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CUBA HAS BEEN DEVASTATED. Destruction of the "Maine" Proof of an Intolerable Condition in Cuba, . * i Q NOT CIVILIZED WARFARE. t I Asks Congress (o (Jive Him Pern or to Stop the AVnr In Cuba, and Koconi tncrulfl That 1 1? o Ilcllof Measures Be, Contlnucd--lf Neccssary, llo WbiiIb tlio t*60 of the IftilHary and Naval l?orce?. Tho following: is a full text of tho Presidents message us sent to Con gross on tbo 11 tli, roviowiug tbo volu tions between tbo United Statos ami Spain: Obedient to tho precept of tbo con stitution which commands tbo Prosi dqnt to civo from titno to time to tho pougreuR, information of tho state of the Union, and to recommend to: their consideration such measures us ho shall judge necessary and expedient, it be . comes qiy duty. now to address your body with rogard to the grave crisis that has atiften in the " relations of the United States to Spain by reason of tho warfuro that for more tbau throo year*. baa raged in the neighboring isl and of Cuba, I do so becauso of tho in ^ timaie connection of tho Cuban quos with ti^ state of our owu Union, and the grate relation that the course which it is now incumbent upon the na tion to adopt must needs bear to tho traditional policy of our government, if it is to accord with tho precepts laid down by tho founders of the republic and religiously observed by succeeding administrations to the a aaee prosperous eotmnuafty redaoed f?; comparative want, iU lucrative oom HIM! ^frtwdly p erely?*4, Mft tmp present day. PThq pmont revolution is but the sue ^ceeeor of other similar insurrection* .which havo occurrod iu Cuba ayainst \the dominion of Brain, eltending over a period of nearly half a century, each of which during its progress, has sub jected the Uu^ed States to great effort and expeneo in enforcing its neutrality laws, caused enormous losses to Amer ican trade and commerce, coused irri tation, annoyance and disturbance " <fciaong our citizens, and bv the exeroise -J of cruel, barbarous ami uncivilized practices or warfare, shocked the sensi bilities and offended the human sympa thies of our people. Thf DeVMSllon of Cuba. . Slice the present /evolution began us February, 180.% this country has seen the fertile domain at onr threshold raf* aged by fire and swprd in the oourse of ? etraj&lennsqnsVediii the history of the island, and rarely paralleled as to the number of the oomb*ta&ts end the bitterness ef the Oontest by any revoln t&onof moderd timesT whereadepeed eat people, striving to be free, hftve ... been opposed by the power of the aov citizen*, which has inevitably found its expro&siou from tuiio to time' in the na tioual Legislature, no that issues wholly ?xternal to our own bO lv poli tic engross attention ami stand in the way of that close devotion to domestic advancement that become* a sidt con tained Commonwealth whoso t?vimo maxim liw been tho avo'nlanou ;.f all forei&n eSauglemeutsL. Aii thin tnn t needs awaken and tins, indeed. aroused tho utmost ooncern on the part of this government,- as wo! I during my prede cessor's term as in my own. Mr. < lowland's OllVr It ejected by Spain. In April, 1805, tho evils from which our oouutry suffered though tit e tu ban war booamo sq onerous that >uy predecessor 111 ado nn eflort to bring about poa^e 'through the mediation of thih^goYtinmeut m ; ny way tliut uiig'it tejitt to an honorable ailjustmei.t of tuo eontoat between hpain and her vo vol ted Oniony, Q\x tho basin of some effective schomo of self-goveriituont ior Cuba nuder the flap nnd sovereignty of Spain. It faded, through tho refusal of the Spanish government then in power to cousuler any form of media tion, or indeed, auy plan of settlement whioh did not hegiu with the actual submission of tho insurgents to too rnothor country, and then * i n 1 \? on t>.,. terms as Spain liorseif mfght seo Ut to grant. The war continued unabated. 1 he resistance of tho insurgent* M as in no wise dimiuished. Spain's Kflorts Increased. The efforts of Spain were increased, both by the dispatoh of fresh levies and [ by tho addition to the horrors of tho strife of a new and Inhuman phase, happily unprecedented in tho modern I story of civilized Christian pooplos. Ihe policy of devastation and concen tration inaugurated byGonoral Blanco, on October ijl, 18UU, in tho province of Pinar del Rio, was thence extended to embrace all of tho island to which tho Uowefc of the Spanish arms was a bio to resoh by occupation or by military op eration. Tho peasantry, including all dwelling in tho open agricultural in terior, wore driven into the garrison towns or isolated places held by troops. The raising aud moving of povisions of all kinds wore interdicted. Tho fields wero laid wasto, dwelliugs unroofed and fired, mills destroyed, and in short everything that could desolate tho land and render it unfit for human habita tion or support wu9 coipmauded bv ono or the other of the contending partios, and exocutod by all tho powers at their . disposal. Tho Horrors of Jteconcentration. By the time tho present administra tion took ofiico a \-car ago, reconceutra tion, so callod, had been made effectivo over tho bettor part of tho four central and western provinces, Santa Clara, iVIatanzas, Havana and Pinar del Rio. ? The agricultural population, to the es timated number of 300,000 or inoro, was herded within tho towns or their immediate vicing, deprived of the means of support, rendered destitute of | shelter, loft poorly clad and exposed to tho most unsanitary conditions. As tho scarcity of food increased with tho de vastation of the ^depopulated areas of production, destitution and want, be came misery and starvation. Idonth by month the death rato increased in an , alarmiug ratio. By March, 1S97, ac cording to consorvativo estimates from ; official Spauish sources, tho mortality among tho reconccntrados, from star vation and diseases thereto incident, exceeded 00 per cent, of their total mini ? bor. No practical relief wdis accorded to the destitute. Tho over-burdened tow us, nlrendj- suffering from tho gen eral dearth, could givo no aid. So siaiUod "zones of cultivation" establish ed ttlthin the immediate area of effect ive militavy control about thecitios and fortitioatiotas proved illusory for tho suffering, vl'lie unfortunates, being for the most part women and children, i with aged /*ud helpless men, enfeebled by disease and hunger, could not havo tilled tho soil, without tools, seed or shelter for their own support or for'tlio \ supply of tho cities. Bcconcontration, adopted avowedly as a war measure in order to cut off the resources of the in surgents, worked its {u'cdestiucd re sult. As I said in my message of last I December, it was not civilized warfuro; it wus extermination. Tho only peace it could beget was that of tho wilder ness and the grave. Suonquest of the Insurgents Sectnctl Distant. Meanwhile, tho military situation in the island had undorgoue a noticeablo cliango. The extraordinary activity I that characterized tho second year ?? the war, when the linsnrgents invaded even the hitherto unharmed Holds of Pinar del Bio aud carried havoc and destruction up to the walls of tho city of Havana itself, lia I relapnod into a dogged struggle in the central and eastern provinces. Tho Spanish arms regained a measure of control in Pinar del Rio and parts of Havann, but under the exciting conditions of the rural country, without improvement of their productive situation, /ftveu thus par tially restricted, tho revolutionists held their owu and their conquost and sub-, mission, put forward by Spain as the essential and sole ' basis of pcaco, ? seemed ** far distant as at the outset. The Problem Confronting the Ad iniolntrntion. k In tbis state of affairs ray adminis tion found itself confronted mtk fbo of its duty. My mes sage of last Occember reviewed the sit uation, *od narrated the/fete i>b takeu with a riow of relievingylts acutonssH and opening tlie way u> somo form of hotioratri* iettlemeuL/ Tbe assassina tion Of fbe Prime Jfitiieter, Ctnovas, lad to a cbfcnge of goilromeotin Spain. Tb^ormeknaminuUmkionj rld2?-i to *ubfcgettotN4tilb6ut t oonceeeion, w plaee to IkM or a te<W- liberal party, eoaailM long inadvaaoe to a policy of reform involving tbe wider princi ple of home rule fo* Cuba and Puerto Bioo. Tbe orertaree of this gortra toeai? lajft tbroagb ita new envoy. hold under ouo charge or another con neded with the insurrection, so that, by the cud of November, not a single | erson entitled in auy way to tun na tioual protection remained iu ft Spanish prison. * Inauguration of It ol 1 1* f Mca?uip.H, While these negotiations wore in progress, the destitution of the nntor* tunato, roconceutradoi ** n<l tho ahum iutf mortal i ty among them claimed eat nest attention. Tho success which hat\ attended the limited measure of relief okteuded to tho Buttering Auibii can citizeus amoug them, by tno judi cious expenditure through the consular agencies of tho money appropriated ex pressly frtV their succor l? v the joint resolution appvoved May 21, prompted the humane oxiensiou of a similar schei^o of aid to tho groat body of sufferers. A surest ion to thi* eud was acquiesced in. l>y the Hpauish authorities. On the 'Jith of Do Comber last 1 caused to l>e i?sue<\an api eal to the American people, iuviting contributions iu money or in kind for the. succor of tho starving Mitterers in Cuba, following this on tho 8th of Jan uary by a similar publio announcement of the formation of a cent rat Cuban re lief committee with headquarters in Now York city, composed of three members representing tho American National P?-' Cross and the religious and business olemonts ot vLo c : *11 nih ility. Tho oftorts of that commit toe have been untiring aud have accom plished much. Arrangements for free transportation to Cuba liavo greatly aided tho charitable work. Tho proax lieut of tho American Red Cross and representatives of other contributory organizations havo generously visited Cuba and co-opoiaie i with tho consul poncral and tho loo-il authorities to make ofleetivo distribution of tho roliof coHooted through the eftorts of the ?> central committee. Nearly $200tp0i> in money and supplies has already roach od the sufterers and moro is forthcom ing. Tho supplies arc admitted duty free, and transportation to tho inte rior has been arranged fo that the re lief, at first necessarily confiued to Ha* vaua aud tho larger citioa, is uow ex tended through most if not alli>f tuo largor towns where suffering exists, Thousaadt* of lives havo already been saved. The necessity for a change in the condition of the reeoncentrados is recognized by tho Spanish government. Within a few days past, the orders of Olbnoral W'eyler havo been revoked; tho recoucentrados aro, it is said, to bo permitted to return to their homos, and aided to resume tho self supporting pursuits of peace; public works havo been orderetlko give them employment, and a sum ofcM>00,000 has been appro priated for their relief. Jyft Alternative Not To Ho Counte n an cod. Tho war iu Cuba is of such a naturo that sho t of subjugation or extermina tion a final military victory for either eido seems im practicable. Tlio alterna tive lies in the physical oXhaustion of tho one or the other party 01* perhaps of both, a condition which in eft'oct ended tho ton years', War by the Truco of -Zanjon. ... 1 he -prospect^ of such a conclusion of the present strife is a con tingency hardl3r to be contemplated with equanimity by tho civilized world, and least of all by tho Uhitod States, affected aud injured as wo are, deeply and intimately, by its vory ex istence. Opening of Negotiations With Spain. Realizing this, it appear? to bo my duty, in the si irit of true friendliness, no less to Spaiif" than to tho Cubans, who have so much to lose by the pro longation of tho struggle, to seek to bring about an immediate termination of tho wnr. To this end X submitted, on the 27th ultimo, as a result of much representation aud correspondence through the United States MiniBtor at Madrid, propositions to tho Spanish government, looking to an armistice until October 1, for the negotiation of peace with the good offices of the Pres ident In addition, I asked the immo diate revocation of the order of recon centration, so as to permit the people to return to their farms, aud the needy to be relieved with provisions and sup plies from the United States, oo-oper ating with the Spanish authorities so as to afford full relief. The reply of the Spanish Cabinet was received on the night of tho 81st ultimo. It offers, as the moans to bring about peace iu Cu ba, to confide the preparation thereof to the Insular Parliament, inasmuch as the conourrenco of that bodj* would bo necessary to reach a final result, it be ing, however, understood that tho powers reserved by the couBtitutiou to the central government are not lessoned or diminished. f Aft the Cuban Parlia ment does not meet until the 4th of May, uexf; the Spariinh government, would not object, for its part, to accept at once a suspension of hostilities if asked for by tho insurgents from the general-in-chief, to whom it would pertain, iu such case, to determine the duration and conditions of the armistice. Brought to the Kndof II U KflTort. The propositions submitted by Gen eral Woodford and the reply of i1"* Spanish government wcro both form of a brief memoranda of tbetexu which are before me, and are subatan tialfy in the lanuguag* above given. The fuuction of the Cuban Parliament, in the matter of "pr*P*riog" pea<te and the manner of ita doing no are no* ex pressed in the Spanish memorandum, but from General Woodford's prelim nary reports preoeding the final con ference, it ia understood that the Span ish government stands ready, to give the insular Congress full pewerto set tie the terma of peaee with the insnr* , Rente, whether by direct negotiation of indirectly by means of legislatioa, doea not appear. With tbie last over tor* in the direotton of immediate peace, and ita disappointing reception by Spain, the executive was brought to the end of his effort. Prt side wt Orast Qaoted. In my annual meeeage of December I iaaVl ?aid; - "i>< >hs sstriri? laip ' lhaca ratiXAin ? : Beeoguition #Or inaHwente aa belligereate; recognition of She indapandew ? of X^bat wlsnl tatfrvontton to and the war by impaa lag a rational ooaenromiw betwaan lb* 'WttrtaiiU, and iiftfMwiUu* If ftgwr <**n*ortb*otber? ? ties . lu CUbtt, ho came to tho ! conclusion that^ reoognifliug the independence of (*ula wus lm*1 practicable* and iudetyu Bible, ami that tho recognition of tligeronce was hot warranted hv tliXiHets, ao cording to tho te*i!> of publVlaw. 1 commented especially upon tliV latter aspect of the question, pointing *\it tl.o inconvenience and positive datyarr1* of a recognition of belligerence \Mjich, while adding to tho already onfrous burdens of UGuttality within our own jurisdiction, could not iu any way ex tend our influence or oflcctive ollices in the territory of hostilities. Nothing hau since occurred to change my view iu this regard, and T ivcoguiKo ns fully now as then that the issuance of a pro clamation of neutrality, by which pro cess the so called recognition of bellig cronce i# published, could, of itself and unattended by otlier notion, r.ocompliah nothing* toward the one end for which wo tabor? the instant paoitlcation of Cuba and tho cessation of tho misery that aftocts the island. Precedent of Kecognltlon Turning to tho question of recognis ing at this time the indepcndouce of the presou t insurgent government in Cuba, wo Hud safe precedents in our history froiu an early day, 1 hoy av?? well summed up lu President Jackfou* message to Congress, December yi, 1 t<.uT% t?u tho subject of the lecognition of Texas, llee^d; "lu all tho contents that have arisen out of the revolutions of France, out of tho disputes relating to tho orowns of Portugal and .Spain, out of tho revolutionary move ments of thoso kingdoms out of tho Fopavatiou of the American possessions of both from tho European governments and out of tho numerous and coatantly occurring struggles for dominion in Spanish America, ao wisely consistent witu our just principles ha* been tho action our government, that wo have, under the most critical cir cumstances, avoided all censure and en countered no other evil than that pro duced by a transient estrangement of good will to thoso against whom wo havo beeu by force of evidonco com pelled to decido. It has thus made known to tho world' that tho-unifoim policy and practice of tho \>HltOd States is to avoid all interference in disputos which merely relate to the in ternal government of other nations, and eventually to recojrnizo tho author ity of tho prevailing party, without ret' oreuoo to our particular interests and views, or to tho merits of tno orignal controversy. . . . But 011 this, as on every other trying occasion, natety is to bo found iu a rigid adherence to principle. I11 tho contest between Spain and her revolted colonies wo stood a'oof. and waited, not only until tho ability of tho new Statos to protect themselves was fully established, but until tho dauger of thoir being again subjugated had entirolv passed away. Tneu, and not until then, wero they recn;jnizod. Such was our courso in 10 trard to Moxioo herself. . . . It is trno with regatd to TexaB tho civil on* llioflty of Mexico has beeu expell d, itn invading army defeated, tho chief of tho ropublic captured, and all pres ent j>ower to control the newly organ ized govornment'of Texas annihilated within its confines. Hut, on the other hand there is, in appearance at least, an immenso disparity of physical force" on tho side of Mexico. Tho Mexican ropublio, under another executive, is rallying its forces under a now leader, and monnejng a fresh invasion to ro cover its lost dominion. Upon the issuo of this threatened invasion the inde pendence of lexas may bo eouniderod as suspended, and were there nothing t>couliav iu the relative situution of the United States and Toxas, our acknowl edgement of its indof>endenoe at Mich a crtnis could scarcely bo regarded as consistent with that prudent resorvo with which wo have hitherto held our selves bound to treat all similar queB lions. " I ho Dlctiitco of Prudencc. Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceed ed to conxidor risk that might bo im puted to the United fcitates' motives of selfish interest in , view of the former claim on onr part to the territory of Texa?, and of the avowed purposo of tho Texans in seeking recognition of inde pendence as an inoideut to the incor poration of Texas in the Union; concluding this: "Prudence, tbcro fore, seems to diotate that wo should still stand aloof and main tain our political attitude, if not until Mexico itself, or one of the great for* eign powers shall recognize the inde pendence of tho new government, at f least until tho lapse of time or tbf> course of eveuts shall have proved bo youd cavil or dispute tho ability of tllfc people of that country to maiutain theif separate sovereignty and to uphold the government constituted by th9m. ' Neither of tho contending parties /can justly complain of thia courso. Hy 'pur suing it, we are carrying out tho long established policy which has i/ecured to its respect and influonce a.iroad, and inspired confidence at home." I he TVst Applied in the Case of Textts These are the words of thoresoluto, and patriotic Jackson. They are evi dence that tho Unitod States in addi tion to tho test imposed by public law as the condition of the recognition of indepence by a neutral bta?? tihnli "constitute in fact a body politic, hav ing a goverumout in substance as well as in name, possessed of the olement* of stability, "and forming de facto "if left to itself, a State among thfe nation?, reasonable capable of discharging tho duties of a Htate, " as imposed for* ita own government in , dealiua with cases of independent State hood, is not due to a, revolted dependency. until tbe danger of 4t* !m> Ing again enbjmrated by the . parent Htate baaenlireiy pas?ea away. This ?xtreme teat yfi a in fact applied in the eaae of Tea*. The Congress to whom President Jackson referred tbe ques tion as onaT"probabIy leading* to war, " and tberefrte a proper evbieet for 4,a previons understanding with that body by whoaa war eaa alone be declared, eadbj il?wu ill tfcrTOffljgnCT; jiafafiiTai ^He yerlte be > fur alahed,"Iefl the matter ef the reeojrnf Me? 4ft Ttwio the diawatte* ef the eieealhft (fsndiif ?ftthr for the ae?4ttf ef a?iplometio aim! when tbe PgeeMeel ahoald be aetisfled that the gfgbM-s [ < ulmu libiiricctlnii ami the AllrU bote* of SlHloliootl, 1 said iu mfrSMvue of Docombor last "It is to bo seriotynly OoiiMdeied whether tho rnban insurrection i os fosses, beyond tli-pnlo, tlio attribute* of Statehood, which nlouo * 't\u demand Ihe recognition of holligcrcucy i:i it** favor. " The sjuoo KqunefKOii t can bo O'ltamlv no ios? seriously- eonaidm o I wlu* it tho (jt aver issue of recognizing independence i* ui question, for no loss positive tost oh 11 l?o applied totbft great i o* than t<> tho lesser, whtlo, on tbo other hand, tho mllneiieeft and oonso qu-n oh of tho struggle upon tho in u^itHi policy ??i the reco<rni7tnnf Mate, which form important factors whon tho recognition of huJligoroney is oon cevn c?l. ure secondary, if iiol rightly oliuii* ? liable fa< toiti wlioh tbo teal question io ! whelhor tlio community claiming re cognition is, or is not, in^oj .undent be yond poi adventuro. " Not Wise to liccognl/o Independence Just \o\V. N* r from tho standpoint of c&periicuco do I Monk It would to wit-o or prudent for this government to roeog- i?.e at tlto present time tho Independence of tlio so-called Cuban 10 publl ?. Such recognition in Dot necessary i ft oidor to enable the United Mates to entcr vono and pacify tho Inland. To commit Hits country iimv to tlio rcooualttou of any pur- ] [ tiouhtr Kovt-rninont In uba might subject ha embarrassing condition* of International obligations toward tiio organization no ree o^ni/.od. In oh"o of Intervention our conduct would ho Mihjfot to the approval or dihup prOv al ..?-Mo-h government} WO Would be re (jnircd to submit 10 i'B dlroetlon and to ns sumo to it tho mere relation of a friendly ally, When it shall appear horoaftor " <? there is within the island a government capa ble of performing tho duties and discharging tho function* of n separate nation, and hav ing ii> a matter of fact tlio proper forms* and attributes of nationality, such government ean he promptly and readily rccogniKed, and tho relations and interests of the Unitod Mates with such nation adjusted, Two Alternative*, There remain two alternative forms of In tervention to end the war, either as an im partial neutral, by Im poking a rational Com promise betwoon tho contestants, or as tho active ally ot tho one paity or the other. A? to tho first. It is not to b? forgotten that dur ing tbo last few months, tho relation of tho Piiited States has virtually boon Olio ol friendly intervention In n any ways, each not of i. self eonchtbivo, but ail tootling to thcox erti. n of a potential tnlloonco toward an ul tiiuatu pacific result, jn?t and kouorablo to all inteiosts Concorned, Tbo spirit of all out nets hitherto has boon an earnest, unselfish desire for peace atnl prosperity in Cuba, un tarnished by diftorenceM hetween us and Spain aLf. uuHtaiuV\l by tliobiocdof Ameri cau citizens. I ntervent ion rieeoniinendetl. Tiio foroihio Intervention of tho United Stater- up a neutral, to flop iho war, accord ing to tho lar^o dictates of humanity and fol - lowing many historical procedmits where nei^hoorhiK btatca have Interfered to ehOck tlio liop'eb'Bd saerlflcoa of lifo t>v intotnecine conflicts bt yojd tl eir t?ordcr?, is Jiistilla )e on rationni grounds. It involves, bowe\^r, hobtilo oonstralnt upon lutb the parties t-> the contest, as w< fi to enforce a truce a# to wuido the eventual scttlcoient. The grounds for snob Intervention may be I riefly pnmmarix'-d as follows ; Fr?t-?-lrt tJ|B < U j;a> of hiimanhy lUld to Mil an ? lid to tho barbarities, bloodshed, stjvrva tion ami hoiriblo mirOijes now existing,rtiero, and which the parties to the couljilct nre either ULat-lu oi uuwiiiing to Mop 'Or nilti gate. _ it is no fiuavsjer tosay this iVall in tn otlier country, bulijliglng> to another nation an<l ia,- therefore, none of our business. It Is specially our duty for it jijcht at ourdoors, Bccond? Wo owe it to our citizens In Cuna toafford them that protection and fndomnlty for lllo and property which no govdlnmcnt tf.ere can or will afford, and to that end to terminate the conditions that deprive them of legal orotoction. Third? The right to intervene may he Jus tified by the very serious injury to the com merce, trade and business of our people nnd ny the wanton destruction of property and deva*tati n uf the island. Furtbarrefcrring la tlU? eoaneetlon to re cent dtpfoVli?tlc^4*rrrapondooc?t * dfrpnrch from oar Minister to Hpaln, on tbe 26ib ult.f contAlued th? - M4it?nr.i'x?t llinl the Hpanlsli minister for foreign affaire riMurcl bits i*# ItK-ly that bp*ln win <10 mil tbit the btgb Mt honor and tn* requlr* hi tbe matter of tbe Maine. TIh rtj); eoore referred to of tb? Sim ttldmo. tliu #oatai*?4 an expres sion of tbe readiness of Spain to aubi&it to an arbitration of all tba tfifltrtixM which eaq artea la tbla astuter, vMdrte anbseqtieot ly explained by tba note of tbe Spanish Hid* later at Washington of tbe lOCb bi?i, aa lol -'Jp tn ^ ?* ebtrtr arrir.ga Iron. the (llwinuy bttWFVu U i(r reprteentatiro of tbe iMriraa ?wl fepaaMi board*, i>pM mmh. IM Ik* lac* be aei 1 1 tale ad by MM eatioabygiairtew^eer dee* tea Spain mg* w a?li ? wolr. Fourth*? And which Is of the utmost Im portance, the ptcacut condition of ftlfaifi< in Otil'H Is u ooii^tanl menace to our penw find entails upon tins governiiu'iit an enormous apeiifW. Wi ll ftuoh a conflict nmjjcd f\>r years In an Inland ho nrnr \j3 and with which on r people liuvowch trade aud biiiliitMi re' \ llil'ious- wht-n the liven and liboity of our citizens uro in constant, danger and their property destroyed and Ijnjmie'lvcs ruined; when our trading rensels nn*X|ah|c to ScUuro mikI AroRuM at our vory dooni hy warships of a foreign nation; tlio expeditions of llii Metering that w<? are powerless to proTent altogether, and tlio it Hinting qudponA fl'Kl, ontnngluments thus arl^i'ig-^all thoM) and' others that I need not meution, with the re nulling fettained relations, nro a constant menace to our pence and compel lis to keep on a Hern I war footing with ft nation with which wo ary. at peace, Desiruc lou of t he Maine These elements of danger and disorder, nl -< ready pointed out, have been strikingly hie*, trated t?y a tragio event which has deeply and justly moved the American people. I have already transmitted to Congress the re poit of t.ho naval court of inquiry on tlio de htrueti<Ut of the battle-ship Maine, in thd harbor of Havana, during the night of tlio 15th of February. The destruc tion of that noblo vo sol has llllc<l the national heart with Inexpressible hor ror. Two hundred and llity-eigbt br..ve f-nilors and murine* and two officers of our navy, reposing in the fancied security of a friendly harlior, have been hurled to death, j grief and want brought to their homes and sorrow to the nation. The naval Court of Inquiry, which It Is needless to say, com mands the unqualified confidence of the gov ernment. was unanimous In Its conclUflo i that the destruction of the Maine was cause 1 by a- external exploxlon, that of a sub-ma rine mine. It (lid not n^umn to place the resjIofis.liJUty. 'i'hat remains to be fixed. In uny event the destruction of the Maine, by whatever exterior cause, Is a patent and ox prosstve proof of n Mate ol I nine's In Cuba that is intolerable. * That condition is thus shown to be ruch that the Spanish govo u mcnt cannot assure safety nnd security lo a ve*iw>l of the American navy in tho hatbor of IlnvrtitM on a mhtelou of peace, and rightfully there, . JTo Demand Made.' I ?it? i-f-ufiiMil i, tho contending pnn.ri nppoar ; i to hflvo ffitliiji thoriiaolvcs no ilOpoaitoiy dI ! ci>tii!iiou f i ti ? H- .i'o. lo6Us'gt>?l whoit ! pft**|i n jr ?l ? .v '< hum. | li;?v< their ?wny, nud t.. IIS<UKII' tin- 1 (lit ol I CftCl'-QlukerS. Ill this i k w, la liu) mti hor das s < fi o" content, tlio 'fie?* ol l ho Vmtcd M ati A fl* n modi ?!or woio in k.uod ladli, without; (I ' V .so. : 1 1> pUf| it: O, III fhc iMtoTeid \>f hlUlUIti- | it V.toml In sine, ii luoudtdilp for *?? ?i h | >?) ? i i fill vm I.. ?! Hun ilino tl< olined by Bpnin with ? the il.'.l a rati ?>!., invfi'iiioUvss, t lint Hiii fiilmo tnjio tiny uoiil l io indispensable, No uiti* j II;. ill.. II II I- I i I'll rOt'olYi'd that 111 tllO t> }?! (I I . >1) < f Spain that iiu:i> has nut i.i'iui n iuliti.i, ;\ 1 1 ? I tVM tho .str.i<> oontlimrs wMth nil its tlroiul h r? i >.i>, :tu>t all i.m u.jut .? s t > tlio lutiio.->ts ol tin* Unite! States iimt I i.thcr nations. lliit'h pauy n??t?in!? n iiit* rnnnblp orworklhg gloat ti'jrtfy and daruugo to ll.it other, hi well a - (.> ait tlio relation* a. id du| cndont .>ii tho t-.tl-.t i'Ii co of | <0.1 on iii tlioijvjmiil; hut they mumu in* capable of reaching any adjustment, and both htivo thus far failed of achieving any ^iioi-tvitsi wlio robv Quo pin ty ? ball poHbi>*s initl control the i-I.iutt ;<> hum1 voi us i> mi cl the other. l'n ili>r tho eiron instance*, tho iigeney ofotliera, either !>v modiatl .ii or by Intel vniitlon,soouis i.. imtho only tilt?>rnntlvo which must, sooner oi- lAtor, hi' Invoked lor tho icrii.lmiticn of iho strbe." ."Mr. i lovobuid's I't'cillollon, Jn tliol.'ist minimi moA?ugo of iny luimotll a to jifoilivr*Kor during tho pondini; Mrtigitlo, ii was Mild: " >? hoji tlio inability oi Spain to ileal biioo?'s?tfully with tlio iiiHiiri tu tliui ln?n become mtiiiitojit, and it i,> deni"ii?tnnodvtlint Iter sovereignty is extinct lit <-ul?k for nil ' I purposes tif It* rightful oxlst0uou?<fiiij when i ii h.'i't'li'ss Htnu's'ln for its ro.-c; tablwhniont I htn iloKi iieratoil into a st tifo which moiiaa j not hi iik' more tliiin iho usole-? Miyrlllco i.f ? hiimtin lifo. Hint tbo utter destruction of lliu , vuiy subject mailer of t ho oobllict, a sltiiulhui ! Will bo presented in will h our obllnntlons to tho t-uven ignly of Hpnin will In Miporbeded : l'v hii:hor obligation*, whloh wo cm hardly '<jto lo rooo^iil/.D and dlsOliaigo," llllRtllO I tlllU l.Ullll'? In my annual moa-a^o to CoiiKroas hi l)o? oeinlior last,. H|.oilkliiK to tills qtU'sllon, 1 snid: "Tho near luiiiro will ilcmotistrato whother tho InitlSpOllHIlt'lO OOtnlilloll ol a rl^'llteollM i pea 30, Just allko to tlio Cuoans anil to Hpalii, I art welt a* oquitul'lo to ail our lutnrontB ?o lu> ) tmiiitely -invoh'Oil in tho wol.'aio of Cuha, la . 11 kt ly to bo ii'.tauiofl. If not, tlm oxlp'iieyof I fiirtlinr anil otlier ncMioli hy tlm Unitoil Mates j will remain to ho takon. Whnu that tinio . cuniOH that notion will bo dolorniiuo.t la tlio j lino of ni'iipputal'lo rlyht ami duty. It will i ho laocil, without mlsKiviuK or liositnnoy, la j th'. liKht o! tho oi. Illation thin Kovoruiiiont i o?vr? to r.n'lf, to tho pooplo who havo Oonfldod to it tho protection of their li,toroat3 itud honor and to humanity. I'oaoo b , roaocfiil AgonclM, "Suro ?>f tho rltrlit , keeping from all ofVonco our-elvoi., aetiiatt'd only ?>y U|'rl?ht and pn? 1 tiiotlo oonsldoi allofiy. moved nolllier by pus hli;ti nor solllrthimjif, tuoKovormnont wliloou* , iiouo ltn wa.ehmlneHa aud earo over rights and property of Ann'rlcau eitlzoiirt and will nhato nono of Ha i HorlH to bring ai?uut by J rllnefol llyjonoloi II penoft Which hlUlll 1)0 llOD* orahlo and euduritig. If ii hliail horoaficr i p]X*H i* to h? a duly liiipotcd ny our obligA* tious to ouraoives, to oivilizail.?u and human* lty to mtorvi no with toroo, it shall bo without ft. Hit on our purl and ony^>eOausft tho noeoa hi y f.-r Huvh action w ill bo bo clour at lo oommaiid Iho .-upport and< approval ol tho ej vilizoii wofl.d." Tlio Will* In (.'ubu Must Stop. The long trial Ii/i3 proved tlmt tho object for whioli Spain has watjod tho wor oiinnot 1 " 'dbdnvd. Tho Jtlru. of iof<??rw..M ion mny ffhi'iie or may nmou'dor with vnijjng bohsouh, but it Inf not l.een and it is plain that it can not ho oxtb uuMii'd by juosout methods, Tho r- n ! y hopo of rcllof and reposo from a condi tion which eau nolonpor bo cudiifod is tho on fo rood pacification of Cuhn, Jn tho namo ot humanity, in tlio muiiu <>f civilisation, in behalf of eudantforod Amorlenu intorCbts, which Rivo us the right and tho duty tospeak aud to act, tho war in Cuhn must stop. Ah|c* tfowcr of < 'otj'ji'OS'i. Ill vlow of ttl?'P0 fHCtS ftli'l of these conaid ??rntlnrjB, 1 n^i; tho ConK"'*s to authorizu aiul rmpowur tlio- President to tako measures to ? fO'uK. a full nml final termination of hoMill ( ph Ix'twooii tlio Kovoi?m?nt of Spain nud t|,o j. >?. <>f Cuba, uud to secure lu the island tlio establishment of a Ma Mo govern* mont capable lo maintain order ami observ ing Hs liit< rniil obil^al Iiiiik, onsuiing pence ami tranquility ami I In* fcoih I'v ?<l H* ? ? ! 1 1 v ? ? i . ? ns well a? imrown, and to use tho military and naval feres of tho United .States an r.my bo necessary f.?r these purpose:). Ami in lit" |i?t"'r<'-t of Immunity n?t?l to nM III proi?i?rv1n'g tho 1 1 v?r? of tl.o fct:)rvliij; p.??p|e of 111 o Ih'aiiiI , T recommend iliai tho dli-trllai* I t son of. {coil ami mipplies be continued, and Mint ah nj.pi'oprl illoii l>? mini" ?>ut of the piiMln^'rea-ury to piippluin''iit llio charity of our I'tltiv'ufl. Tlio |**j- m o l-j now wiili Congrejw. It U n goluir.ii. ri?i|ion>ltii)l(y. I liavn exhausted every effort to rot lava ill" inlolcrai ie Condi* tio i of aff il rs which (a a? our doors, l'ro pared to execute every oMi^niion Imposed upon H<o l>y I lie c.ri.-tltuti m arid tho law, 1 Await your aHion. Yesterday, nnd f-iyo th? preparation of tin* forCKoliiK m'.'Sxnji" of oillobil inforniallon was rwelvwl py mo that 1 ti ?? latovt decree of tlio Queen IP'cunt < f K| ain directs (i w erui liianco, in older to prepare and f.icilitat* peace, to proclaim a suspension of hostilities, tho duration nnd details of which have n< >1 yet boon communicated to me. This fact, with every oilior pertinent consideration, will, 1 am sure, Imvo your jm* nnd careful ntton tion, in tlio solemn deliberations^ pon wlilcb you are about to onP-r. If lliU irii-iuiiiru at tales a successful result, then our aspirations as a Christian, peaco-lovlm? peoplo will he realized. If it fail*, It will bo only another pmtjileatlon lor our cont< inplaiod action Wai. -McKiNicv. Executive Mansion, A t> ril 11, Ib'JH. HI-AXCO'.s I'KOUAM ATION For Cessation Hostilities In tho Island of < ithn, <)u 1 lie II tli tlio^lufo Dopartmont rcccivod General lilauco's proclamation ordering u cessation of hostilities in Cuba, which i#? a? follow*: I li? I'roolnmat Ion. For Majesty's jrovo nniont, yielding to tho reitorntod wish exprossod by hit* Holiness tho I'opo, has i >0011 pleaded lo decree that n suspension of hostilities j with the objoct of preparing faculties I for tho re*torstioii of peace on tho 'Ik. laud, lu virtue whereof, 1 bohovo it convenient t?> order: Article 1. "From tho day following. . the receipt of this in each locality, Ike present pro*jJRm?*K?? of hostilities are1 ordered easpendod in n)l territories of tile Inland of C.'nb*.^ The (!r?ili for the- execution <>f the nbove articles will be the object of special instrnetions that/will to com- , mnnicsted to levAfi commander* in cbief of tbe mrmp corps for e*?y sod [prompt e?jrgtttiaii>jMMTnrflinfr tn tho sit. J nation m ctrcnm>tenees ?*?. (hitf ned. ) Bb^ce. . '?'? ? -J > I I?**? ? ? ^ Km 044 ? Tfc# calendar fc* th* [ waijf W^Hijgucuj tUx: MntT-tttktb to? 10 jriWwirr.iiW Alt ISIS HO CUSS. That Honorable Body , Must Now I / ,1^ Declaro War or Peaco. MESSAGE READ AND RFFEttRED. It I.i'fi Coiigrps# yrOtty Much ut ?e?i, lillt If Itt lU?l$>VCd tltO ('l)UI'AQ lndl? i-aiiMi by the rroaldont May Ho F ollo\ve?l. j "'ftj?liingtoo, (Special. )- Tho futuro of tho relations of Iho Unitoc\ States* ! ^ iih Spuia and Cuba now resta with Congress, tlio reniesontativo boil 3' of tho American people. What course tho o loo (oil men composing it will pursuo cannot bo foretold . ,Tho fureigu corn* mitteos ff buth Houhcb Uuw have tiio subject in their eoutrol, ami after duo deliberation will report to tlioir respec tive branches what they consider should l>o tho attitude of tho United .States on tho grave question prosontod. L'arly actum by tho oonimitteos is oxpoctod, but exuotly wheu lt.ui'iy bu.Iooked*for ib not now doter-ittfnftUv. 'i"hu. full re sponsibility of tho suhjeel was v placed upon Congies*, when President Alo Kialoy 011 tho 11th transmitted to il'? oarolully prepared and anxiously awaitoil m OKsuiie relating to our nego tiations with rtpain, as to ?*.'? wnffaro\iu Cuba, and drawing therefrom his pot-/ sonal conclusions aid recou*uoUila tiouw. n ?roused ilk# irrettest interest, ttot ?* canBot be said tb*V il IM I see i??t Willi "*T keWar and !CiryD?(?riiiN|rk?. ?veotwrtttfoe MfW wMaredier. VWVVWVUVl^ WW^ MN No mossngo in rocont years, not ovou iliut of President Cleveland on Venez uela, nor President Harrison on Chile, caiisod each widespread ami intonsu interest, That it did not areata pro found enthusiasm may have been duo to tlto I act. that its main toatuios had been accurately forecasted, or to a <tis appointment nmoug tin. so wJ.vo wanted Cuban iudoi eudouco and uhmediuio re prisal upon .Spam for t)io destruction of tbo Maiuc. Por a long fimo a large majority in both hottsos fftTored recog nition of tho independence of Cuba; for more than two .years ns voiced iu resolutions, passed by CongrosB tho recognition of belligerency has been sought, both of these proposition;- weio antagonize.dju tfyo auoaauijo. . aud con sequently iu thisV regard tue message did not accord. .with tho. majority *.auti? -- mont. Tho message loft OougM|H very much at sea, because of tho disparage' mont in views betweon it aud the ex eoutivo, au obstaclo hard to sujrmount,' unless, a^, now seems jiogiible. Con gress boos its course to lie in accord with the President's recammoudatiofe. ft is genoralV bolieved that the Presi dent iH inclined to intervene with the ariny and navy, had it not bcou lot tho" concluding paragraphs of the document which announced the t latest phase of" diplomatic negotiations. 'J no tiouato commi^co on foreign re lations immedipJMrfy weijt into Mis sion, but reached no definite conciu* eion. " ? - .. .. A declaration. of war was talked of, and a declaration that tbo peoylo of' Cuba should bo free, coupiod with ?U Miorizatiou to tho PjfeMddent to bring .his about by armed intervention, wan AUggestcd. it ib weir known that any proposition advancod will be mei in the Senate with au aiuendmc.it declaring the independence of tho proKent Cu ban government, aud to ro iraiuo a res olution as to carry a majority of tho Henato aud at tho namo time meet-the recommendations of tho President is the result which tho foreign relations committee is trying to secure. The conservative SenatoA also mot in tho afternoon aud determined to oppose any radical meaqyiro, if it should be re ported by the Senate committee oh for eign relations. The temper of the House could uot be accurately determined, hut thore, as in the Senate, the propo sition for Cuban independence has to be met. Any report from the commit too on foroign affairs that does not car ry with it this feature wfll be antagon ized by au amendment, and the pros pects a'ty that nearly all tho democrats and maiiy ltopublicans would favor it. Fffoits have been directed toward ac? tion which will secure the solid support or the itepubtican organization uud K?i publican majority of the House. To this etld tho itepubiicau members of tho Houso committee to ? whom the message was referred wye in confer ence for eome tim?\ Tho Hpauish minister, . ' enor . Polo. . jmainect at jho location, seuding aud receiving many dispatches and con ferring with his advisors. Iff) cabled the entire President'* message to Mad rid, except the historical reference to General Grant's message, Texas, ettJT ? he minister said be ?..u-t decile to make the slightest public allusion to the President's message, as any remarJ& from htm would be consistent jrith his position. It ia known, how r ? r, tbui >*?uor Polo is keenly sensitive to thai language of the message. What ftief feet -will be upon bis services hero la sot known, for no word has jet edfe*. aa to the effect of the mesMure opoa tb* antboritiea at .Madrid. At the other