The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-18
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formation on the subject Of tho reconcentrados
afford President Mckinley an opportunity Of
laying before Congress and the country q full
statement OF tho whole Cuban case that 10 Is not
to be presumed he will neglect.
Tho business men speak from n business point
OF view. They point out that tho war in Cuba
has entailed n loss to this country in the i'm.
port and export trade OF 800. 600. 900 per year,
or a total loss OF 5000. 600. 900 since the begin
ming Of the war; that to this may be fairly added
heavy sums irrctrievably lost by the destruction
OF American properties or properties supported
by American capital in the island itself, such rs
sugar factories. railways, tobacco p nntntions.
mines. and other industrial enterprises; and
that the loss OF the United States In trade and
capital by reason of this war is probably far
greater and moro serious than that Of all tho
other parties concerned. not excepting Spain.'
In view Of these alarming facts they ask this
Governments aid in bringing about actual
peace" Tho practical question Is, how 10 that
to be given Ever since the revolution began
the executive department Of this country has
been crying "Peacc! Pesce!' in its most dulcet
tones to the bclligeronts. but still there is no
"poace" and no prospect of 1t.
The memorial Of these business men seems to
present such u condition of affairs as calls upon
the President to carry out that clause Of the
Constitution which declares that he 1.-THE Pres.
identl shall from time to time give to the Con-
gress Information Of the state Of tho Union and
to their consideration such meas
urcs as he shall judge necessary and expedient."
With such information and recommendation
Congress could then proceed to perform its con-
stitutional function Ito provide for the general
welfare" so seriously jeoparded by the loss Of
our trade. tho destruction of our property and
the extraordinary expenses imposed upon our
Encarrf,Nnt hv Tho T,hon rnp,plirofiop
While the business men in their memorial
have confined themselves to the purely business
view OF the situation, the House of Representa-
tives has based its resolution Of inquiry on the
ground OF humanity.
As representatives of the American people
they call for Information as to tho real condi-
tion of the unhappy reconcentrados who, BY no
fault of their own, but by tho cruel policy Of the
Spanish Government, have been subjected TO
atrocities unparalleled in modern times. They
want to know II it is true, as the press asserts,
that 100000 ~on-combatants. mostly women
and children, have been dragged from their
homes, deprived Of their means of livelihood.
and shut UP in fortified places, to be subjected to
the brutalities Of a hostile soldicry whose cru.
city is historic. and to die of starvation II they
survive outrage. They want to know II it Is
true that such outraGes have occurred as those
related in the Havana correspondence of THE
SCS In a letter dated Feb. q.
"The correspondent saw at Artemisa. Havana
Province. the other day, six girls under 10 years OF
age sold at auction to spanish onncers. Two old
women, to all appearances the mothers Of some of
the girls. who tried to interfere, were beaten like
dogs and chased away"
They want also to know what progress has
been mad. IN Sna;n's efforts IN ;pdrce the Tn.
hans 10 accent autopomv" and IN order that
thAy- t,nr 49, tho 49, N.,tl -. a. nL
iccts. thew ask for comics of all renorta from
Consuls Vice Consuls. md commercial ooenta
of the United States that NAV sbed lioht
The Senate also wants and has called for IN.
formation on those subiects Rut r. wnnt. IN
know sometbinp elsc II wants IN kno,v and
REQUEST. the pres;dont IN irform A. ..vhotho,
nnv agent of a Government in Cuba has becn or.
creditcd IN this Government or the President n,
tho United states with autbor;,v IN negotioto
n treaty of recinrocitv with tho United st,t..
or INV other d;n,orat;c or commorc;o, .oroo.
mcnt with the limited sta,es and. wbothor sroh
nersop hns hoe, recognjzed and rece;vod ,e ,ho