The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 12, 1898, Page 4

THE N FRANCISCO CALL, TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1898. MESSAGE READ IN CONGRESS Senate and the Recommendation of the President. People in the Galleries Remain Silent—Republicans Applaud the Plea for Intervention. Democra WASHINGTON, dent’s message W to-day the p1 semblage and refer “oreign s absolute April 11.—The Presi- read in the House ence of a vast a d to the Commit- without ¢ 1o demon r disapproval from the crowded galleriea throughout, and at the conclusion of the reading there was a sharp burst of applause from the Republican side when toward the close of the the President said the war in Cu At the con- clus! half the Republi ded & al Dem. fter the message had be referred the House transac District of Columbia busir Pos in tee on There w either ¢ L abc read some a er General Gary and Secre- tary of Agricul.ure Wilson were on the floor just be ore the House convened. As the hands of th pointed to noon the Speaker entered the Hous and the hubb: ceased and the chap- d the divin~ aid in the crisis. clock Immeditedly after the reading of the 1 a contest ttee between the Foreign Relations and arose on iittee on the District of over the right of way, and e the wrangle that followed, to the f on of the eager visitors in s, was slight, Major Pruden, I nt's executive clerk ap- peared in the main aisle bearing the the whispered word passed und the densely packed gallerie: arose, inounced the me ried d wn the aisle with breath- s settled in the envelope reaker himself and Pruden & its the messag the United States, Speaker in clear, di sident of unced the tinet tones. As the reading began the ticking of the clock could have been heard so in tense was the silence. Every ear v strai Many members leaned over on their des with their hands to their ears to better catch the momentous words which fell from the lips of the clerk. The latter read in a loud. clear voice, but in a monotonous tone, with no at- tempt at emph -is or declamation. But the words needed no declamation nt import. * no demonstrations of ap- app al until toward the of the message came the war must stop.” It was 1o add to their pre The > We greeted with a round of applause from about ever rter of the Republican The gz ave no sign. When concluded a scattering from th: Republican outburst side, mingled with a few groans from came the Democratic & le Agair the gal- ing papers to on Foreign Affai action the Hous sideration of Di ne th> Committee and without further ceeded to the con- °t of Columbia busi- Immediately the House was in an uproar. The spe-tators flocked from the galleries and the members retired to the cloak rooms and the lobbles to discu he Speaker was for order. After some District of Columbia busi- ness had been transacted the contested election e of Fairchild vs. Ward, from the hteenth New York Di: trict, was taken up. After two hour: debate the majority report, in favor of Ward, the sitting member, was adopted—138-42. At 4:55 the Hc e Eouts siiomsed. TAKES CHARGE OF TYE POWDER WORKS Sheriff Harrison Takes Charge at Point San Pedro in Behalf of the Government. SAN RAFAEL, April Henry Harrison received this afternoon to take United States Smokeless Powder Works, located at Point San Pedro, about three miles from San Rafael, and to hold the same until the arrival of & United States army official. The in- 11.—Sherifr instructions charge of the structions to the Sheriff were from General R. H. Warfleld and were ur- gent. The Sheriff was to place him- gelf in command and not allow any of the powder to be taken from the works. Baltimore at Yokohama. WASHINGTON, April 11L.—Word reached the Navy Department to-day of the arrival .f the first-class cruiser Baltimore at Yokohama on her way to Hongkong to join the Chinese squad- ron. The Baltimore has aboard a large amount of ammunition and stores for the Asiatic squadron which she trans- shipped at Honolulu. ADVERTISEMENTS. Pears’ Pears’ soap is dried a whole year. That’s why it lasts so. House Hear | | | | | ts Groan. OMMUNICATION WITH GEN. LEE N THE MAINE Representation by the Consul That Americans Were in Danger Caused the Battle=ship to Be Doomed. WASHINGTON, April 11.—The con- sular correspondence with regard to the situation in Cuba, which was trans- mitted to-day, was prepared in re- sponse to resolutions of inquiry adopted by both the House and Senate. The correspondence was prepared for trans- mission to Congress just before the blowing up of the Maine, and having been held since, now includes com- munications up to April 1. The correspondence in part was de- the eat, | WASHINGTO: April 11.—In Senate to-day every available s both on the floor and in the galle was occupied befor Vice-President Hobart's gavel called the Senate to or- | der. In the galleries people had been | waiting for hours, but the arrange- | ments for handling the crowds were so | admirable that not the slightest con- fusion existed. The attendance of Sen- ators was unusually large, and every member of the body in the city was in his seat. Among the visitors on the floor W General Nelson A. Miles, | commander-in-chief of the army. In the diplomatic gallery were Sir Julian Pauncefote, the Austrian Minister and H Constantin Bruun, Minister of Denmark; Mr. Charles F. Adams, First Secretary of the British Lega- | tion, and Miss Adams; Chancellor Boeufve, from the French Legation; | Dr. Yola, Secretary of the Legation of | Guatemala; Mr. J. B. Proda, the Swiss | | Minister, and three attaches of the | Chinese Legation. Several of the gen- | tlemen were accompanied by ladies. | The gallerles presented a brilliant | scene. Many of the ladies were attired {in the most fetching Easter finery, and the handsome display of gowns and bonnets was notable, even in this city | of beautiful dressing. Scarcely had | the Senate been called to order when | Quay of Pennsylvania precipitated the | Cuban question by presenting some pe- titions and making startling comments upon them. He took the strongest ground for immediate and impetuous action. ! “The people of the United States, in my judgment,” said he, “are pretty unanimous that the time for tions upon the Cuban question the present is a case for nei- ther Pope, prelate nor pre ery They believe that further ne mean further time for the concentra- tion ¢ anish naval forces and for g sh preparations for War. hev know that a Spanish tor- pedo flotilla is en route for our shores, mission is hostile, whose only interest can be to destroy our vessels as the Maine was destroyed and slay our sailors as the sailors of the Maine were slain. .y know that on yes- | | terday two Spanish war vessels sailed | westward and will be with us in ten | days. They believe that bloodshed will | be averted or dii.inished bythe prompt | action of our Government, not by de- claring war, but making war in self- | defense before Spain can secure other | further naval or military advantage, | and, perhaps without reason, that de- | lay is largely sought or urged by those interested in the Spanish success or bv those who would market the national honor and m merchandise of the blood and bone Maine: that in- tervention should be armed, immediate and impetuous; that not merely a sta- ble, but a republican form of govern- men should be given the Cubans; that the Spaniards should get out of Cuba. | They should not stand upon the order of their going, but go a: once. For these purposes they believe the army and navy of the United States should be utilized until Cuba is free and the | | Maine is avenged. Believing that the | President is, in his ultimate purpose with the people, I have pleasure in as- suring the Trades League of Philadel- | | phia that I will comply with their re- ques | Even when Quay was speaking, Ma- jor Pruden, the legislative secretary to | | the President, entered the chamber | bearing the long-expected message. He was recognized soon as Quay had concluded, and when he had presented the message the Vice-President imme- | diately laid it before the Senate. In a | | stillness that was almos® breathless | the message was read, the reading oc- cupying forty-two minutes. At the conclusion of the reading there was a | hum of whispered conversation in the galleries, but no demonstration. | |~ Ds of Minnesota, chairman of the | | Foreign Relations Committee, at once | | moved that it be referred to his com- | mittee, and Stewart of Nevada, taking advantage of the opportunity, briefly | |ml(1rfifisvd the Senate in favor of recog- | | nizing the independence of the Cuban insurgents. Without further debate | the message was referred as requested. | | Stewart said that while he did not | |care at this time to discuss the gen-! eral question he desired to submit some | rks bearing upon the message. He sharply criticized the position taken | by the President, saying it seemed evi- | dent to him .(Stewart) that the pro- posed intervention would precipitate what would prove to be a war of con- quest. He hoped there would be no intervention that did not recognize the rights of the Cubans, who had been | | struggling for years for their independ- | ence. He believed we ought not to go! {to Cuba with an armed force unless we | went with the intention of recogniz- | ing the rights and authority of the Cu- | ban Republic officials and of joining | with the insurgents to assist them in | ™ winning their freedom and independ- | ence. Stewart declared that in the | circumstances a war with Spain would | be a war with which the European | | powers would have nothing to do The | Malne disaster alone was in itself an | act of war, and this country would be | | fully justified in proceeding to extreme | measures on that subject. The people, | said Stewart, had put the crime against | | the Maine ahead, in point of considera- tion, of every other feature of the Cu- | ban question, and they would heartily | approve of a war with Spain to wlpeI out the stain upon this country pro- duced by that foul Spanish plot. He insisted that no war ought, however, to be precipitated that did not include the Cuban insurgents as allies to our arms. If this country should recognize the in- dependence of Cuba, the people would applaud the action from the Atlantic to the Pacific, because it would mean the freedom of an oppressed and down- trodden people. Butler of North Carolina, in rising to offer a resolution, said that it was perfectly evident that the message just read did not mean the independence of Cuba_for which the patriots of the is- land haq been sq long struegling, “The | tional bonor gemands, | be voted to the Maine disaster and some important and interesting points are developed. The correspondence con- sists largely of cablegrams exchanged by Assistant Secretary of State Day and Consul General Lee. The first of the telegrams is dated in Havana, Jan- uary 12 and relates to the riots which were then occurring in the city. This and the subsequent telegrams upon the same subject have been published either in whole or in part. On January 24 General Lee was no- tified by the State Department that the Maine was to call at Havana in a day or two and was directed to make ar- rangements for an interchange of friendly calls between officers and au- thorities. Under the same date General Lee ad- vised a postponement of the Maine's visit for six or seven days so that the excitement might ebate. Later in the same day Mr. l.es was advised that the Maine would arrive in Havana the next day and was asked to co-operate with the authorities for her friendly visit. Wiring next day General Lee In- formed the State Department that the Spanish authorities professed to think the United States had an ulterior pur- pose in sending the ship. “They say il will obstruct autonromy, produce excitement and probably a demonstration. They ask that it be not done until they can get instructions from Madrid, and say that if it is in- tended for friendly motives, as claimed, delay is unimportant.” The telegrams from January 25 to February 4 relate merely to the recep- tion of the Maine and the exchange of sits between her officers and the naval and civil authorities in Havana. On February 4 Assistant Secretary Day informed General Lee that the Secretary of the Navy thought it im- prudent, for sanitary reasons, to keep the Maine long in Havana. He asked if some vessel had been kept there all the time ai.d requested his views. In reply General Lee said he thought there would be no danger to the health of the vessel's crew before May. Lee further said: ‘We should not relinquish position of peaceful control of the situation or the conditions will be worse than if the ves- sel had never been sent. Americans are departing with their families in haste on account of the distrust of the preservation of order by authorities. If another riot occurs it will be against the Governor-General and autonomy, but it might include an anti-American demonstration also. A first-class bat- tleship should replace the present one to serve as an object lesson and to counteract the Spanish opinion of our navy, and it should have a torpedo- beat with it to preserve communication with the admiral. The next telegram of importance was sent by General Lee early on the morn- ing of February 16, announcing to the State Department the destruction of the Maine. That telegram has been published. During the forty-eight hours that followed General Lee kept the de- partment informed of the occurrences in chronological ¢rder. In a dispatch of February 28 he said after the divers under Captain Sigsbee had made a cursory amination of the wreck: “The Spanish Government would like to unite with ours in having the bottom of the ship and harbor in the vicinity jointly examined.” The next day Day informed Lee that his Government had already consti- tuted an investigation of the disaster, which would be conducted indepen- dently. He added, however: “Thig Government will afford every facility it can to the Spanish authorities in whatever investigation they may see fit to make on their part.” The first intimation of the cause of the explosion was given by General Lee on February 22, when he telegraphed: “‘Copper cylinders of ammunition found intact in 10-inch forward magazine starboard side this morning. Seems to show that magazine has not exploded. Evidence is beginning to prove an ex plosion on the port side by a torpedo General Lee informed the department on February 28 that arrangement had been conducted for both Govern- ments to conduct independent investi- gations of the disaster. His corre- spondence with General Blanco is transmitted in full. In concluding his letter to Blanco General Lee said: “I am quite sure that neither Government has any other object except to ascer- tain all the facts connected with the explosion of the Maine and that the great desire of both Governments is to proceed harmoniously with the work."” At this point correspendence between General Lee and the State Department concerning the Maine disaster abruptly terminates so far as the report sub- mitted to Congress is concerned. General Lee inclosed in this commu- nication an editorial from the Diario de la Marina, which vigorously de- nounced the “seditious tumult” of the day before as a victory for Gomez and the enemies of Spain. On the same day he also sent to the department some statistics about the mortality in Santa Clara, showing that while thers were 5489 deaths In that town in the | seven years previous to 1897, which in- cluded 1487 in one year from an epi- demic of yellow fever, there were in 1897, owing to the concentration order, 6910 deaths out of a total population of 14,000. The death rate increased monthly from 78 in January, the month before the concentration order went into effect, until December, when there | were 14,000 deaths. On January 12, 13, 14 and 15 General Lee sent brief cablegrams to the de- partment with regard to the rioting and the demonstrations against auton- omy and Blanco and the four news- paper offices. January 14 he said some of the rioters “threatened to go to the United States Consulate.” “Ships,” he said, “are not needed, but may be later. If Americans are in danger ships should move promptly for Havana. ncertainty and excitement widespread.” The rioting ceased the next day and General Lee reported all quiet. | On the 18th General Lee sent a dis-| patch marked confldential regarding the rioting. It was: Sir—The recent disorders in this city | are primarily attributed to a group of Spanish officers who were incensed at | articles appearing in three of the news- | pavers of Havatia, El Reconcentrado, | La_ Discusion and El Diario de la Ma- | rina. The first was very pronounced ainst General Wevler and his meth- | ods; La Discusion had been suppressed | by Weyler, but publication was - | mitted to be resumed by Blanco, and | the last had been an anti-Spanish or- | gan, but had been converted by the present authorities to autonomy. It is| probable that the Spanish officers were as provoked by the denunciation of Weyler in the columns of one of these papers and determined to stop it, and | afterward being supported by them, | turned the demonstration into an anti- | autonomistic affair. * * * | 1 send to-day an analysis of the au-| tonomistic plan. The intense opposition | to it on the part of the Spaniards arises | from the fact that the first appoint ments of officers to put into effect its provisions was made generally outside | of their party in order to show the | Cubans in arms that autonomy was | absolutely for their benefit and protec- | (] R The intelligent Spaniards see no pri perity in the future, but rather otherw and more confusion, in the me old at tempts to make the waters of commerce flow in unnatural channels. The lower Spanish classes have nothing in mind when autonomy is mentioned except | Cuban local rule, hence their opposition. | L e FITZHUGH LEE. e CORRESPONDENCE OF CONSULS ON THE HORRORS IN CUBA WASHINGTON, April 11.—The com- munications included in General Lee's report make about 65,000 words. The report covers the communications of Consul-General Lee at Havana; Con- sul McGars at Cienfugas, Consul Brice at Matanzas, Consul Hyatt at Santiago de Cuba and Consul Barker at Sagua la Grande. They deal largely with the distress and suffering which exist in all the districts, but General Lee reports quite fully upon the decrees of the Government with regard to auto- nomy and other political phases of the situation. In preparing the correspondence for transmission to Congress considerable portions of the important communica- tlons, and especially those marked “confidential,”” are omitted. The reso- lutions to which they are the response asked only for such correspondence as it was deemed not incompatible with the public itnerest to make public. General Lee's correspondence runs ovar the pe- riod from November 17, 1895, to April, 18¢8. Much of the correspondence is of a confidential nature, and of some of the important communications excerpts only are given. A dispatch from General Lee contains General Blanco's order, under date of November 13, repealing or rather modify- ing General Weyler's order of concentra- tion, which has heretofore been published by the press. This order was made short- ly after General Lee returned to Havana from the United States last fall. General Lee in this communication also enclosed the proclamation of J. M. Rodriguez, Major-General in charge of the western department of the Cuban military oper-- ations, addressed to the Cuban people and informing them of the “firm resolution” of the insurgent army to continue fight- ing until the attainment of absolute in- dependence. It was on November 23 that Consul-General Lee made his first report to the Department of State on the condi- tion of affairs in Cuba. It is as follows: ‘nited States Consulate General, Havana, Nov. 23—Sir: 1 have the honor to briefly sub- mit a statement of what appears to be the present condition of affairs,in this island. First—The insurgents will' not accept au- tonomy. Second—A large majority of the Spanish sub- jects, who have commercial and business fn- terests and own property here, will not ac- cept autonomy, prefer annexation to the United States rather than an independent re- public or genuine autonomy and the Spanish ag. Third—The Spanish authorities are sincere in dolng all in their power to encourage, pro- tect and promote the grinding of sugar. The grinding season commences in December. Fourth—The insurgent leaders have given in- structions to prevent grinding wherever it can done, because by diminishing the export of sugar the Spanish revenues are decreased. It will be very difficult for the Spanish authori- ties to prevent cane burning, because one man at night can start a fire which will burn hun- dreds of acres, just as a single individual could light a prairle by throwing a match into the dry grass. Fifth—1_am confident that General Blanco and_General Pando, his chief of staff, as well as Dr. Congosto, Secretary General, with all of whom I have had conversations, are per- fectly conscientious in their desire to relieve the distress of those suffering from the effects of Weyler's reconcentration order, but, unfor- tunately, they have not the means fo carry out such benevolent purposes. * * * In this city matters are assuming better shape under charitable commissions, etc.; large numbers are now cared for and fed by private subscription. * * © I witnessed many terrible scenes and saw some die while I was present. I am told Gen- eral Blanco will ‘give $100,000 to the rellst fund. November 27 General Lee sent to the department the communications of two gentlemen, whose names he says are suppressed for obvious reasons, but whom he knows personally, as standing high in the community, concerning the conditions in Los Fosos (the ditches), in Havana. The communication says, among other things: *“Four hundred and xty women and children, thrown on the round, heaped pell-mell as_animals, some in a dying’ condition, others sick others dead, without the slightest clean- liness or the least help, not able to give water to the thirsty, without religious or social help, all dying wherever chance laid them.” The communication goes on to state that the deaths among these reconcen- trados averaged forty or fifty dally, and that on an average there were but ten days of life for each person. It says that these unhappy creatures received food only after having been eight days in the ditches, during which time they were obliged to subsist upon the bad food which the dying had refused. Some horrible instances of distress witnessed are given. January 8, General Lee makes the fol- lowing report: I have the honor to state, as a matter of public inte that the reconcentrados act of General Weyler, formerly Governor General of this island, ‘transformed about 400,000 self-sup- porting people, principally women and chil- dren, into a multitude to be sustained by the rnnmhuflans by others or to die of starvation or of fever, resulting from a low physical con- dition and being massed in large bodles, with- out change of clothing and without food. Their homes were burned, their flelds and plantations destroyed and their livestock driven away or destroyed. T estimate that probably 200,0000¢ the rural population in the province of Pinar del Rio, Havana, Matanzas and Santa Clara have died of starvation from resultant causes and the deaths of whole families almost simulta- neously, or within a few davs of each other, and of mothers praying for their children to bé relieved of their horrible sufferings by death are not the least of the many pitiable scenes Which were ever present. In the provinces of Puerto Principe and Santiago de Cuba, where the ‘reconcentrado order” could mot be en- forced the great mass of the people are self- SUppOrting. A daily average of 10 cents' worth of food to 20,000 would be an expenditure of $2000 per , of course the most humane efforts u part of our citizens cannot hope to accomplish such a gigantic relief, and & great portion of these people will have ‘to be lhu'r-dnnpd to their fate. Under date of December 18, General Lee sent a communication to the depart- ment recommending measures for rellef of the reconcentrados. In the portion given out General Lee says: I see no effect of the governmental distribu- tlon to the reconcentrados. 1 am informed that only $12.500 in Spanish silver has been dedicated to the Havana Province out of the $100.000 said to have been set aside for the purpose of relieving them on the island, and that reports from all parts of the province show ARMISTICE PLAN NOW PROCEEDS It Remains to Be Seen if the Insurgents Will Accept. ‘One Havana Newspaper Admits That Many Think That Pres- ‘ ident McKinley Has Won a Victory. pose of consulting with him regarding the volunteer reserve movement. | HAVANA, April 11.—La Lucha, with | e e | regard to }h'e edict of susggilgggm}‘l::::: FEARS THE ATTITUDE | tilities, says: Diplomacy S OF HER OWN AHMY. |1y triumphed, though it is impossible | | Military Element of Spain Strongly to appreciate up to now which side is | victor. Many Americans and Spaniards Opposes the Armistice and Threatens Demonstrations. think that victory has been won by; McKinley. In Madrid the triumph is| LONDON, April 12.—A dispatch ta | the Daily Mail from Biarritz, dated given to Spain, because she yields, not | to the demands of McKinley, but to the Monday, says: The Spanish Govern- ment has stopped thousands of tele- | demands of the great powers and the | Pope. 1If the rebels do not accept th‘e | sti : imposi- be'the dereated one] since Heiarrogated || EXaUt Smaritalice Was /CECRECLIEL | to himself the role of protector, but he tlnnqp wmf R emetor v Haknd e shoxl\flnlln h'fl e !lifh;s u‘smu place. The news caused very deep im- | maste: elfish motives. - [ DE eonn :fmfherl the rebels will accept pressions all over Spain, especially In rmistice. It is evident tha 2 S e lisnyematies || OnEly oD TORed Stiie T aiceT Ul overnment has tr’-en extraordinary precautions in Madrid and the proe vinces, fearing rioting and demonstra« been sought by the United States. Under the circumstances it will be an tions and chiefly fearing the attitude of the army. -— immense advantage if the rebels refuse an armistice, for the McKinley Govern- RUSSIA IS NOW AFTER KINCHOW. ment will be defeated because it desired Contends That Disturbances Make It eace and no war. o Eiceu;ienam Lucian Prieto of the ArTOoyo Necessary to Extend the Area of the Leased Land. Granada battalion has left Blanco, Sancti Spiritus, and has joined LONDON, April 12.—The Peking cor- respondent of the Times says: The Rus- the rebels. He unad charge of furuish- ing goods to the hospital and barracks sians contend that the disturbances be- tween Russians and Chinese at Kinchow of Arroyo Blanco. necessitate the immediate inclusion of Virgillo Lovez, under secretary of the general government, returned yester- Kinchow within the area leased by China to Russia. day to Manzanillo. He 1s accom- panied by Ramirez, and made propasals The Empress dowager has signified her intention to give an audience to Prince for the surrender of Parditas in the Henry of Prussia. east. They will go back to repeat their SR EXISTENCE OF A roposals. VAST CONSPIRACY. Generals Pando, Jimlnez, Castellano Plotters at Shanghai at Work and 1 Fuentes arrived to-day from Pu- 21?((0 Principe. As soon as Lieutenant- Lives of Some of the Most Noted People in Danger. General Pando landed I asked hl&n about the armistice. He replied: “T know nothing.” He also declined to LONDON, April 1L—A dispatch to the Daily News from Shanghai says: The existence of a formidable conspiracy in talk about his campaign. A petard was exploded at the build- the imperial palace has been discovered and the lives of some of the highest peo- ing of the Civil Governor of Matanzas last night, and later another explosion ple in the empire are in danger. Progres- sive Manchus are indignant at the vir- occurred in the Plaza de Armas. Somg persons have been arrested. Nobody tual sale of China to Russia by the Em- peror’s Chinese advisers, ““:‘I?xi:’:j‘;{::}';lrez, a colonel in the last INTENDS TO GRANT ; COMPLETE AUTONOMY. | Copyrighted, 1898, by James Gordon Bennett. | war, visited General Pando. The lat- ter showed him two letters, one signed by Masso and the other by Mendez Capote. The writers stated that they were absolutely sure the American Government would recognize Cuban in- ependence. S ]tealtad battalion attacked 200 insur- gents who were entrenched behind the San Rafael hills, near Tapaste. ~The fire lasted two hours, after which the rebels withdrew, 1-aving their wounded . Two Spanish soldiers were ¥ {and dead. Lo eon . Ranchuelo and| LONDON, April 12.—The Berlin cor- | o Sse de las Lajas, a small rebel |respondent of the Standard says: The | band was surprised. The Spanish troops impression prevails that the Queen that 50 per cent have already died and that many of those left will dle, and most of these are women and children.’* * * I am in- formed an order has been issued in some parts of the fslands suspending the disposition to reconcentrados. The condition of those peo- ple is simply terrible. I hear of much suffering in the Spanish hospitals for want of food. I hear also that the Spanish merchants in some parts of the i @ placing their establish- ments in the name of forelgners to avoid ha ing their provisions purchased on credit by the military administration. In some parts of the fsland," I am told, there is scarcely an for soldiers and citizens, and that even cats are used for_food purposes, selling for 30 cents aplece. It is a fair Inference to draw from existing conditions that it is not possible for the Governor-General to relleve the present situation with the means at his disposal. * * * December 14 General Lee sent another communication that the total number of reconcentrados in Havana Province will reach 150,000 and that the death rate from starvation alone will be over 50 per cen For the relief of these people, he says, $12,500 in silver had been set aside, ‘'sd that if every dollar appropriated reached them, the distribution wiil amount to about 17 cents to a person, which, of course, would be rapidly exhausted, and as I can hear of no further succor be- ing afforded, it is easy to perceive wha’ little practical relief has taken place in the condition of these poor people.” December 20 Lee makes the first com- munication_about the new scheme of au- tonomy. He says that he has been in- formed that the authorities are engaged in forming an autonomistic Cabinet, ar- ranging for the members to take the re- quired oath on January 1, and “also for an election thirty days thereafter.” General Lee acknowledges the receipt of President McKinley's calling upon the people of the United States to make charitable contributions for the relief of the distress in Cuba. Other telegrams follow during the next few days as to the class of contribution, with a view of relieving the suffering. Conditions existing in the various pro inces are covered by the reports of con- suls. Here is a specimen of all of them, From the province of Santa Clara Consul Barker writes on March 24: When Spain will admit defeat, no mortal, in my humble judgment, dare predict. That her plan of settlément, autonomy, is a tallure s not to be questioned.” Pending ‘this admission on her part, thousands of human beings, guilt- less of crime or having any part in the insur- rection, are dying for want of sustenance. This condition must continue to increase. The United States, in taking action relative to Cuba —which seems inevitable—desires to avoid a clash with Spain. Then let Congress alter our citizenship laws by amending the statute rela tive to the declaration required of persons be- coming citizens by naturalization, so that the subjects or citizens of any Government at pres- ent residing in Cuba may go before any United States Consul on the island and make declara- tion of intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, which shall entitle them to recognition as ‘citizens until the expiration of two years, when they may be required to re- side in the United States until five years shall have elapsed before being granted naturaliza- tion papers. With such a privilege, I am con- fident that the per cent of resident Spaniards, the hitherto dominant party and taxpavers, will avail themselves of this opportunity for re- buking the mother country for attempting to foist upon them changes in the existing laws of the island. Such a step would cause the subjects as well as the Government to ac- quiesce without disturbance and without the loss of the island. President,” said he, “merely asks us to authorize him to stop the war in Cuba. That could not be done until the Spanish flag was hauled down from the island forever.” Butler then pre- sented his resolution which follows: ‘Whereas, The destruction of the United States battleship Maine and the mur- dering of 26 of our sailors in Havana hn.(rbo’r by the stglnl-h Gog'asr:.l.‘nam is an act of war on the part of n the United States; therefore be it 2:3 solved, First—That to and unparalleled avenge this most foul crime, which our na- nds, and to nut a stop to Spain’s most cruel, barbarous and in- human warfare now being waged against Cuba, which is demanded in the interest of liberty and humanity; that the Gov- ernment of the United States hereby rec- ognizes the Cuban Republic as a separate and independent nation. Second—That the Government of the United States hereby demands that Spain at once withdraw her land and naval forces from Cuba. 5 Third—That the President of the United States be and he is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to use, if neces- sary, the entire land and naval forces of the United States to carry these resolu- | tions into effect. The resolution went over under the rules. Another message from the President transmitting the Cuban consular re- ports was laid before the Senate, and, after being read, was referred with ac- companying papers to the Committee on Foreign Relations. The Senate then, at 1:15 p. m., on motion of Allison, adjourned. Honesty and truth are good and ad- mirable qualities, as sympathy and loye are endearaing traits, food | roclamation, | Regent intends to grant complete au- tonomy in Cuba, that is, to establish a relation similar to that existing be- tween Austria and Hungary, the main bond between the island and the moth- er country being allegiance to the same sovereign. BIG Men often do wrong. M effects follow, and they often feel like giving up in despair. That is foolish. Weak back and pains in the loins only show that you need an invigorator. *Hudyan™ is the thing that you need. It is powerful enough to cure you no matter how nervous you are. Let your life drain away for a few more years and you will be in- curable. But to-day <“Hudyan" will save you and restore to you your manhood. killed three rebels, two of whom were Brigadier Antonio Nunez and Maximil- liano of Castaguto. Important docu- ents were taken. mTr:\l'o hundred American citizens called at the British Consul-General's office to-day, asking for protection. Consul- General Gollan, Vice-Consul Jerome and Pro-Consul Arostegul calmed the Americans. WASHINGTON, April 11.—The State Department to-day received General Blanco's proclamation ordering a ces- sation of hostilities in Cuba. It was | cabled to the Spanish Minister here and by him delivered to the depart- ment. The proclamation is as follows: ‘‘His Majesty's Government, in yield- ing to the reiterated wish expressed by His Holiness, the Pope. has been pleased to decree a suspension of hos- tilities, with the object of preparing and facilitating the restoration of peace on this island, in virtue whe-eof I be- lieve it convenient, to order: Article L « s * From the day following the re- ceipt in each locality of the present proclamation, hostilities are ordered to | be suspended in_all territory of the island of Cuba. The details for the ex- ecution of the above decree will be the object of special instruction that will be communicated to the several command- ers-in-chief of the army corps for the easy and prompt execution according to the situation and circumstances of | the case. BLANCO.” SAN FRANCISCO AND NEW ORLEANS ARRIVE. ’Atter a Rough Voyage the New | Cruiser and Escort Reach the Harbor of Halifax. HALIFAX, N.S., April 11.—The Amer- | fcan men-of-war San Francisco and | New Orleans (formerly the Brazilian ship Amazonas) arrived here this morn- ing at 11 o'clock, short of coal. Both | vessels left London on the 27th ult. and had a stormy passage during the last | eight days. On Monday, the 4th, heavy winds and rain were met with. The | ships were together up to that date, but on Tuesday became separated and | did not come together until twenty- | four hours had elapsed. The San Francisco came through all right, but | the New Orleans experienced great dif- ficulty, one of her starboard boats be- | ing smashed in and the steering gear | was for a time deranged. As she came | up“this morning evidences of her rough | passage was easily discernible. Prep- arations were quickly made to load coal and the ships will be ready to =ail by | to-morfow. Great excitement prevailed | In the city when the signal station an- nounced the approach of the ships. The San Francisco exchanged salutes with the forts here and the officers reported to the authorities shortly after enter- ing port. All hands on both ships are in good health. i - As to General Schofleld. | WASHINGTON, April 11L—It was stated to-day that there is no founda- tion for the report that Secretary Alger would ask the President to dellnite Lieutenant-General Schofiel. retired, as a military adviser to the President and Secretary of War in case of hos- tilities. General Schofield’s recent Visits to the President and the Secre- itary, he sald, were simply for the pur- Manhood is what you want. It is to be had no matter how much you may have abused it. No power on earth is so sweet as the feeling that you are a full man. Why not get that feeling back? A mo- ment's time spent in writing for circulars and testimonials may save you years of suffering, Write to-day! If you have blood taint ask for “30-day blood cure™ circulars. They are free, too. Thin eyebrows, ulcers in the mouth, the falling out of hair, all show blood taint. Think of this, MEN HUDSON MEDICAL NSTITTE Stactton, Market and Ells Streets, SAN FRANCISCO. e ———— G