La Junta tribune., 1898-12-10

To the Senate and House OF Repre-
scutntiyrrs. Notwithstanding the add
cd burdens rendered necessary by the
war. our pepul. rejoice in Il very salts
fnctnry aud steadily increasing d"gre"
OF prosperity rvidepced 10y the largest
volume n business ever recorded. EN-
cry manufacture has been productive
agricultnralpur-u havry yielded ahnn-
dant returns. revenue Legislation passed
by the present Congress has IN
erased tho treasury receipts 10 IN"
amount estimated by the authorities,
the finances of the government have
been successfully administered and its
credit advanced 10 tlu, front rank, while
it's currency ha- been maintained AT the
worlds highest standard Military ser
vice under common rag and Tor
righteous cause has strengthened th,
national spirit and served 10 cement
NOR, closely than ever til" frdtcrnni
bonds between every section OF the
country. \ review Of the rclat!ons OF
the United States 10 other powers, al
ways appropriate. is this year of prl.
mary importance" la view of the mo-
mcntous issue, which have risen. de
manding In one instance the ultimate
determination by arms ana Involving
far-rcaching consequences which VIII
require the earnest attention OF the
Congress.
The In.urrrrtion In Cuba.
In my iasI annual mc>sag. very full
consideration was given to the queS
tion of the duty OF III. government Of
the United States toward Spain and
the Cuban insurrectlou as being by far
the most important problem with
which we were to- be called upon 10
deal. rh. considerations then ad-
vanccd and the exposition Of the
views therein expressed disclosed my
sense OF the extreme gravity OF the
situation. Setting aside as logically
unfonnded, or practically lnndmissi-
BILE the recognition OF The Cuban In
surgents ns beligercnts, the recogni-
ton OF til" Independence OF Cuba,
neutral Intervention 10 end the war 10y
imposing "A rational compromise be
tween the contestants. Intervention in
favor of one or of the other party and
the forcible annexation of the island.
/ concluded that It was honestly due
TO our friendly relations with Spain
that she should be given u reasonable
chance to realize her expectations OF
reform To which she had become ir-
revocably committed Within few
weeks previous she had announced
comprehensive plans which IT was con
fideptly asserted would he cihcacious
to remedy the evils 81 deeply affecting
our own country. 30 injurious TO the
true interests uf the iEGther country.
rs well ~ to those oC Cuba. ana so re
pugnnnt to the universal sentiment OF
humanity.
The ensuing nJG:iiis brought little
sign OF real progress In" ani' the
paciiicaJion OF Cuba. III" autonomous
administration set up IN III. capital
and some Of thc principal cities ap-
pcared nor tu gain the favor Of the in
habitan,s nor 10 b. able To extend
their innu nee to the large extent Of
territory held by the insurgents, while
the military arm. obviously unable to
cope with the sim active rebellion.
continued many OF the most objection
able and offensive policies of the gov
erninent thai had preceded H. No
tangible relief was afforded the vast
numbers uf unhappy reconcentradoes
despite the reiterated professions made
In that regard. and the amount appro-
priated hy Spain to that end. The
proffered eSpedient of zones OF culti-
walton proved illusory: indeed. no less
practical nor more dclusire promises
OF succor could well have been ten
dercd 10 the exhausted and destitute
people. stripped OF all that made life
and home dear and herded In a strange
region among unsympatheiic strang.
crs hardly less neccssitous than them
selves
BY the end of December the mortal
ity among them had frightfully in
creased Conservative estimates from
Spanish sources placed the deaths
among these distressed people ut over
40 per cent. from the time General
Weyler's decree OF RECOMMENDATION
was enforced. With the acquiescence
Of the Spanish authorities a scheme
was adopted for relief by charitable
contributions raised In this country
and distributed under the direction of
the consul general and the several
consuls by noble and earnest individu-
al effort through the organized agen-
cies OF the American Red Cross. Thou
sands OF lives were thus saved. but
many thousands more were inaccessi-
BILE to such form of aid.
The war continued ON the old foot
ing without comprehensive plan. de-
vcloping only the same spasmodic en-
counters barren OF strategic result.
that had marked the course of the
earlier ten years rebellion. IA well as
the present insurrection from its start
No alternative save physical exhaus.
tion of either combatant and there
withal the practical ruin Of the island
lay in sight. but how far distant no
one could venture to conjecture.
Destruction of the Maine.
At this juncture. on the 10Th of Feb
ruary last. occurred the destruction OF
the battleship Maine. while rightfully'
lying in tbe harbor of Havana on n
mission OF International courtesy and
good will. u catastrophe the suspicious
nature and horror of which stirred the
nations heart profoundly. 1t is n
striking evidence OF the poisc and
sturdy good sense distinguishing our
national character that this shocking
blow. falling upon generous people.
already deeply touched by preceding
events In Cuba. did not move them to