., A . fe!? 5K . 10 PAGES. tSfcTtf 10 PAGES. . &JVl-li . V-l4 -- - m , ...- fm i TWO CENTS. SCJiANTON, PA., TUESDAY MOBNINU. APRIL 12. 1898. TV TWO CENTS. iiSi TTii'w' HWBli Mla1: arm- i 11 a ua d is-S5ssiAKisfffiBW) vmms&y.i2sr m m "SWff COMPLETE TEXT OP PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE WILL BE POUND ON PAGE 5. RESPONSIBILITY President McKinley, in His Message, Washes His Hands of the Cuban Affair Is Prepared to Execute Eyery Obligation Imposed by the Constitution and the Law and Awaits the Action of Senate and House Effect of the Message at the National Capital The Spanish Minister Yisibly Affected War Is Not Regarded So Imminent in Army and Nayy Circles, "Washington, .A mil 11. Tho future of the relations of the United States with Spain and Cuba now rests with con st ess, the representative body of the American people. What ours,. the elected men composing It will pursue cannot be foietold tonight. The for eign committees of both houses now have tho bubjeet In their contiol and after due deliberation will leuott to their lespeetive branches what the consider should be the attitude of the United States on the grave question presented Karl action by the com mittees is expected, but exactly when It may be looked for Is not now deter minable The full responsibility of the subject was plated upon congress when President McKinley today transmitted to it a carefully prepared and nnxious 1 -awaited message relating our nego tiations with Spain with regard to war fate in Cuba and drawing therefrom his peisonal conclusions and reeom mendations. He placed the trust with the words. "The issue is now with the congress. It is a solemn responsibility. T have exhausted every effort to rel!oe the intolerable condition of affairs which Is at our doors. Prepared to execute every obligation imposed upon me by the constitution and the law, I await your action." No message In recent yeais, not even that of President Cleveland on Vene zuela, nor President Harrison's Chill, caused such widespread and Intense In terest. No message was ever listened to with more cloae attention by both galleiles and members at both ends of the capitol. That It did not cieate pro found enthusiasm may have been due to the fact that its main features had been accurately forecasted In the As sociated Pi ess dispatches, or to a dis appointment nmong those who wanted Cuban Independence and immediate re prisal upon Spain for the destruction of the Maine. For a long time, a large majority in both houses have f.i voted recognition of the independence of Cuba for more than two jeais, as voiced In lesolutlons passed by con gress, the jorognltion of belllgeiency has been sought. Both of these propo sitions were antagonized In the mess age and consequently In this tegard the message did not accord with the majority sentiment. CONGRESS MUCH AT SUA. The message left congress veiv much at sea because of the discrepancy In views between it and tho executive, an obstacle hard tt, ruinuunt unlets, ns now seems possible, congress tec its course to lie in uccoid with the presi dent's recommendation. It Is irenei illy bnl'eved tnat the piesident woull have been authorized to intervene v lth the at my and navy had It not be;n for the concluding paragraphs of the dieuiinmt which announced the latent pliare of diplomatic negotiations. The senate ommltt on foreign re lations immediately .vent Into se-sskn but reached no definite conclusion. From the fact that the Republican membeis held a consultation is the meeting adjourned and what was said regaiding it, tho inference to draw that some strong: measure was neeessar.v in order to carry any action b the com mittee thtough the senate' A di-clan-tlon of war was tall;d of, and a de claration that the people of Cuh shriild be free coupled with authoilaation i,f th' president to bring this about by aimed Intervention ,vus suggested. It is well known that anv; proposition. ad vanced will be met In tho senate with an amendment declaring th indepen dence of the present Cuban government and to so fiame a resolution to cany a majoritj of the senate and nt tho same time to moot the recommenda tions of the president Is the result which tho foreign leUtions committee is trying to secure. The conservative senators alse. met in the afternoon and detei mined to oppose an radical measure If It M.oulcl t9 reported by the senate committee on foreign relations. Thej will oppose by debate nny ucognltlon of indepen dence of the present government and a declaration of war and will consent to action only along the lines of tho rec ommendations of tho pi evident a. to in tervention at his disci etieen TEMPER OF Till: HOI'SI The temper of the houe could nut be accurately determined but there, as In tho senate, the proposition for Cuban Independence has to be met. Any report from tho commltii c on for elgn nffalra that does not tarry with It this feature will be antagonized by an amendment and the piospctts at- that nearlj all tho Demourats and manv Republicans would favor It Efforts have been directed all day towuid tie. tlon which would secure the solid np. port of the Republican organization and Republican majiulty In the house To this end the Republican membeis of the house committee to whom the mec sage vvus refened were in confeiento during the day and night Outside the capitol the same Intense Interest was eveiy where manifested In the president s message. The embas sies' and legations ware practically empty by 11 o'clock, the foreign rep tesentatlves and their ptaffs uolng to th oapltol to hear the message, Cubl- WITH CONGRES net olllcets busied themselves with their departmental affairs, feeling that the message now ttansferred the scene of action and of responsibility to the capitol. Even at the White House there was a lull in the excitement which has centered theie for the last foitnlght The president saw several of his cabinet advisers eaily In the day, but there was no cabinet meeting. The message left the "White House shortly before noon in order to reach congrcs promptly on Its assembling, and Mils done, the president joined his family at lunch with the evident satisfaction of having the tremendous strain and bur den of tecent davs in a measure re moved There was an aspect of holi day gaiety surrounding the White, House, as Easter Monday was observed as usual by the egg rolling gathering of thousands of children In tho grounds in the leai of the executive mansion The Marine band furnished music for the youngsteis The effect of the message down town was on the whole quieting. Cabinet olllcets, of com so, expressed their com plete and most hearty npproval of the message. This view was reflected throughout administration circles. SPANISH MINISTER IS DUMB. The Spanish minister. Senor Polo, re mained at the legation during the day, sending and receiving many dispatches and conferring with his advisers. He cabled the entire president's message to Madrid, except only the historical references to General Grant's message, Texas, etc. The minister said he must decline to make the slightest public allusion to the ptesident's mcsuge, as anv lemark fiom him would be incon sistent with his posIUon. It Is known, however, that Senor Polo Is keenly sen sitive to the language of the message. What its effect will bo upon his ser vice heie is not known, for no word has vet come as to the effect of the message upon the authorities at Mad rid I'p to toniuht Senor Polo had te celv ed no Instructions to withdraw, nor was there anv intimation of such In structions At tho other embassies and legations the message moused the greatest In terest, but It cannot be said that It was received with satlsactlon. At one of the most important nnd most Inter ested foreign establishments, the gen eral feeling was expressed by the state ment that the piesident hnd, through his message, washed his hands of the subject and imposed the responsibility upon the shouldeis of congress In other high diplomatic quarters gome question was expressed as to that por tion Of the mesidoilt'c vnnEr,.r i which he speaks, in the name of civil ization, of the duty of stopping the war in Cuba, and the intimation was made that the great powers of Europe, so far as thej icpiesented civilization, did not support this view expressed by the president Theie has been no further general confeienco between the nmbassadors and mlnlsteis of the pow eis. nor Is there anv present indication of fui ther action from that quarter. NO NEW PHASE'S No new diplomatic phases of the question developed today at the state department. Secretaij Sherman said ne wouici not oo sui prised If the Mad rid cable report proved Hue that Mln istei Woodford was about to leave Madrid At the same time the state department was without advices that this step actually hart been taken. Gen eral Lee is en route heie und it Is ex pected that his ai rival will be the sig nal for a notable demonstration The war and navy departments con tinued theli aetlvu pieparatlons today. While eventualities are being piepared for, the sentiment In nrmy and navy circles is that war is not so imminent as It seemed to be a few days ago. It can be stated on aulhoiity that no con slderatlon ruts yet been given to the withdrawal of the I'nited States fleet at Key West, as the administration holds that the situation hu ii,,,i,. gone no change which makes this with- uiawui necessurj oi advisable. (JEN. LEO'S FLVINQ TRIP. ItnilroHd ( ompnnlcK Will Endeavor lo I, nnd Him lu tho Capital I'ndnr. Tampa, riu., April 11. The Plant system In (onjunition with itsi allies, the Atlantic coast line and the Penn svlvanlu railroad, uro enclcavotlng to land Geneial l.ee in Washington to moiiow morning. Tim piivato car of Piesident Plant vvus placed ut the disposal of General Leo ut Tampa, und ut 11.30 o'clock this moinliig was started noithwnrd as a special. It Is expected bj the Plant people and Its allies that General Lee will be enabled to arrive tomoriow moinlng lu Washington Savannah, flu.. April 11 -At Savan nuh moie than five thousand persons were at the station to neo Geneiul Lee when the tialn came in. The crowd was enthusiastic und a short speech was made by the general, being fre quently upplauded, As the train rolled into the station a platoon of the Chat hum artillery, of which General Lee Is an honoraiy member, began firing a mujw funeral's salutu of thittecn guns. General Lee and the members of his party were completely t,lred out by their long trip. Older were given here by the tt asportation department of the Plant system for operatois north of this city to withhold nil In formation us to tho whereubouts of tho train In order to prevent the party being- disturbed. The purty rctlied im mediately nfter leaving Savannah. IIANNA LEAVES PORTO RICO. The British Flag Is Raised Oror the United Statu Consulate. Island of St. Thomas, West Indies, April 11. P. C. Hnnnu, the United States consul at San Juan, Porto Rico, on Thursday last, as pievlously an nounced, received Instructions from Washington to pioceed Immediately to St, Thomas und leave the cate of Amer ican interests In the hands of the Brlt lsh consul there. Mr. Hunna was fur ther notified to await orders heie. The British consul nccepted the charge, up on receipt of Instructions from London Prior to leaving, Mr. Hanna advised all the United States consuls and vice consuls to move, adding, however, that the American citizens who temalned In Porto Rico would enjoy the protection of the Hrltlsh consul. Mr Hanna left his post on Filday, In company with Mr. Van Syckle and the latter's wife; Mr. del Valle, tho United States vice consul, with vvifo and children and Mr, and Mrs Wyman. Mr. Vnn Sckle Is the representative of the Standard Oil company nt Potto Rico. The Hrltlsh Hag was raised over the l'n. tod States consulate at San Juan, Poi to Rico, nfter Mr. Hanna left, to officially announce that Great Britain was eating fin the interests ot Ameri can citizens. Up to the time of Mr. Hanna's depar ture the Porto Rico government had received no news of impoitance from Madrid, or If such news was received, it was not allowed to leak out. In any case, It is reported here, work upon the fortifications at San .luan was com menced the very night Mr. Hanna left that place. The Inhabitants of the coast towns of Porto Rico nre seeking safety In the interior. Mr. Hanna's departure was facili tated In every way and there was no irictlon between him and the Spanish authorities. Their personal relations were pleasant and when Mr. Hanna left San Juan American affairs in Por to Rico were In ns good shape as it Is possible for them to be. A few native born Americans lomaln on the Klnnd of Porto Rico, but they arc expected to leave fooii. Mr. Hanna arrived hero on board a schooner which he had chartered for the purpose. She was towed eart of the way here by the Hrltlsh stamer Virginia, Mr. Hanna's party was com posed of about ilftcen Americans. The Spanish cruisers VIsrayn and Al mirante Oquendo were at San Juan when Mr. Hanna left that port. BLANCO'S PROCLAMATION. Ills Oflioinl Order for Ccssution Is Received nt M luihinston. Washington, Apill 11 The state de partment today received Geneial Blan co's older for the cessation of hostili ties In Cuba It was cabled to the Spanish minister heio und by him de liveied to the department. The proc lamation is as follows: "His ma jest j "s government yielding to the reiterated wish expressed by his holiness, the Pope, has been pleased to decree a suspension of hostilities with the object of pieparlng and facili tating the restoration of peace on this Island, In vlitue wheieof I believe It convenient to order- "Article 1 From the day following th" receipt In each locality of-the pies ent proclamation hostilities ai.i oideied to be suspended In all tho territory of the Island of Cuba. "2 The details for the execution of t-e above article will be the object of special instructions that will bo com municated to the several commanders In chief of the army corps for the easy and prompt execution according to the sltuntlon and circumstances of the case. (Signed) Blanco" OPINION OP GUITIiRAS. The Armiitiee but u Spanish Trick to (Sain Time. Philadelphia. April 11. Dr. John OllltetilR rAiirneunintii . n. . ,, . ,.. , ., inMut c ui me cjuuan Junta In Pennsylvania, today sent tele grams to the senate foreign relations committee and the house committee on foreign affairs against ii-cognition of an armistice. In his telegiams he said In substance. I think the whole principle of the nimlstlco is a subteituge to eniblo the Spanlrails to wlthdmvv th. It troops from tho interior and couun trato them in the fortllW towns, thiro to present a formidable front io Ameilcan Intervention. RUBENS WILL NOT TALK. Ilns Agreed ISot to SoyAii) thing About tho President's llessiigo. New York, Apill 11. When Hoiatio R Rubens was asked what the feeling was at the Cuban Junta's headquarters legardlng Piesident McKlnlev' mess ng. he said that he had agreed before the missage was dellveied not to say unythlng about It Ho said that Piesident Palma had gone to Washington to get it hearing before congress, regaidlng the situa tion Mr. Rubens would not suy what, If any, icquest Piesident Pulnm would make of congiess. N rival OllicotH Informed. Kuy Wist. Kin, April 11. Tho bulletin of the Associated Press giving a sum mar of President McKinley's mexs.igo to congiess was promptly sent to t op tain Hampgon, In command of the lieet, bj Commuiuler Forsjth. It w.ib also posted In the hotel htire and copies w tic sent on board the Amphltilte, Puritan. Terror, Nushvlllo and Helena. The lutor et heie In the message Is moat Intense Hid llrrtild' Weather PorecHnt. New York. April IJ.-In the middle stutes and New England, today fair to clear weather and light to fresh noithuly ii mi nikiithu oaturli wlml. ...Ill nw...nii ...-. ....... ........... .-.. .,j ,i.,',,n ,, jKv.uii, gnu ceded by cl'dlncKH on the. coast with uruiiy Biiiwei Hry louoweu m tins section b rising teii'i nature. ELOQUENCE OF MR. QUAY He Precipitates the Cuban Question in the Senate. WANTS IMPETUOUS ACTION Too Late for Pope, Prelate or Presbytery. Tho Reading of tlio President's .Mel ange in the Setiuto Is Received with llrenthlcsR 81lenco--lu tho House thejiocumunt UvoUu Appluuio and Groans from the Democrats-- l'ho .Hns-tiigii llulerroil to Committee ou Foreign Relation. Washington. Apill 11. In the senate today every available seat both on the ileor and In the galleiies was occupied when Vice-president Hobart's gavel culled the seslon to order. In the gnl lories the people had been waiting for hours but the arrangements for handl ing the crowds were so admirable that not the slightest confusion existed. The attendance of senators was unusually Inge, Indeed every member of the body in the city was in his seat. Among the vWltois on the floor was General Nelson V. Miles, commander of the aim. In the diplomatic yallery wore repicscntutlves of many of the for eign countries. Scarcely had the senate been c ailed to order when Mr. Quay (Pa) precipitated the Cuban question by presenting the resolutions c-f the Tiades league of Philadelphia, com posed of two thousand business firms urging that a peaceful solution of the pendine difficulty be secured If possible. The communication from the Trades lcap-ue nad that the membeis "appre. ciatlnc; the wise, conservative and dig nified policy of tho pr'-sldent in his tteatment of the very grave and mo mentiius differences now existing be tween the kingdom of Spain and tho I'niti d Stites," rccognlzini; that if this policy Is persisted in by the president ai.d aided by congrvalonal support, it will tend to maintain an honorable pence The Pennsylvania repiesentu tives in coiiE'iesn ire theiefoie urged to eo-oprate with the piesident and ac cord him full opportunity to exhaust all negotiations tending towaids peace. SNATOR QUAY'S REMARKS. Commenting upon the resolutions, Mi. Quay said: Y "l dcslte to say to theso gentlemen that 1 havo little hesitancy in acced ing to their very reasonable sugges tion. I have nn altectlonate personal regard for the pusident and absolute confidence In his patriotic statesman ship I havo contldenco that he will alwajs bo In accord with the best thought and Interest of his countrv. The people of the United States, In my judgment, arc- pretty near all unanimous that the time for negotia tion upon the Cuban question is past. The present Is a case for nclthor pope, prelate noi presbytery. They bellevn that lurther negotiations mean fur ther time for the concentration of the Spanish naval forces und for general Spanish preparations for war. They know that a Spanish torpedo flotilla is en touto for our shores whose mis sion Is hostile, whose only Interest can be to destroy our vessels as tho Maine was destioycd and slay our sailors as the lailors of the Maine were slain. They know that on yes terday two Spanish war vtBsels sailed westward and will be with us In ten days. They believe that bloodshed will bo aveiteid or diminished by prompt notion of tho government, not b declaring war, but by making war In self dnfense before Spain can so cure further naval or military advan tage, and they believe, perhaps vvlth eut reason, that delay Is Hrgely sought, or urKcd, by those interested lu the Spanish success or by those who would market the national honor, and make meichandlsu of the blood und bones of the de-ad of the Malno; that Intervention should be armed, im mediate and Impetuous urn) that not merely a stable but a republican foim of government should be given tho Cubans; that the Spanlaids should got out ot Cuba. They should stand not upon tho order of their going, but go at once. Tor these puiposoH tliey be lieve the army and tho navy of the United States should be utilized until Cuba Is freo und the Maine Is avenged. Relieving that the president is with the ultimate puipose of the people, I have plcusuro lu assuring the Trodes League of Philadelphia that I will oomply with their requast." TH13 MI3S8AOE PRKSICNTKD. Whllo Mr. Quay was spsakliur, Mr. Pruden, the executive secretary to the piesident, entered tho chamber bearing the lone-expected mebsage. He was lecognlzed ns soon us Mr Quay had euntluded, and" when he had piesented the messagv the vicet-prebldent Immedi ately laid It before the senate. In a stillness that was almost bieathless the message wus leud. the reading occupy ing Just foitv-two minutes. At tho conclusion of the leading thc-te was a hum of whispered conversation In tho gullet leg, but no demonstration. Mr. Davis, Minnesota, chairman of the for eign relations committee, at once moved that it be referred to his com mlttie, nnd Mr. Stewart, taking ad vantage of tho opportunity, briefly ad dressed the netiate In favor of recog. nUltie- the independence of the Cuban Insurgents, Without further debate the message was refeired us requested. OROANS IN THE 1IOUSK. The president's message was read to the house today In tho piesence of a vast assemblage, nnd referred to the commltteo on foreign affairs without debate: There was absolutely no dem onstration, either of approval or dis approval frenn the crowded galleries throughout or nt the conclusion of the reading, but theie was a sharp burst of applause from the Republican side when, tow aid the end of the message, It said that tha War In Cuba must cease. At the conclusion of the read ing about half the Republicans up plauded und several of the Democrats groaned. After tho message had been referred the house transacted some District of Columbia business and then transacted upon the Palrchlld-Wnid contested election case from the Tenth New York district by confirming Mr. Ward's right to the sent. Little or no interest wus taken In tho proceedings. All the uf ternoon the members stood about in groups discussing the message and the possible uctlon of congress upon it. .llcssaco Connidereil. Washington, April 11. The senate foreign relations committee considered the president's message, but ndjourned without reaching a conclusion. Gen eral l.ee will be heard tomorrow soon after his arrival. AN HONEST STATEMENT. II r. Council' Opinion of President .Me Kinlev'.H .Vlesoixn. Special to the Scranton Tribune. The president's messagu on the Spanish-Cuban question was well received "by the Pennsylvania deljsatlon irr con gress. In discussing it tonight Mr. Connell said. I think tho n-essage was a plain, honest statement of facts, that tho piesldont las given congress full In formation on the dlRlcultles existing between Spain and this country and that after exhausting all the resources at his command to tiring about peace, he now asks it to take the necessarv action to enablo him to compel the restoration of peace on the lland. HAPiRITyVcaSE. Lottcr Sent by Uernocrntlc National Chairman Jones to Members ot the National Committee. Philadelphia, April 11. The text of the letter which Democratic National Chairman Jones sent to the members of the national committee, In submit ting to them the question whether William P. Harrity shall be deposed as the Pennsylvania member of that body, was slven out heie today for publica tion It Is as follows: Democratic national committe, Washington, April 7. 1SH. My ilar sir Pnder date of Keb. 11 1S0S, Hon, John M. Gnrman, chairman of ih Democratic statu central comniu'co of Pennsylvania, wrote mo callii ; my attention to certain steps tikcii In his state relating to the substPutio.i of Hon J. M Guffey for Hun A'. V. Harrity, as member of th national committee of Pennsylvania. It being practically impossible to convene tho committee, and having no authority to act mjself, t have con cluded to submit the question to tho members ot the committee by mall I herewith forward you copleB of cor respondence and papers in relation to the matter On the day of mailing theso to you, I mail to Mr Garman ami to Mr Harrity each a copy of all papers forwarded to you, including this letter It Is clear that when the national committee Is not In setslon them is no power competent to make any change In the national committee except the committee itself, or a sub-committee aictlng by Its authority. What elo you understand tho wish of the Pennsylvania convention to be; and what course by the national com mittee lu regard thereto do you favor? I hopo you will take this matter up promptly and send mo your decision. Very truly yours, Jamc IC. Jones, chairman. A filend of Mr. Harrity in an Inter view stated: 'The position taken by Chuiiman Jones sustains the contention made by Mr. Hunlty and his friends that neither the Democratic state conven tion or the Democratic state central committee had uny authority to re move Mt. Harrity from the Democratic national oommlttee. The only ques tion, therefeire, which remains for the members of the latter body todeteimltio Is whether the action of the Dtmocrat lu state convention amounts to such a lequcst or recommendation that ought to lead the Demociatic- national com mittee to make such u flume e In th? Pennsylvania membership of thai body. Mr. Glnilsloiie'c Condition. Loudon, April U. There is not much i-hairxo In tho condition of Mr Gladstone todnv. He Is not suffering so much from pain today but Is unablo to converse chocrfully with his friends. THE NEWS TIIIS MOKNIXU Wthr Indlcatlans Today: fair; Light Northirly Winds. 1 Tt lesroph President McKinley Planes the Cuban Matter in tho Hands of Cougioss consular Corespondence lu KwUtton to Cuba. Senator Quay's Pointed Remarks in the Senate. Riots in Madrid. i The Tribune's Popular Want Columns. NeidhboilnB County News. The Matkcts 3 Local New Trial Granted in Jennings Case. 4 Rdltorlal. Communt of the Press. 6 Telegraph The President's Complete Message 6 Local Opening of Teachers' Institute School Controllers In an Angr Mood. 7 Local Social RventB of a NlBht. Estimates Committee. Finishes its La- bore Local West Side and Suburban ! Lackawanna County News. 10 1elgiuph Congress at Sea Over tho Message. Kvldenucs ot Qeneral Loo's Popularity. OFFICIAL EVIDENCE OF SPAIN'S INFAMY Synopsis of the Long-Delayed American Consular Reports Concerning the Conditions of Spanish Misrule in Cnba. A Chapter of Horrors That Makes the Blood Boll Record Which Damns Beyond Redemption the Flag of Spain in the Eye of Christian Civilization Gomez's Pathetic Letter to McKinley. Washington. April 11 The consular correspondence with legnnl to the sit uation In Cuba which wus transmitted leduy was prepared In response to u, resolution of inquiry adopted by both the house and senate. The corieBpond once was prepared for tiansmlsslcm to congress Just before tho blowing up of the Malno nnd having been held up since now lnoludes communications up to Apill 1 It covers the communica tions of Consul General Lee at Havana Consul McGarr -it Clenfuegos, Cnmul Biie-e at Matuna-), Consul Hyatt at Santiago de Cuba and Consul nirker nt Sagua la Grande. The communica tions make about sixty thousand words. They deal lurgetv with the dis tress and suffering which exists In all the districts. But General Lee reports quite fully upon the decrees of the vfervernment with regard to autonomy sr.d other political phases of the s'tiiu tlon. In preparing: the eonespondence for transmission to congress, consid erable cortlona of the Important com munications and especially those marked confidential, nre omitted. Tho resolutions to which they ate the re sponse in each instance asked only for such correspondence ns It was not deemed Incompatible with the public Interest to make public. SCOPH OK REPORTS. General Lee's correspondence runs over the period from November 17, 1S97, to April 1, 1S3S. Much of the corres pondence Is of a confidential nature and of some of the Important com munications extracts only are given. Tho period of the correspondence after the blowing' up of the Maine contains no reference to that event, such com munications probably being deemed Irrelevent to the purpose of the reso lutions calling for the consular cor respondence In the possession of the government as to the situation of af fairs in Cuba. The first dispatch of General Lee con tains General Blanco's ordei, date of November 13, repeating.or rather modi fying1, Geneial Weyler's order of con centration which has heretofore been published by the press. This order was made shoitly after General Lee re turned to Havana from the United States last fall. Geneial Lee in this communication also enclosed the proc lamation of J. M. Rodriguez, major general in charge of the western de partment of the Cuban military opera tions, addressed to the Cuban peopPj and infui-mintr them of the "Ann res lutlon" of the Insurgent army to con tinue fighting until the attainment of absolute Independence It was on No vember 23 that Consul General Lee mndo his first report to the depart ment of state on the condition of af fairs in Cuba. It is as follows. LEE'S FIRST REPORT. I havo tho honor to briefly submit a statement of what appeals to be the present condition of aflulis lu this Island rirst The insurgents will not ac cept autonomy Second A large tnajoilty of the Spanish subjects, who havti commer cial and business Interests and own property here, will not uccupt auton omy, but prefer annuxatiun to the United States, rather than an Inde pendent icpubllc or genuine autonom, under the Spanish llaff Third The Spanish authorities are sincere In doing nil In th"lr power io encourage, protect and promote the grinding of sugar The grinding sea son commences In December Fourth Tlie Insurgent leaders have given Instructions to prevent grinding, wherever It can be done, bocauso b diminishing tha expoit of sugar the Spanish sovc-rnment revenues are d cre.ised It will bo vny dlllloult for the Spanish uutlmrltleH to prevent c-iue burnliiL'. because one man can start a Mre nt night which will bum hundreds of acr s Fifth I urn confident that Generals Blanco and Pando, his clilof ol stuff a well as Dr. Congosto, lht secrelarv general with all of whom I have hid conversations, are perfectly conscien tious In their deslro to relievo tho dl-- tiess of those suffering from the ef fects of Weyler's recemce nttatlou en der. but unfoilunatelv thev have not the means to carry out such benevo lent puiposes lu this clt matters are assuming better shape under chui Itablo commlttsus. etc, large uumbeis ale now caied for und fed by private subscriptions I witnessed many ter rible scenes und saw some die while I wis present. I am told Geneial Blanco will give J100.0W) to the relM fund SPECIMEN ATROCITIES. November 11 General Lee sent lo the department the communications of twu gentlemen whose names he s,s uie suppressed for obvlouu reasons, but whom he knows personally ns standing high In the community, concerning the condition In Los Fosos (the ditches) in Havana The reimmunlcatlons h, , among other things Four hundred nnd sUtj women ni.il children thrown on the ground heaped pell me-ll as animals, some In a dlug condition, others elc.id, without tlut slightest cleanliness or the least help, not even able to give water to tlv thirsty, without either religious or so cial help e-iich one dying wherever chame laid Mm The communication goes on to stater that the deaths lemons these leconceu ti ailos averaged 40 or CO dally and that on hii average there were but ten days of life for each person. It sajs that thso unhappy creatures received food only after having been eight days In the Foaoa during which time they were obliged to subsist upon the baej lood which the dying had refused. Some horrible Instances of tho distress witnessed are given. Anion? tho many deaths we iw there was seeu some Impossiblo to for get. There Is still nllvo tho only wit ness, a young girl of IC, who wo found seemingly lifeless on the grounel. On her right slda was the body of a young mother, cold and rigid, but with her young child still nllvo clinging to her broast. On hef left side wus the corpse of a dead wo man holding her son in a dcael cm brace A little furthe-r on a dying wo man lmvine In her urms a daughter, erazy with pain, who, after twelve or fourteen days died In spite ot tho euro sho received. Further along- the communication, says that If any young girl camo In who was nice looking she waa infal libly condemned to the most abomin able of traffics. The communication says that 1,700 persons had entered the Fosos since Augut und of those but 243 were then living. It places the number of deaths among the recon centrndos at 77 per cent. ANTI-AMERICAN CONSPTRACIBS. On December S, General Lee sent to the state department a. communication referring to a cipher dispatch he had sent two days previous, in which he informed the department that he had learned from the United States consul at Matnnzas of an extensive and dan gerous conspiracy under the ex-gover-nor of the province directed against Americans, action against them to be contingent on the movement of the United States government in favor of the independence of Cuba. General Lee stated that rumors had been more or lets frequant regarding the riotous Intention of some of the dissatisfied element against American citizens theie and In other parts of the island. Such dumonstrattons. he said, must come from Spanish non-combatants or from -volunteer forces Ho did not think there was any danger from the former, manj of whom seemed to favor annexation rather than auton emy or the lndojendonce of the Cuban lepubllc. "I am Inclined to think," says he, "that if General Blanco can manage the volunteers, as jesterday h --aid he could, the trouble from that source Is diminishing. The origin of the mobs In this city in the past has always been located in the ranks of the volunteers, who alone have oignn ization nnd aim " WANTED WARSHIPS NEAR. In eonsequencce ef the assurnnces that American life- ami property would be piotected, General Lee "aid that he had declined to make application for the presence of one or- more wai. ships In Havana harbor nnd had advised American who had wives and ehildion not to send them uway, at least for the ptesent. "I still think." continued General Lee, "that two vvaishlps, nt, leust, should be ut Key West piopared to move at short notice-, and that mora of them should be at Dry Teirtugas and that a conllnij- station should b estab lished theie Such proceedings would seem to be in line with that piudeueo and foiesight necessary to afford safe tv to Americans residing on the Island, and to their piopeities" Unden- the same date General Lea sends another communication contain ing the statements of Senor Cnnalejas, the e-dltor of the Madrid El Hernldo, who hud Just returned from Pinni del Rio province after the conflict between the Spanish forces undei General Velnsco and the Cuban forcos under Diuz, in which Canalejas wus quoted as saying that the SpunWh force.s had; displayed their usual valor, but that tho pieivince was not pneitle-d; that out of 14,000 Spanish troops only between three and four therusand were able to operate, tho balance being sick at hos pitals, or In gaitisons and towns: that lie believed autonomy piemnture und was Inclined to the adoption of ener getic military action for tho purposes of paclfylnt, the province; that thu ttuth should be- known In Spain, where publln opinion and the piess had been deceived legaiellng- the annihilation ot the war and the so-culled pacification of the western provinces. RELIEF INADEQUATE. Under- datei of December 7 General Lee- sent a communication to the de partment legal ding the measures for the relief of the leconcenlrados, much of which Is not made public. In th poitlun given out General Lee says: 1 see no effect of the guvirinmcntui distribution tu the rceoncentrados. I tern IntoimcHl that onl 12.o00 In Span led! silver has been dedicated to tho Hnbnna piuvlnce out of the ilOO.lxi) said to ham beien set asido for the pin -liose of relieving llieru un tho island ami tint reports from all parts of the province show that W pet cent, have already died und that many of thoe left will die, and most of the-so uie women and children I urn Informed un Older hies been Issued In some parts of the island subpeuding the dUposi tlon to receince-ntrailoji The condition of theise people Is slmpl terrible I heur of inuilr HunVrint, In rhe Spanish hospitals rot want eif food. 1 hear also that the Sp inish mcrelnnts in som parts nf the Island uru placing Uicir establishments In the name of for eigners to avoid having their provis ions purchased on credit by tha mili tary administration. In some partH of tho Island I am tolel there Is M-nrrelvr uny food for solelle-rs oi citizens and that even outs aie useel for food pur- tContlniK.il em l'a0ej 3 1
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers