The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1898-04-21

per centum Of their total number. No
practical relief was accorded to the des-
titute. The overburdened towns, already
suffering from the general dearth, could
give no aid. So-called zones Of cultiva-
tion, established within the immediate
area of effective military control about
the cities and fortified camps, proved illus
ory as a remedy for the suffering. The
unfortunates, being for the most part
women and children. with aged and help
less men, enfeebled by disease and hun
ger, could not have titled the soil without
tools, seed or shelter for their own sup
port or for the supply of the cities. Re
concentration, adopted avowedly as n war
measure in order to cut off the resources
of the insurgents, worked its predestined
result. As said in my message of last
December, it was not civilized warfare; it
was determination. The only peace it
could beget was that Of the wilderness
and the grave.
Meanwhile the military situation in the
island had undergone noticeable change.
The extraordinary activity that charac-
terized the second year Of the war, when
the insurgents invaded even the hitherto
unharmed fields of Pinar del Rio, and
carried havoc and destitution up to the
walls of the city of Havana itself. had
relapsed into a dogged struggle in the
central and eastern provinces. The Span
ism arms regained n measure of control
in Pinar del Rio and parts of Havana, but
under the existing conditions of the rural
country, without immediate Improvement
of their productive situation. Even thus
partially restricted the revolutionists held
their own, and their submission, put for
ward by Spain as the essential and sole
basis Of peace. seemed as far distant as
at the outset.
Promise of Autonomy.
In this state of affairs my administra-
ton found itself confronted with the
grave problem of its duty My message
of last December reviewed the situation
and detailed the steps taken with view
of relieving its acuteness and opening the
way TO some form of honorable settle
ment. The assassination of the prime
minister, Canovas, led to 4 change of gov
ernment in Spain. The former admins
tration, pledged to subjugatiOn without
concession, gave place to that of more
liberal party, committed long in advance
to policy of reform involving the wider
principle of home rule for Cuba and Pu-
erto Rico. The overtures of this gov
ernment, made through its new envoy,
General Woodford, and looking to an i'm
mediate and effective amelioration of the
condition of the island, although not ac-
cepted TO the extent Of admitted media
ton in any shape, were met by assurances
that home rule, in an advanced phase,
would be forthwith offered to Cuba, with
out waiting for the war to end. and that
more humane methods should thenceforth
prevail in the conduct of hostilities. In
cidentally with these declarations the
new government of Spain continued 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 an
other connected with the insurrectiOn. so
that by the end Of November not a single
person entitled in any way 10 our national
protection remained in a Spanish prison.
While these negotiations were in prog
ress the increasing destitution Of the un-
fortunate reconcentrados and the alarm
ing mortality among them claimed ear
nest attention. The success which had
attended the limited measure of relief
among them by the judicious expenditure
through the consular agencies of the
money appropriated expressly for their
succor by the joint resolution approved
May "a, 1897. prompted the humane ex-
tension of n similar scheme of aid to the
great body of sufferers. A suggestion to
this end was acquiesced in by the Span
ish authorities.
On the oath of December last l caused
to be issued an appeal to the American
people. inviting contributions in money or
in Kind for the succor of the starving suf-
ferers in Cuba, following this on the Sth
of January by a similar public announce
ment of the formation of a central Cuban
relief committee, with headquarters in
New York City, composed of three men,
bers representing the American National
Red Cross and the religious and business
elements of the community. The efforts
of that committee have been untiring and
accomplished much. Arrangements for
free TRANSFORMATION to Cuba have greatly
aided the charitable work. The president
of the American Red Cross and represent
atives of other contributory organizations
have generously visited Cuba and coop
Grated with the Consul General and the
local authorities to make effective distri-
burton of the relief collected through the
efforts of the central committee. Nearly
$500 900 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 re-
lief, at first necessarily confined to Ha-
vana and the larger cities. is now ex-
tended through most. If not all, of the
towns where suffering exists. Thousands
of lives have already been saved.
Reconcentrado Order Revoked.
The necessity for change in the condi-
tion of the reconcentrados is recognized
by the Spanish government. Within a
few DAYS past the orders of General Wey-
Ter have been revoked, the reconcentradoS
are. it is said. TO be permitted TO return to
their homes and aided to resume the self
supporting pursuits of peace; public works
have been ordered TO give them employ
ment. and sum of SG0O,0OO has been
appropriated for their relief.
The war in Cuba is of such a nature
that. short of subjugation or extermina-
ton. final military victory for either side
seems impracticable. 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 Zanjon. The
prospect of such a protraction and con-
clusion of the present strife is contin-
gent hardly to be contemplated with
eduanimity by the civilized world. and
least of all by the United States, affected
ana injured rs we are uetpis anu luli-
mately by its very existence.
Realizing this, it 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
immediate termination of the war. To
this end, l submitted, on the 9th ultimo,
as a result of much representation and
correspondence, through the United
States minister at Madrid, propositions to
the Spanish government looking to an
arrnistice until Oct. for the negotiation
of peace with the good offices of the Pres
ident.
In addition 1 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
authorities so as to afford full relief.
The reply of the Spanish cabinet was
received on the night of the 31st ultimo.
1t offers, as the means TO bring about
peace in Cuba, to confide the preparation
thereof to the insuiar department, mas
much as the concurrence of that body
would be necessary to reach a final result,
ii being, however, understood, that the