The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-11

che widest principle of home rule for
Cuba and Porto h:eo.
ASSURANCES OF HOME RULE
The ovsrtures OF this government maze
through its new envoy, Gen. Woodford'
ana looking To an Immediate and eject
I've amslioration Of she condition OF the
Island aIthouRh not accepted TO the ex-
tant Of admitted mediation In any share
were met BY assurances that home rule,
fn advnnced phase would lie forthwltn
ofYered 10 CUB without waiting for the
wax TO end and that more humane
methods should tnenceforth prevail IN
the conduct Of hostilities. Coinciuentaiiy
with rbsee declarations the new govern
ment OF Spain continued and completed
the policy already begun by It's prede-
Ceas0r. Of testify ing friendly regard Tor
tbjs nation by releasing American citi-
gens held under one charge or another
connected with the insurrection, so that
BY the end OF November not single
person entitled In any way to our
national protection remained In Span
tsh prison.
INCREASE OF DEsTITUTIoN.
While these negotiations were In pro-
Rress the increasing destitution OF the
unfortunate reconcentrados and the
Alarming mortality among them claimed
earnest attention. Yhe success which
had attended the limited measure OF re-
lief extended to the suffering American
oitizens among them by the Judicious ex-
penditure through the consular agents OF
the money appropriated expressly Ior
their sucCor by the joint resolution APP
proved May "a 1897, prompted the.
humane extension of similar scheme OF
nid to the great body of sufferers. "A
suggestion to this end YVES acquiesced In
hy tho spanish authorities. On the 24th or
Deosmber last caused to bs issued an
appeal TO the American people, inviting
contributions In money or In kind for
the sucoor OF the starving sufferers in
Cuba, following this on the stn Of January
by q similar public announcements OF the
formation Of q central Cuban relief
committee with headquarters In New
York city, composed of three members
representing the American National lied
Cross and the religious AMI business
elements Of ths community.
1he efforts Of that committee have been
untiring emo have accomplished much.
Arrangements for free transportation 70
Cuba have greatly aided the charitable
work. The president OF the American
1ssd Cross and representatives OF other
oontributory organizations have gener-
ously visited Cuba and co-opsrnted with
the consul-generAi and the local authori-
ties to make effective distribution OF the
relief collected through the efforts of the
central committee. Nearly $y0O.O00 In
money and supplies has already: reached
the sufferers and more is forthcoming.
THOUSANDS OF LIVES SAVED.
The supplies are admitted duty free
and transportation TO the interior has
been arranged 30 that tho relief. at first
necessarily confined to Havana and the
larger Cities is now extended through
most II not all, of the towns where suffer
inR exists. Thousands Of lives have al
su0y been saved. The necessity for
-uhanRs IN the condition or the reconcen-
trados Is recognized By the Spanish govern
msnt Within . few days past the orders
of General Woyler have been revoked,
tho Recommendation 1t is said. TO be per-
lnittcd 70 return to their homes and aided
to resume the self-supporting pursuits OF
cecs: public works have been ordered to
i've them employment and q sum of
5000 900 has been appropriated for their
relief
FINAL VICTORY IMPRACTICABIE.
The war In Cuba is of such nature
that short Of subjuRation or extermina-
ti0n Z 1pal military victory for either
side seems impracticAble.- The -alterna=
tive lies In the physical exhaustion OF
one or the other party, or perhaps OF
both-a condition which in effect ended
the ten years' war by the truce Of Fan jon.
The prospect Of suoh protractlon and
conclusion Of the present strife Is a con-
tingency hardly to BE- contemplated with
equanimity BY the civilized world, and
least Of al by the United States affected
and injured as We ara. deeply and inti-
mately BY it, very sxistonce.
REPRESENTATIONS TO SPAIN.
Realizing tbis It appeared to be my
duty In = spirit Of true frisndliness, no
less to Spain than to tha Guiana who
nave % much to lore by the proloneation
OF tie struggle. to seek to bring about an
immediate terminntion of the war. 70
this end l submitted on the 2sth ult., as
. result Of much representation and cor
respcndenoe through the Unitsd States
minister at Madrid, propositions to the
tios until October for the negotiation Of
peace with the good Offices Of the presi-
dent
In addition, I asked the immediate revo.
cation Of the oruer of re concep tration. SO
- to permit the people TO return to their
farms and to the needy to be relieved
Unssd sts0s SRP's wisS sSm the the
Spanish authorities 20 as to afford full
relief.
SPAIN'6 REPLY.
The reply Of the Spanish cabinet was
received on the night Of the 3ist ultimo.
IL offera as the means to bring about
poace In Cuba, to coufide the preparation
therefor to the fnsular parliament mas
much az the concurrence OF that body
would b necessary to reach = final re-
suit it beine. however, understood that
the powers reserved by the constitution
to the central government are not lessened
or diminisned. As the Cuban parliament
does not meet until the fourth of May
nexk the Spanish government would not
object, for its part to accept at once a
suspension Of kostiIities II asked for by
the insurgsnts from the general In chief,
70 whom 10 woulu pertain In such case TO
dseesnius the duration and conditions of
the armistice.
END OF EFFORTS.
The propositions submitted by Gen.
Woodford and reply Of the spanish gov
ernment were both In the form of brief
moDorandn, the tcxts OF which are before
me and are subs tantially In the language
shove eiven- The function OF the Cuban
parliament In the matter of preparing"
peace ana ths manner Of It's doing 90 are
not expressed In the Spanish memoranda;
but from Gen. Woodford's explanatory no.
ports Of prslimi nary discussions preced-