The Camden chronicle. (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981, April 15, 1898, Image 1
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