V i li kS JL. : JL. JUL.' f V : H n It kef .. ' JS VOL. XV. ST. HELENS, OREGON, FRIDAY, APIUL 15, 1898. NO. 17. FOR CUBA LIBRE President's Message in the Cause of Hu manity. ARMED INTERVENTION ASKED pain' Armlstlc Users Bspnrtsd t Without Rseonsatandatlen Ilseogal : tloa of Cuban Indepsadea Declared , tw Ho Unwarranted and Inexpedient. President MuKhiley Mumlxy vent the fdlowlng luessitga to tbe congreM of the United Status: Obedient to that precept of the constl tut Ion which command the prealdunt to give from time to time the congress In formation of the atate of the Union and to recommend to ita consideration euch meaiurea aa he ahall judg necessary and einerilent, It become my duty now to addrvaa your body with Mtard to the grav condition that ha arisen In the relation of the United State and Spain, by raon of the warfare that for more than three year haa raced In the neigh boring Island of Cuba. I do ao because ol the Intimate connection of the Cuban question with the atate of our Union, and because of the grave relatione which the oourae which la Incumbent upon the nation to adopt mut need bear to the tra ditional polley of our government, If It la to accord with the precept laid down by the founder of the republic and ro Itgtouely observed by succeeding admlnln trattona to the present day. Tat Cnbaa Hevolailoa. The preeenl revolution la but the auo cessor of other almllar Insurrections which have occurred In Cuba againat the do minion of Hpoln. titendtng over a period of nearly half a century, each of which, during Ita progress, haa i subjected tlie United States lo groat effort and expenae In enforcing Ita neutrality lawa, caud normoua los to American trade and commerce, caused Irritation, annoyance and dlaturbar.ee among our cltlsens, and by the exerclea of -cruel, barbaroua and uncivilised practice of warfare, ahoclted the sensibilities and offended the humane sympalhtrs of our people. Since the preaent revolution began, In February, !, till country haa aeen the fertile domain at our threshold ravaged by fir and aword In the courae of a struggle unequuled In the history of the island, and rarely paralleled aa to the number of the combatant and the bitter ness of the content by any revolution of modern time, where a dependent people atrivtng to be free hnve hvrn opposed by the power of the aoverelgn atate. Our people have beheld a, once prosporou community reduced to comparative want, Ita commerce virtually paralyaed, It ex ceptional productiveness diminished, It fields laid waste, II a mill In rulna and It peoplo perishing by ten of thousand from hunger and destitution. Dmiisi Americas Interests, W have felt ourselves constrained. In the observance of that strict neutrality which our law enjoin and which the law of nations command, to polio our own water and watch our own seaports In prevention of any unlawful act In aid of Cuba. Our trd h suffered; the capi tal Invested by our cltlsen In Cuba has been largely lost, and the temper and for bears nee .of our people have been o sorely tried as to beget a perilous unrest among our own cltlsen. which ha Inevl tebly followed It expresilon from time to time In the national legislature so that Issues wholly external to our body poll tie engross attention and stand In the way of more close devotion to domesllo ad vancement that becomea a self-contented commonwealth, whose primal maxim ha been the avoidance of all foreign en tanglement. All this must need awaken and ha Indeed aroused the utmost con cern on the part of this government aa well during my predecessors aa Dur ing my own administration. A Previous Kffort to Restore) Peace. In April, 18D6, the evlla from which our country suffered through the Cuban war became so enormous that my predecessor made an effort to bring about peace through the mediation of the government In any way that might tend to an honor able adjustment of the contest between Spain and her revolting colony on the ba il of some effnctlv aohome of self government for Cuba, under tha flag and sovereignty of Spain. It failed, through the refusal of the Spanish gov ernment then In power to consider any form of mediation or Indeed any plan ' of settlement which did not begin with ' tha actual aubmlsalon of tha Insurgents to the mother country and then only on uh term as Spain herself might sea fit to grant. Wlr's Inhuman Policy. The war continued unabated. The re sistance of Insurgent wa In no wiae diminished. The effort of Spain were In creased, both by the dispatch of fresh levies to Cuba and by addition to the horrors of the strife. The new and in human phase, happily unprecedented in the modern history of civilised Christian people, the policy of devastation and con centration, inaugurated by the captain general's ban of October 21, 1866, in the province of Plnar del Rio, was thence extended 10 embrace all of the island to which the power of the Spaniards was bis to reach by occupation or by mili tary operations. The peasantry, includ ing all dwelling In the open agricultural Interior, were driven Into the garrisoned town or Isolated plaoea held by the Span ; Ish troops. The raising of provisions of all kind wa interdicted. Field were laid waste, dwellings unroofed and fired, mills destroyed, and, In short, everything that cou.u desolate the land and render It Unfit for human habitation or upport waa commanded by one or the other con tending partlea and executed- by all the powera at their disposal. By the time the preaent admlnlHtrntton took office a year ngo, reconcentratlon so called had been effective Over ths but ter part of four central and western prov luces. Santa Clara, Matanaas, Havana and plnar del Bio. The agricultural pop ulation, to the estimated number of J00, m or more,, was herded within the towns and their Immediate vicinity, deprived of all means of support, rendered destitute of sholter, left poorly clad and exposed to the most unsatisfactory condition. Buffering of lleeonoeulradoe, Aa tho scarcity of food Increased with the devastation of the dcpcoplod areas of production, destitution and want became mUcry and starvation. Month by month the death rt increased In alarming ra tlo, and by March, 18l, according lo con. servatlv estlmatca from official Spanish sources, the mortality among the recon centrndoa from starvation enri in hi.. eassa thereto Incident exceeded M per centum oi tne total n urn her. No practical relief was accorded to ths destitute. The overburdened towns, alr.a.iv a,,rr...-i, 1 from ths general dearth, could give no aia. no-called sones of cultivation, estab fished within the ImmMllsts r Ive military control, about the citle and fortified enmps, proved Illusory aa a rem edy for the suffering. The unfortunates, being for the most nsrt .nm.ii nA i,n dren, With aged and helpless, - 'eoieu iiy Disease sna nunger, couiu not hVS tiller! Ihs anil nftthw, Innl. mAa or shelter, for their own support or for tne supply or the cities. Reconcentrutlon adopted avowedly as a war measure, to cut off the resource nf the Insurgents, worked Its predestined re sult. Aa 1 said In my message of last December. It was not civilised warfare: It was extermination, and the only peace It could beget waa that of the wlldernaa and the griive. Progress of the War, Meanwhile the military situation In the Island has undergone a noticeable change. The extraordinary activity that charac terised the second year of the war. when the Insurgents Invaded sven the hitherto unharmed fields of Plnar del Rio and car ried havoc and destitution up to the walla of the city of Havana Itself, had relapsed Into a dogged struggle In the central and eastern provinces. The Spanish army re gained a measure of control In Plnar del Klo and parts of Havana, but under the existing condition of ths rural country, without Immediate Improvement of their productive situation. Even thjs partial ly restricted, the revolutionists held their own, and their submission, put forward by Spain as the essential and sols basis of peace, seemed as far distant as at the outset. In this state of affair my ad ministration round itseir confronted with the grave problem of Ita duty. My mes sage of last December reviewed the sit uation and detailed the atens taken with a view of relieving the acutenesa and opening the way to some form of hon- t orabl settlement. , gagasls's Vain Promises. Tfe ...aa.ln.tlnfi nf IV.- 1m. minis ter, Canovaa, led to a change of govern ment In flnsln! The former administra tion, which pledged subjugation without concession, gave place to that of a more liberal party; committed long In advance u m nnllntf nf ..fnrm Invnlvtntr (ha wirier principle of hem rule for Cuba and Porto KIC0. The overturea of thla government made ltiM..-li l nam mv.V fAtiiml Wftftd- ford, and loklng to an Immediate effective amelioration of the condition of the Inland, although not accepted to tne cs t.i, nt AmttA -mediation In any shnoe. were met by aasurancea that home rule In an advanced phase should be forthwith offered to Cuba, without walling for the war to end, and that more humane meth od should thenceforth prevail In the con- luct or nosiintiee. inntrtHnialtv wtth theaa declarations the ...irhmMit nf Knalll continued and completed the policy already begun by Ita predecensor of testifying friendly re gard for thl nation by raleaslng Ameri can cltlaens held under ons charge or a.kA MwinwMl wtth the Insurrection. so that, by the end of November, not a ilngle person enlltleo in any way to our , lattonal protection remaineu in a npauwu prison. The Relief Move-mewl. Ti'hilatheaa neaotls tlons were In progress tho Increasing destitution of the unfor tun. racnncentradoa and the alarming mortality among them claimed earnest at tention. Tbe auccess which had attended the limited measure of relief extended to the ufferlng American cltlsena among them by the Judicious expenditure, through the consular agencies, of the money appropriated expromsly for their succor by tho Joint resolution approved May M, HOT, prompted the humane ex tension of a similar scheme to that great i i.. -. .....mM A aiiB-oreattun to this end wa acquiesced In by the Spanish au thorities. On the Mth of December I caused to be Issuca an appeal 10 me American people, Inviting contributions In mnn.v or In kind for ths succor of th tnrvlng sufferers In Cuba. Following tnta, on in sin oi jimrjr, - aimii.i. niihtlc announcement of the formation of a central Cuban relief com mittee, which had hoadquartera In New Xork cliy, composes oi bivuium. . resenting the national Red Cross and th religious and business; elements of the community. The efforts of that com mittee have been untiring and have accom plished much. Arrangements for free transportation to Cuba have greatly aided the charitable work. The president of the American Red Cross and representative of other contributory organisations have generally visited Cuba and co-operated with the consul-general and the local authorities to make effective distribution of th relief collected through the effort of th central committee. Near ly $300,000 In money end aupplleo ha reached the ufferer. and more to forth, coming. The aupplies are admitted duty free, an transportation to the Interior ha been arranged o that th relief at Brat necessarily conflned to Havana and the larger citle U now extended through most, If not all, of the towns where suf frin exlHta. Thousand of lives have already been saved. The neoeesity ior a cnongo . -dltlon of the reconoontrados Is recognised . a.., a.... luK niariinip)llf Wit nlll m Dy uia pyRines. few day past th orders of General Wey- ler have heen revoaeo, m dos are, it Is said, to be permitted to re turn to their homes, and aided to resume the self-supporting pursuits of peace; pub lic works have been atarted to give them employment, and a sum of KOO.OUQ haa been appropriated for their relief. -. . Spain's Cause Hopeless. . ';: ; Th war In Cuba I of such a nature that, short of subjugation or extermlna- . . mtntnev viotorv for the other ide'eeems Impracticable. The alternative Ilea In tne pnysicm nuunm. ...... .... or the other party, or perhaps both, a oon- Kini. i.i .ita .nded the 10 years' U111UII wiiiv" ... " ' " --- " - - war by the truce of Zan Jon. The pros pect of U0n a pruirsuuuH v ion of th present trlfa 1 a contingency , ji.. . t.. -nntemniated with equa nimity by the civilised world, and leaat of all by the untteu ouiibs, objected a w are deeply and Intimately by It very existence. ' ; An OHor of Mediation. Realising this, It appeared to be my duty, In a spirit of true friendliness, no . oln nnM ... tha PlllianS. WhO lesD IU ....... ' , - have so much to lose by ths prolongation of the struggle, to seen m .rum """ an Immediate termination of the war. To .4.1. I -nl.mlt lr.it nn the 27th Ultimo. as a result of much ropresentatlon and correspondence tnrougn ins uuuw n'" minister st Madrid, proposition to the Spanish government looking to an armls tio until October 1, for th eroUtlon of peace with th good offices of the president. In addition, I asked tho Immediate revo cation of the order of reconcentrutlon, so as to permit the people to return to their farms and ths needy to be relieved with 6 revisions and supplies by the United lnte, co-operating with the Spanish authorities ao a to afford full relief. The reply of the Spanish cabinet was re ceived on the night of the list ultimo. It offers as th means to bring about peace In Cuba to confide the preparation there of to the Insular department, lnasmn OS the concurrence "f that body would be necessary to establish a tlnal result, It being however understood that the powers reserved by the constitution to the central government are not lessened or di minished. Aa th Cuban parliament does not meet until the 4th of May next, the Spanish government would not object, for Us part, to accept at once a suspension of hostilities if asked for by the Insur gents through tho general-ln-chlf, to whom It would pertain In such cases to determine the duration and condition of tha armistice. The proposition submitted by General Woodford and tho reply of the Spanish government wer both In the form of brief memoranda, the texts of which ere before mentioned and subslantlally in th laiieMia above glvon. The function ot the Cuban puninment In th matter of "preparing" peace and the manner of do ing so are not explained In the Spanish memorandum, but from General Wood ford's explanatory report of preliminary discussion preceding the final conference It i understood that the Spanish govern ment stands ready to give the insular congress full power to settle th terms of peace with the Insurgents, whether by di rect negotiation or Indirectly by means of leglxlatton does not appear. With this last overture In the direction of Immedi ate peace and It disappointing reception by Spain, the executive wa brought to th end of hi effort. ,, Reroataltlasi Not Warraated. In my annual message of December last I said: "Of th untried measures there remain Recognition of th Insurgents a bellig erents, recognition of th independence of Cuba and intervention to end the war by Imposing a rational compromise between the contestants, or Intervention in favor of one or the other party. I apeak not of forcible annexation, for that cannot be thought of. That, by our code of mor ality, would be criminal aggression." Thereupon I reviewed these alternatives in the light of President -Grant menus se in th word uttered in 'lira, when after several years of sanguinary, destructive and cruet barbarltlea In Cuba, he reached the conclusion that th recognition of the Independence of Cuba was Impracticable and Indefensible, and that the recognition of belligerence was not warranted by ths fact according to the text of publio law. I commented especially upon that phase of the question, pointing out th incon veniences and positive dangers of recogni tion of belligerence, which, while adding to the already onerous burdens of neu trality without our own Jurisdiction, could not In any way extend our influence or effective offices In th territory of hostili ties. Nothing ha sine occurred to change my view in this regard, and I recognise aa fully now a then that the Issuance of a proclamation of neutrality, by which process the so-called recognition of bellig erency Is published, could, of Itself and unattended by other action, accomplish nothing toward the one end for which we labor, th Instant pacification of Cuba, and the ceaaatlon of th misery that afflicts the Island. , A Freetseat Cited. ' Turning to the question of recognising at this time th Independence of the pies nt Insurgent government In Cuba, w llnd safe precedent In our history from an early day. They ere well summed up In President Jackson' measag to con gress December 21, 1KW, on th subject of the recognition of the Independence of Teas. He said: "In all the contest! that have arisen out of the revolution of France, out of th dispute rotating to Portugal and Spain, out of th separation of the Amer ican possessions of both from the Eu ropean government, and out of the nu merous and constantly recurring strug gles for dominion In Spanish-American countries, so wisely consistent with Just principles ha been tho action of our government that wa have under the most critical circumstance avoided all censure and encountered no other evil than that produced by a transient estrangement of good will In those against whom we hav been, by fore of evidence, com pelled to decide. "It haa thua been made known to the world that the uniform policy and practice of th United State I to avoid all Inter ference In dispute which merely relate to the Internal government of other na tion, and eventually to recognise the au thority of th prevailing party without ref erence to our particular Interest and view or to th merit of the original controversy. But in UiIb, a In every other occasion, safety I to be found In a rigid adherence to these principles. In the contest between Spain and the revolt ing colonies) we stood aloof and waited not only until tho ability of the new atate to protect themoelvea wo fully estab lished, but until the chanc of their being again subjugated had entirely passed away. Then, and1 not until then, were they recognised. Such wa our course in regard to Mexico herself. It la true that with regard to Texas the civil authorities of Mexico had been expelled, ita Invading army defeated, the chief of the republic hltr-ielt captured, and all present power to control th newly organised govern ment of Texas annihilated within It con fine. But, on the other hand, there Is. In appearance at least, an Immense dispar ity of physical force on the side of Texas. The Mexican republic again Is rallying Ita forces under a new leader and menacing a fresh invasion to recover Its lost do main. . "Upon the Issue of thl threatened In vasion, the Independence of Texaa may be considered a suspended, and were there nothing peculiar In the relation be tween the United States and Texas, our acknowledgment of its Independence at auch a crisis could scarcely be regarded as consistent with the prudent reserve with which w have hitherto held our selves bound to treat all similar ques- ''Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceeded to consider the risk that there might be Imputed to the United States motives of eelflsh Interest In view of the former claim on our part to the territory of Texas, and of the avowed purpose of th Texana In aeeking recognition of Inde pendence aa an incident to the Incorpora tion of Texa In th Union, concluding thus! - ' , "Prudence, therefore, seem to dletat that wa should stand aloof and maintain our present attitude, tf not until Mexico itself or one of th great power shall recognise th Independence of the new government, at leaat until th lapse of time or the course of events shall hav proved beyond cavil or dispute the ability of tha people of that country to maintain their aeparat sovereignty and to uphold the government constituted by them. Neither of th contending partlea oah Justly complain of this oourse. By pur suing It w are but carrying out the long established policy of our government, a policy which ha eoured to us respect and Influence abroad and inspired confi dence at home." These are the words of Andrew Jackaon. They are evidence that th United State. In addition to the test Imposed by pub lio law a tha condition of ths recognition of tho Independence of a neutral state, to wit, that ths revolted atate shall "con stitute In fact a body politic, having a government In substance as well as in name, possessed of the elements of sta bility," and forming de facto "if left to Itself a state among the nation, rea sonably capable of discharging ths duties of a state, has Imposed for Its own gov ernance In dealing with caees like these, the further condition that recognition of an Independent state Is not due to a re volted dependency until the danger of It being again lubjugated by the parent stat ha entirely passed sway." This ex treme test wa, In fact, applied in the case of Texa. Th congress to whom President Jack on referred tho question as one probably leading to war, and therefor an appropri ate subject for a "previous understanding with that body by whom war can alone be declared, and by whom ell the provis ion for stietalnlttg Its perils must be fur nished, left the matter of recognition of Texas to the discretion of the executive, providing merely for th sending of diplo matic agent when th president vhould be (atlsfied that the republic of Texa bod become n "Independent itats." It w so recognised by President Van Buren, who eommlselaoned a charge d'af faires -March 7, pan, after Mexico had abandoned an attempt to conquer the Texa territory, and then there wa at the time no bona fide contest going on be tween tho insurgent province and Its for mer sovereign. . - Coba Not Rightly a State.; I said In my message of December last: "It is to be seriously considered whether the Cuban government possesses beyond dispute the attributes of statehood, which alone can demand th recognition of bel ligerency. In its favor." i: The same requirement must certainly be no less seriously considered when the graver Issue of recognising Independence I In question, for no lens positive, test can be applied to the greater act than to the lesser, while on the other hand the Influences and consequence of the strug gle depending upon the Internal policy of the recognizing state, which form Impor tant factora when the recognition of bel ligerency i concerned, ar secondary If not rightly eiimlnable factors when the real question I whether the community claiming recognition 1 or is not independ ent beyond peradventure. Recognition Inexpedient. ' Nor from the standpoint of expedience do I think It would be wise or prudent for this government to recognise at the preseJit time the independence of the so called Cuban republic Such recognition I not necessary In order to enable the United State to Intervene and pacify the Island. To commit thl country now to the recogniti6n of any particular govern ment in Cuba might subject us to em barrassing conditions of Interest obliga tion toward the organisation so recog nized. In case of Intervention, our con duct will be subject to the approval or disapproval' of such government. - We would be required to submit to Its direc tion and to assume to It the mere rela tion of a friendly ally. When It shall appear hereafter that there I within the island a government capable of per forming the duties and discharging the functions of a nation, and having, a a matter of fact, the proper forma and at tribute of nationality, such government can be promptly and readily recognised and the relations and Interest of the United States with such nation adjusted. Possible Alternative. - There remain the alternative form of Intervention to end the war, each a an Impartial neutrality, by Imposing a ra tional compromise between th contest ants or as the active ally of the one party or th other. A to th first. It is not to be forgotten that during the -last few months the attitude of , the United States has virtually been one of friendly Intervention In many way, each not of Itself conclusive, but all tend ing to the exertion of a potential Influ ence toward an ultimate pacific result. Just and honorable to all interests con cerned. The spirit of all our act hither to ha been an earnest, unselfish desire for peace and prosperity In Cuba, untar nished y difference between the United State and Spain and unstained by the blood of American citixen. Tho forcible Intervention of the United State a a neu tral to stop the war according to- the large dictates of humanity and following the hlstorioal precedent wherein - the United State ha Interfered to check th hope lee sacrifice of life by Internecine conflict beyond their borders, Is Justifi able on national groundn. It involves, however, hostile constraint upon both par tlea to the contest, as well as to enforce a truce as to end the eventual settle ment. The grounds for such Iniarventton may be briefly summarised as follows: First In the cause of humanity and to put an end to the barbarities, bloodshed, starvation and horrible mlaeriea now ex isting there and which the parties to the conflict are either unable or unwilling to stop or mitigate. It Is no answer to say this is all In another country, belonging to another nation, and Is therefore none of our business. It Is explicitly our doty, for It is right at our door. Second We owe It to our cltlaens In Cuba to afford them that protection and Indemnity for lite and property which1 no government there can or will afford, and to that end terminate the condition that deprive them of legal protection. Third The right to intervene may be justified by the very serious Injury toj th commerce, trade and business of our peo ple and by th wanton destruction of prop erty and devastation of the Island. Fourth And which 1 of foremost im portance, the condition of affairs in Cuba la a constant menace to our peace, and entail upon thl government enormous ex. pense. With such a conflict waged for years in an Island ao near us and with which our people have such trade and business relations when th live and liberty, of our cltlsen are In constant danger, their property destroyed and themselve ruined when our trading vessels ar liable to set, urs and are seised at our very door by war ships of a foreign nation, the expeditions of filibustering that we are powerless to prevent altogether, and the irritating ques tions and entanglements thus arising all these and others are a constant menace to our peaoe and tend to keep us on a war footing with that nation with which we are at peace. . : The Mains Incident. Thes elements of danger and disorder already pointed out have been strikingly Illustrated by a tragic event which ha deeply and justly moved th American people: I have already transmitted to con gress the report of the naval court of In quiry on the destruction of the battle-ship Mnln In the harbor of Havana during the night of the 16th of February. The de struction of that noble vessel ha filled the national heart with inexpressible hor ror; 268 brave sailors and marines and officers of our navy, reposing In the fan oied security of a friendly harbor have been hurled to death. Grief and want are brought to their home and sorrow to the nation. , The naval court of Inquiry, which, it Is needless to say, commands tbe unqualified confidence of th government, wa unan imous In It conclusion that th destruc tion of the Main wa caused by an ex terior explosion, and also by a submarine mine. It did not aseume to place th re sponsibility. That remains to be fixed. In sny event, the destruction of the Maine, by whatever exterior cause, Is a patent and impressive proof of a state of things In Cuba that Is Intolerable. That condition is thus shown to b such that the Spanish government cannot assure safety and se curity t a vessel of the American navy In th harbor of Havana on a mission f page, and rightfully reference in thl con nection I made to recent diplomatic cor respondence, A dispatch from our minister to Spain of tha 20th ultimo contained that the Spanish minister for foreign affairs as sured him positively that Spain will do all that the highest honor and Justice re quire In ths matter of the Maine. Th reply also referred to of th 31st ultimo also contained an expression of the readiness of Spain to submit to arbi tration all the difference which can arise in this matter, which Is subsequently ex plained by the note of the Spanish minis ter at Washington of the 10th Inst., aa fpllows: "A to the question of fact which springs from the diversified views between representatives of the American and the Spanish boards, Spain proposes that tha fact be ascertained by an Impartial In vestigation by experts, which decision Spain accepts In advance. To this I have made no reply." " Another Precedent President Grant, In 176, In discussing the purposes of the Cuban contest as it then appeared, and the bopeles and apparent indefinite prolongation of such event, said: "I am of the opinion that other nations will be compelled to assume the responsi bility which devolves upon them, and to seriously consider the only remaining measure possible mediation and Inter vention. Owing, perhaps, to the large ex panse of water separating the Island from the peninsula, the contending parties ap pear to have within themselves no depos itory of common confldenc to suggest wisdom when passion and excitement have their sway, and thus assume the part of peacemaker," In this view in the early days of the eon test the good offices of the United States as the mediator were tendered in good faith without any selfish purpose In the interest of humanity and sincere friend ship for both parties, but were at the tlm declined by Spain with the declaration nevertheless, that at a future time trTey would be Indispensable. No Intimation hat been received that In the opinion of Spain that that time has been reached: yet the strife continues with all Ita dread horrorr and its Injures to the United States and other notions. Each party seems quite capable of working great Injury and dam age to the other as well as to all the rela tion and Interest dependent on the exist ence of peace In the island: but they seem Incapable of reaching any agreement, and both have thus far failed of achieving and success whereby one party shall pos ses and control the Island to the exclu sion of the other. Under the circumstances the agency of other, either by mediation or by Inter vention, seem io be the only alternative which must sooner or later be Involved for the termination of the strife, In the last annual message of my Im mediate predecessor during the pending struggle. It waa said: "When the Inability of Spain to deal successfully with the insurrection has be come manifest, and ft demonstrated that her sovereignty to extinct in Cuba, for all purpose of its rightful existence, and when a hopeles struggle for its re-establish men t has degenerated Into the strife which means nothing more than the use less sacrifice of human life and th utter destruction of th very subject-matter of the conflict, a situation will b presented In which our obligations to the sovereignty of Spain will be superseded by higher ob ligations which we can hardly hesitate to recognise and discharge." In my annual message to congress De cember last, speaking to thla question, I said: "The near- future will demonstrate whether the Indispensable condition of a righteous peace, Just alike to the Cubans and Spain, as well aa equitable to all our Interests, so Intimately Involved In the welfare of Cuba, is likely to be attained. If not, other action by the United States will remain to be taken; when that time comes the action will be determined In the line if Indisputable right of duty; It will be faced without misgiving or hesitancy in the Itgltt of the obligation this govern ment owes to itself, to the people who con fided the protection of their Interests and honor and to humanity. "Sure of the right, keplng free from all offense ourselves, actuated by upright and patriotic considerations, moved neith er by passion nor selfishness, the govern, ment will continue Its watchful care over the rights and property of American cits sens, and will abate none of Its -efforts to bring about by peaceful agencies a peace which shali be honorable and endur ing. If It shah hereafter appear to be a duty Imposed by our obligations to our selves, ' to civilisation and to humanity to intervene with force. It shall be without fault cn our part and only because the necessity foi such action will be so clear ss to (.on-r.iiiiKl the support and approval of the civilised world." . ., Intervention the Only Howe. The long trial ha proved that tit ob ject for which Spain haa . waged war cannot be attained. The fire of Insur rection may flame or may smolder with varying seasons, but It haa not been and It i plain that It cannot be extinguished by present methods. The only hope of re lief and repose from a condition which cannot longer be endured la the enforced pacification of Cuba. ' In the name of humanity. In tha name of civilisation, fn behalf of endangered American Interests, which give ua the right and the duty to speak and to act, the war In Cuba must stop; In view of these facts, and these considerations. 1 ask congress to authorise and empower the president to take measures to se cure a full termination of hostilities be tween the government of Spain and the people of Cuba, and to secure In the Island the establishment of a stable gov ernment capable of maintaining, order and observing Ita International obliga tion, Insuring peace and tranquillity and the security of Ita cltlsena as - well as our own, and to use the military and naval force of the United Btatea as may be necessary for these purposes and In the Interest of humanity, and to aid In preserving th lives of the starving peo ple of the Island I recommend that the distribution of food and supplies be con tinued and that an appropriation be made out of the publio treasury to supple ment the charity of our citizen. The issue I now with congress; It I a solemn responsibility; I have exhausted every effort to relieve the intolerable con dition of affair whtch is at our door. Prepared to execute every obligation Im posed upon me by the constitution and law, I await your action. y Spain's Last Snhterlase. Yesterday and since the preparation of the foregoing message, official information waa received by me that the latest decree of the queen regent of Spain directs Gen eral Blanco, In order to prepare and facil itate peace, to proclaim a suspension of hostilities, ths duration and details of which have not yet been communicated to me. This fact with every other point In consideration will, I am sure, have your careful and just attention In the solemn deliberations upon which you are about to enter. If this measure attains a successful result, then our aspirations as j a Christian, peace-loving people will be realised; If It falls. It will he only another justification for our contemplated action. william Mckinley. Eieoutlv Mansion, Washington. April U, It--. AN ARMISTICE. Th Queen Regent I. sues Aaotne Decree. Washington, April 11. President MeKinley received a cablegram flora Minister Woodford, at Madrid last night, announcing that tha Spanish government had granted an Armistice (or Cuba. In making this announce ment, Mr. Woodford, conveyed it a a piece of new in wnlch this country was vitally interested, but not as an offi cial communication from the Spanish government to this government. Nona tbe leas it conveyed the essential (act that Spain had conceded what the pow er and the pope bad been urging npon her tor many days, and that the con cession dispelled for tbe moment the darkness of the war clouds and brought in their stead what was regarded as at least hope of a peaceful solution of the pending difficulty. , The receipt of this news has not, however, resulted in any change of tho administration's programme telat ing to sending the message to congress. Ths Situation Complicated. The exact terms of the armistice are felt to be the most essential feature of Spain's concessions. At tbe outset, it waa supposed to be an unconditional grant of armistice. Later, however, tbe press advice from Madrid and London stated conditions of a material character. If these conditions prove to be accurate, they will doubtless complicate tbe situation here and leave the crisis quite as acute as it has been at any time heretofore. A cabinet officer said recently that the adminis tration had never considered tbe propo sition of withdraw!), the American Beet from Key West, and while this was some days ago, it :s not believed now that such s proposition would meet with any serious consideration. Tbe fact that Spain has granted this armistice as tbe result of influence exerted by the great powers of Europe and the pope, leads to much conjec ture as to bow far the material influ ences of the powers vill be given in support of fipain, now that she ha yielded to their earnest solicitation. It has been understood thus far that the movement of the powera was purely disinterested and neutral, but the press dispatches from abroad indicate, that Spain's yielding to those Conti nental influences had established a closer bond than had hitherto existed. Assistant Secretary Day was non committal tonight on the armitsice granted by Spain, and refused to dis cuss it or the bearing it would have on the situation in any way. Arasistlee Spanish Trleh. . Washington, April ll.Senor Que sada, the diplomatic representative of the Cuban insurgents in this city, when asked today what he thought of tbe Spanish armistice, said: "It is only a Spanish trick. They want to put ns before the American people in the altitude of being unrea sonable, but we do not believe the American people will so consider us, for we think they know it is a last effort to force some kind of Spanish home rule on ; us. We have fought three years for independence; we know this ia a Spanish trick and we will not give in now." .. LEAVING FOR HOME. Americans Jeerea by Spaniards as ths ;;. Party JLef Havana. ' Key West, April 11. "Tell the Oli vette to get under way at once, Captain Cowles, - signal tbe Baobe that tha United States fleet is ready to clew out of Havana, and please follow tbe Baohe out." - ''.'- ' These were the words of Consul General Lee at 5:45 yesterday, as he stood on the poop with a group around him. ' It was evident that General Lea intended to be the last to leave, and a murmur of applause went around in support of his intention. The Evelyn had already passed Morro cootie when the Olivette weighed anchor. Tha Baohe was close behind, and the Fern waa the last of the line. - ' : The wharves and boats on both sides of the narrow entrance to the harbor were crowded with Spaniards, who hissed and jeered as each boat passed out. ' " As the Fern rounded the heads for the open sea, she passed , the Maine wreck. The group on deck had been laughing and talking, expressing their satisfaction at leaving Havanaa, With one accord each man doSed his hat in salute to the brave dead, while silence fell on all for the space of several min utes. ... General Lee, being on board the fern, made that boat a target - for re doubled hisses, groans, catcalls and whistles from the crowds on shore. "Wet out, Yankee swine," was about the most modest expression nsed. This seemed to strike everyone on board as ludicrous, Vice-Consul Springer, who bad been in the island 80 years, waved his bat to a particu larly abusive group, Buying in tones loud enough for all to hear: "Wait, wait, my friends; we shall all be back soon." There was one pretty incident. On the Cabanas shore a British sleamer was unloading at her wharf. As tbe Fern passed, the union jack was' dipped, while tbe English ?rew gave a hearty cheer. It is needless to say that the compliment was returned with all pos sible gusto. Colored Troop Btart South. Helena, Mont., April , 12 the Twenty-fifth United States Infantry, which has been stationed iu Montana for the last 10 years, left today for its new post at Chickamanga. That por tion stationed at Missoula left via the Northern Pacific, while the troops at Fort Harrison and ABsinaboine went ovei the Great Korthorn. The regi ment will consolidate at St. Paul, from where it will proceed sou th., and be iq leadincag. - -- WAR SIGNS INCREASE Our Relations With Havana Severed. LEE HAS BEEN RECALLED Joint Hots by th Power Received War Feeling Bun High la Madrid Official Circles. Washington, April 0-There is no longer any doubt as to the purpose of this government with, respect, fthe' situation in Cuba. . War, in tbe 'opin ion of tiie administration, is inevita ble, except in the unlocked for event of the surrender on the part of Spain. The president's message, which he had intended to send to congress, bag not been changed in sny particular what ever, and embodies the unanimous views of the cabinet, without the slightest variance or excerpt. " A movement to avert war now must come from Madrid, and must concede Amer ican demands,- including an end to Spain's dominion in Cuba. . The features stand out plainly in the developments of today. At noon to day, the six great powers of Europe, through their representatives here, called at the White House and present ed to President McKinley a joint note, expressing argent hope for a peaceful adjustment between the United States and Spain, to which the president re plied with nnmiBtakable plainness as to the duties and unselfish efforts of this government to terminate the pres ent situation in Cuba. Revering Relatione With Havana. Another, and probably the most sig nificant straw showing the finality reached by the United States govern ment, was the authoritative statemoiit that Consul-Qeneral Lee would leave Havana Saturday. This step, it is known, will be regarded by .Spain as akin to an overt act' preceding war, as it will terminate the medium of official intercourse between the United States and the island. Third, and almost equally import ant, was the ominous tones of press ad vices from Madrid, where the war fuel ing seems to dominate. Instead of concessions, the opening of prison doors, and the other manifestations of peace and good will which Holy Thurs day was expected to bring forth, and the more definite announcement of ac tion that would bring peace to Cuba, the heavy guard about Minister Wood ford's house, tho imperative character of the semi-official note, tbe war utter ance of Minister Correa and the turbu lence at the Spanish capital, left little hope that pacific counsels would pre vail. No negotiations are proceeding at Madrid on the part of this government, but the powera of Europe ate doing their utmost to persuade the Spanish government to yield and avert war. On the highest authority it can be stated that no instructions have been given as yet to Minister Woodford con templating his withdrawal, tbe only step in that direction being the deter mination that General Lee shall leave Havana today. ' Th Koto of ths Fowers. J The note of the European powers presented to tbe president today, has not, in the opinion of members of the administration, changed the situation in tbe slightest degree. What pressure was brought to bear in this mildly ex pressed hope that further negotiations would result in the maintenance of peace, is not known, but it is confident ly believed that it ia the result of per sistence on the part of Spain ior some expression of peace between the two countries. The note is not regarded in any sense as a protest against the course this . government has pursued thus far or is likely to adopt to secure a stable government in Cuba. Some of the governments represented in the note are known to be in full accord-with this government in its pur poses with respect to the Cuban ques tiou and therefore any theory that the note was intended as a remonstrance is not regarded as tenable. .The reply of this government, which had previously been read and approved by members of the cabinet, in not con sidered as indicating any change in the fixed purpose of the president to inter vene in Cuba at onoe, nor is it believed it was the expectation of the majority of the foreign representatives present that the United State should change its policy or regard the joint note-as other than an expression in behalf of peace and withont significance. Mediation Will Not He Accepter!, So far as known in administration circles no further representations on the subject are expected. No offer of mediation on the part of the European powers has been received, and there is gome authority for the statement that none will be accepted if proffered. This has been the fixed policy from the first, and there is no prospect of a change in this regard. . At the embassies and legations, the presentation of the joint note of the powers was rgarded aa the event of the day. An ambassador from one ol the great powers of continental Europe stated that it was without a parallel in history. That it waa the first and only time that six great nations, represent ing in the aggregate tiie powers of co nization, had united in thla solemn manner to secure the ponce of the no' i !. This was, this authority staled, a move ment historical in character and ot o fitting to .have occurred in tbe advits. of the 30th contury. ' Madrid, April 8. Fi ( Byw.l-'i man-of-war will leave Ca1t imn.5t taly for the Cape Wrda i. .'."i.