Belligerent rights to the insurgents or neutrality became the topic of discussion during the close of President Cleveland’s administration.  The President took the ground that the Insurgents though deserving of proper sympathy, and such aid for humanity’s sake as could be given them, yet they had not established on any part of the island such a form of government as could be recognized at Washington, and accorded belligerent rights or rights of a nation at war with another nation; that the laws of neutrality should be strictly enforced, and America should keep “hands off” and let Spain and the Insurgents settle their own differences.

[Illustration:  General Fitzhugh Lee.]

Much money and time was expended by the United States government in maintaining this neutral position.  Fillibustering expeditions were constantly being fitted up in America with arms and ammunition for the Cuban patriots.  As a neutral power it became the duty of the American government to suppress fillibustering, but it was both an unpleasant and an expensive duty, and one in which the people had little or no sympathy.

Spain tries to appease public sentiment in America by recalling Marshal Campos, who was considered unequal to the task of defeating the Insurgents, because of reputed inaction.  The flower of the Spanish army was poured into Cuba by the tens of thousands—­estimated, all told, at three hundred thousand when the crisis between America and Spain was reached.

Weyler the “Butcher,” was put in command and inaugurated the policy of establishing military zones inside of the Spanish lines, into which the unarmed farmers, merchants, women and children were driven, penniless; and being without any visible means of subsistence were left to perish from hunger and disease. (The condition of these people greatly excited American sympathy with the Insurgents.) General Weyler hoped thus to weaken the Insurgents who received considerable of supplies from this class of the population, either by consent or force.  Weyler’s policy in reference to the reconcentrados (as these non-combatant people were called) rather increased than lessened the grievance as was natural to suppose, in view of the misery and suffering it entailed on a class of people who most of all were not the appropriate subjects for his persecution, and sentiment became so strong in the United States against this policy (especially in view of the fact that General Weyler had promised to end the “Insurrection” in three months after he took command) that in February, 1896, the United States Congress took up the discussion of the matter.  Several Senators and Congressmen returned from visits to the island pending this discussion, in which they took an active and effective part, depicting a most shocking and revolting situation in Cuba, for which Spain was considered responsible; and on April 6th following this joint resolution was adopted by Congress: