Page:Messages of the President of the United States on the Relations of the United States to Spain (1898).djvu/81

 52 and to add that, as stated repeatedly heretofore, in no way have the authorities departed, in fact, from the policy pursued by the late (but not lamented) General Weyler. Spanish troops as well as the guerrillas, under the cruel chiefs Carreras, Olavarrieta, and Lazo, continue to despoil the country and drench it with the blood of noncombatants. Although the "bando" of the Captain-General provides that laborers may return to estates having a garrison, last week a number belonging on the "Sta Ana," located within a league of Sagua, and owned by Mr. George Thorndike, of Newport, R. I., were driven off after returning, and refused permit as a protection by the military commander, Mayor Lomo, one of the trusted officers under the Weyler régime.

I am, etc.,

2em

Sagua la Grande, January 10, 1898.

Pardon the presumption, if presumption it be, in me in offering the following suggestions for the consideration of the Department:

When Spain will admit defeat no mortal, in my humble judgment, dare predict. That her plan of settlement—autonomy—is a failure, and with this failure passes from under her dominion the island, is not to be questioned.

Pending this admission on her part, thousands of human beings, guiltless of bringing on or having any part in the insurrection, 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 relative to the declaration required of persons becoming citizens by naturalization so that the subject or citizens of any government at present residing in Cuba may go before any United States consul in that island and make declaration 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 shall be required to reside in the United States until five years shall have elapsed before being granted naturalization papers.

With such a privilege, I am confident 90 per cent of the resident Spaniards—the hitherto dominant party and taxpayers—will avail themselves of this opportunity (as they would have it) of rebuking the mother country for attempting to foist upon them any changes in the existing laws of the island. Such a step would cause the home subjects as well as the Government to acquiesce, without disturbance, in the loss of the island. To this, if none other, there may be constitutional objections.

Again, assuming that Spain may now accept the "good offices" of the United States with a view to negotiating a peace with her rebellious subjects, let an armistice for sixty days be suggested, in which time terms of settlement to be discussed between the authorities and the insurgents, the United States being the umpire.

Pending negotiations, all Spanish troops to be quartered and held in the larger fortified coast towns, in order that the "concentrados" may return to the country to arrange to subsist themselves; for, be it under-