Excerpt
A great deal of interest is being taken in the affairs of Cuba at this time.
So many reports reached President McKinley of the sufferings of many of our citizens who are living in Cuba, that he felt it his duty to look into the matter, and he has sent a message to Congress on the subject.
The cause of the new trouble is this.
Some months ago General Weyler, thinking that the country people supplied the insurgents with food and gave them shelter, issued an order that all the inhabitants of Cuba who lived in the country districts should leave their homes, and within eight days present themselves at the nearest town, there to remain until the war was over.
In obedience to this order the country people were forced into the towns, the soldiers destroyed the dwellings from which they had been driven, and lands that had once been green and fertile were turned into barren wastes, without house, home, or shelter upon them.
In the history of modern warfare no such cruel scheme has ever before been devised.
The unfortunate country people, thus torn from their homes, were allotted lands, within the fortified line of the towns, to encamp on. They were given neither food nor shelter, but were driven into the towns and left to shift for themselves.
Most of these people were farmers, living in comfortable circumstances. By the order of General Weyler they were reduced to beggary.
Not only has Weyler made no attempt to feed these unhappy people, but he has forbidden them to go in search of food for themselves. Even when they assured the Spanish soldiers that they had crops ripening in their fields which would be more than sufficient to relieve their sufferings, they were forbidden to go out and gather them, and were forced to stay in idleness and starve.
The distress is something fearful. The people in the cities endeavor to help their suffering neighbors, but gradually their own supply of provisions has run out, until starvation stares them also in the face. There is hardly a town in the western end of Cuba to-day where the people are not dying in hundreds from hunger.
Among the people who have been driven into the towns are between six hundred and eight hundred Americans. The distress of these persons, whom his oath of office binds him to protect, having been brought to the knowledge of the President, he has determined to take some action to relieve it.
In his message to Congress he asked that $50,000 be appropriated as a Relief Fund for the Americans in Cuba.
This may be but the first step toward a much more important action; but our President seems to be a very cautious man, and one who likes to be very sure of his ground before he takes a step.
For the present he is determined not to quarrel with Spain, and has arranged matters so that the attempt of the United States to aid her citizens shall be made with the full approval of Spain.
He has asked Señor Dupuy de Lôme, the Spanish Minister, if his Government would have any objection to our sending supplies to our fellow-countrymen.
The Spanish Minister has very graciously replied that Spain will not oppose the plan, but will do all in her power to help the United States to carry it out....