the resulting
strained relations, are constant menace
to our peace and compel us TO keep on a
semi-war footing with Il nation with
which we are at peace.
The loss of the Maine is referred 20
with all of its attendant horrors as af-
fordng a tragic example of the inability
of the Spanish government 10 assure