“So far as any evidence of relief was visible to my eyes or was even heard of by me in all my talks on the island, the surviving 200,000 people are in the same condition and have the same prospect of starvation before them as had their kindred who have died.  There is as much need of medicine now as food, and they are getting neither.  The reason given by the Spanish sympathizers in Cuba is that the troops must be first fed, and it is certain that many of the soldiers are sick and suffering for want of proper food.  I saw many myself that looked so.  I was informed on all sides that they had not been paid for eight months, and that most of the civil officials had not been paid for a similar period.  It is, therefore, most probable that Spain is practically unable to supply the millions which are immediately necessary to prevent the death of most of the surviving reconcentrados, but this leads to political questions, which I desire to avoid.

Our manifest duty.

“I wish merely to state in such a way as to be convincing that in consequence of the concentration of the people, some 200,000 Cubans are daily suffering and dying from diseases produced by a lack of nourishment, in the midst of what I think must be the most fertile country in the world, and that something must be done for them on a large scale, and at once, or a few months will see their extermination.  So far as I could see, they are a patient, amiable, intelligent set of people, some of them whom I saw begging having faces like Madonnas.  They are Americans, probably the oldest Americans of European descent.  Constant intercourse with the United States has made them sympathize with and appreciate us, who are but six hours by boat from them, if we do not sympathize with or care for them.  No order or permission from General Blanco can save the lives of many of them.  Indeed, many are too far gone to be saved by the best care and treatment.

“There was no indication of a cessation of hostilities by the insurgents.  If they do not voluntarily cease, their tactics are such that Spain cannot conquer them, if at all, before the reconcentrados will have had the finishing stroke.  But even the speedy termination of the war would not save many of them.  What they need is instant pecuniary assistance to the extent of $20,000 a day, distributed by our consuls.  Private charity, it seems, will hardly produce the amount.  Twenty thousand dollars would be but ten cents apiece for medicine, clothes and food.  When I left Havana I was informed that Consul General Lee had received $5,000 and some hundreds of cans of condensed milk.  As there are about 30,000 sufferers in Havana alone, the inadequacy of such contributions is manifest.  Whether Congress should make an appropriation, as in the case of the San Domingo refugees and other cases, it is not for me to say, but I beg the charitable to believe the statement of facts which I have made, and try to realize what they mean.”