inhabitants from their homes into closely circumscribed
so-called military zones, where they were left unprovided with
food, and hence to die. Under Weyler's cruel methods and policy
about one third (600,000) of the non-combatant inhabitants of the
island were killed or died of starvation and incident disease before
the end of the Spanish-American War. Yet a war was maintained by
the insurgents under the leadership of able men, inspired with a
patriotic desire for freedom and independence. The barbarity of
the reconcentrado policy excited, throughout the civilized world,
deep sympathy for the Cubans, and, April 6, 1896, a resolution
passed Congress, expressing the opinion that a "state of war existed
in Cuba," and declaring that the United States should maintain a
strict neutrality, but accord to each of the contending powers "the
rights of belligerents in the ports and territory of the United
States," and proposing that the friendly offices of the United
States "be offered by the President to the Spanish government for
the recognition of the independence of Cuba." This resolution and
the proffered friendly offices bore no fruit. To meet a possible
attack upon our citizens in Havana, the battle-ship _Maine_,
commanded by Captain C. D. Sigsbee, was sent there in January,
1898. It was peacefully anchored in the harbor, where, February
15th, it was destroyed by what was generally believed to have been
a sub-marine mine, designedly exploded by unauthorized Spaniards.
Of its officers and crew 266 perished, and the splendid war-ship
was totally destroyed.

Preparations for war commenced at once in our country. Congress
appropriated $50,000,000 "for the national defence."

It also, April 18, 1898, passed joint resolutions, declaring:

"That the people of the island of Cuba are, and of right ought to
be, free and independent"; demanding of Spain that it "at once
relinquish its authority and government in the island of Cuba, and
withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters";
authorizing the President "to use the entire land and naval forces
of the United States . . . and the militia of the several States,
to such an extent as may be necessary to carry these resolutions
into effect," but disclaiming that the United States had "any
intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over
said island, except for the pacification thereof," and asserting
its determination that when that was complet