Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-04-14
tendod 70 the snfrerlne Amerioan oitizens

tended to the suffering American citizens
among them by the judicious expenditure
through the consular agencies of the
money appropriated expressly for their
succor by the joint resolution approved
NAV q, 1897, prompted the humane ex-
tension of n similar scheme of aid to the
great body of sufferers. y suggestion TO
this end WAS acquiesced in by the spanish
authorities. On Dec. q last L caused TO
be issued an appeal to the American peo-
plc. inviting contributions in money or in
any kind Tor the sucCor Of the starving
sufferers in Cuba, following this on Jan.
by a similar public announcement OF
the formation OF a central Cuban relief
committee, with headquarters in New
York city, composed of three members
representing the American National Red
Cross and the religious and business ele-
ments OF the community. The efforts OF
the committee have been untiring and ac-
complishcd much.
Arrangements for free transportation to
the island Of Cuba have greatly aided the
charitable work. The president of the
American Red Cross and representatives
OF other contributory organizations have
pcnerally visited Cuba, and co-Operated
with the consul general and the local au-
thOritics to make effective distribution OF
the relief collected through the efforts of
the central committee. Nearly 500, 900 in
money and supplies has already reached
the sufferers, and more Is forthcoming.
The supplies are admitted duty free, and
transportation to the interior has been ar
ranged so that the relief, at first ncces-
sarflv confined to Havana and the larger
cities. is now extended through most if
not all Of the towns where suffering exists.
Thousands of lives have already been
saved The necessity for change in the
condition of the recOncentrados is recog-
nized by the Spanish government. Within
n few DAYS past the orders of General
!, IA
trados are, it is said, to be permitted TO re-
turn to their homes, and aided to resume
the sclf-supporting pursuits OF peace;
public works have been ordered TO give
them employment, and sum OF s6OO,Ooo
has been appropriated for their relief.
The war in Cuba is OF such nature
that short of subjugation or extermina-
ton a final military victory for either side
seems impracticabie. The alternative
lies in the physical exhaustion of the one
or the other party, or perhaps both-a con-
dition which in effect ended the ten years
war by the truce of Zanjon. The prospect
of such protraction and conclusion of
the present strife is Il contingency hardly
to be contemplated with equanimity by
the civilized world, and least of all by the
United states affected and injured as we
are. deeply and intimately by its very ex-
istonce
What This Nation Should DO.
Realizing that it appears to be my duty,
in a spirit Of true friendliness no less to
Spain than to the Cubans, who have so
much to lose by the prolongatioA OF the
struggle to seek to bring about an imme-
diatc termination OF the war. To this end,
| submitted, on the 9th ultimo as re-
suit Of much representation and CORE
spondence, through the United States
minister at Madrid, propositions 10 the
Spanish government looking to an arlnls-
tice until Oct. / for the negotiation of
peace with the good offices OF the presi-
dent.
vocation of the order Of Recommendation,
so as to permit the people to return TO
their farms ard the needy to be relieved
with provisions and supplies from the
United States co operating with the span
ish authorities 50 as 10 afford that relief
The reply of the Spanish cabinet was
received ON he night OF the 3lst ultimo.
1t Offers, - the means to bring about
peace in Cuba, 10 confidc the preparation
thereof - the insu'ar parliament, inls-
much as the concurrence of that body
would Jc nec,s -ary to reach final result,
1t being, however, understood that the
powers +. served by the constitution to the
central government are not l2sselcd Or
diminished. AS the Cuban parliament
does not meet until the 18th of May next,
the Spanish government woald not object,
fC. its Uart, to accept at once a suspension
of hostilitios if asked for by the insurgents
from the general chief, to whom II
would pertain, in such case, to determine
the duration and condition of the arnlS-
tice.
The proposition submitted by General
WoodfJrd and the reply of the spanish
government were both in the form OF
brief memoranda, the texts of which are
before me, and are substantially in the
language above given. The function OF
the Cuban parliament, in the matter Of
preparing peace and the manner of its
doing SO are not expressed in the Spanish
memorandum; but, from General Wood
ford's explanatory reports of preliminary
discussions preceding the final conference,
it is understood that the Spanish govern
ment stands ready to give the insular con-
gress full powers to settle the terms OF
peace with the surgents-whether by
direct negotiation or indirectly by means
of legislation, does not appear.
Plans Proposed For Intervention.
With this last overture in the direction
Of immediate peace, and its disappointing
reception by spain, the executive was
brought to the end OF his effort.
In my annual message of December
last | said:
"Of the untried measures there remain
belligercnt5; recognition of the independ-
ence of Cuba; neutral Intervention to
end the war by imposing a rational com
promise between the contestants, and in
terVentiOn in favor of one or the other
party. | speak not IF forcible anneXa-
tion; that cannot be thought OF, That,
by our code of morality, would be Grim
inal aggression"
Thcreupon | reviewed these alternatives,
in the light of President Grant 5 measured
words, uttered in 1875, when after seven
years Of sanguinaiy, destructive and cruel
hostilitigs in Cuba, he reached the conclu-
sion that the recognition of the indepcnd-
cnce of Cuba was impracticablc and indie
fenS1ble; and that the recognition Of bel
hgerCnCc was not warranted by the facts
according TO tests of public war. | com
mented especially upon the latter aspect
of the question, pointing ont the incon-
VenicncGs and positive dangers of q recog-
milton OF 5elligerence, which, while add
ing to the already onerous burdens of ncu-
trality within our own jurisdiction, could
not i'll any way extend our influence or
effective offices i'll the territory of hOstili-
ties. Nothing has since occurred to
change my views in this regdr,i-and
recognize as fully now rs then that the
issuance of a PROCLAMATION of neutrality
by which process the sO-called recognition
of belligcrcnce is published could of itself
and unattended by other action, accom-
plish nothing toward the one end for
which we labor, the instant pacification of
Cuba and the cessation of the misery that
afflicts the island.
Opposed to Recognizing independence.
Turning to the question of recognizing
at this time the independence of the pres
ent insurgcnt government in Cuba, we
find safe preccdents in our history from
an early day. They are well summed up
in President Jackson's message to con
gress Dec. 81, 1896, on the subject of the
recognition of the independence of Texas
He said
"In all the contests that have arisen out
of the revolutions of France, out of the
disputes relating to the crowns of Portu-
gal and Spain, out of the separation of the
American possessions of both from the
European governments, and out of the
numerous and constantly occurring strug-
giles for dominion in Spanish America SO
wisely consistent with our Just principles
has been the action of our government
that we have under the most critical cir
eumstances avoided all censure and en-
countercd no other evil than that pro-
duced by n transient Cstrlngment of good
will against those whom we have been by
force of evidence compelled to decide
Thereupon Andrew jackson proceeded
to consider the risk that there might be
imputed to the United States motives of
selfish interest in view of the former claim
on our part to the territory of Texas, and
of the avowed purpose of the Texans in
seeking recognition OF independence as an
incident to the incorporation of Texas in
| the Union; concluding thus:
prudence, therefore, seems to dictate
| that We should still stand alOof and main
| tain our present attitude, if not until
Mexico itself or one of the great foreign