The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS
ANNUAL MESSAGE

ruption to tillage which has taken
place during the last two years. il is
reliably asserted that should these in
terruptions continue during The cur
rent year, and practically extend, as is
now threatened, to the entire suSai-
producing territory of the island, so
much time and so much money viii he
required to restore the land to its nor
NAL productiveness that it is extreme
ly doubtful if capital can be induced 20
even make the attempt. The 'pecUacle
of the utter ruin of an adjoining oun-
try, by nature one of the most fertile
and charming on the whole globe,
would engage the serious attention Of
the government and the people Of the
United States in any circumstances. In
point of fact they have concern With
it which is by no means of VII, lily
sentimental or rrlanthropic char lctc,.
1t lies so near to US as to be hardly
separated from our territory.
Our actual pecuniary interest in 1t is
second only to that of the people End
government of Spain. 1t is reasuiia aly
estimated that at least from $50, 909.O 900
TO $50 900 of American capital are
invested in plantations and in railroad,
mining and other business enterprises
on the island. The volume of trade be-
which in 1889 amounted to about Sea-
100000, rose in 1893 to about $103, ,O00.
and in 1894, the year before the present
lnSurrectiOn broke out, amounted 10
nearly $96,000,G00. Besides this large
pecuniary stake in the fortunes of
Cuba, the United States finds itself in
extricably involved in the present con-
test in other ways both vexatious and
costly.
Many Cubans reside in this country
and Indirectly promote the insurrection
through the press, by public meetings,
by the purchase and shipment of arms,
by the raising of funds, and by other
means, which the spirit of our institu-
tions and the tenor of our laws do not
permit to be made the subject Of Grim
mai prosecutions. Some of them,
thorough Cubans at heart, and in all
their feelings and interests, have takeif
out papers as naturalized citizens of
the United States, a proceeding resort
ed to with a view to possible protection
by this government, and not unneces-
sarIly regarded with much indignant IN
by the country of their origin. The
Insurgents are undoubtedly enCou a yed
and supported by the widespread SYM
pathy the people of this country al
ways and instinctively feel for every
struggle for better and freer govern
ment, and which, in the case of the
more adventurous and restless ele-
ments Of our population, leads in only
too many instances to active and per-
sonal participation in the contest.
The result is that this government is
constantly called upon to protect
American citizens, to claim damages
for injuries to person and property now
estimated at many millions of dollars,
and to ask explanations and apologies
for the acts of Spanish officials whose
zeal for the repression of rebellion
sometimes blinds them to the immuni-
ties belonging to the unoffending citi-
Zens o. friendly power. It follows
from the same causes that the United
States is compelled to actively police
a long line Of sea coast against un-
lawful expeditions, the escape of which
the utmost vigilance will not always
suffice TO prevent These inevitable
of the United States
with the rebellion in Cuba, the large
property interests affected
and considerations of philanthropy and
humanity in general have led to a We
hement demand in various quarters for
some sort OF positive intervention on
the part of the United States
II was at first proposed that belliger-
ent rights should be accorded the in
weighed because untimely and in prac-
teal operation clearly perilous and in
curious 20 orr own interests. 1t has
since been and is now sometimes con-
tended that the independence of the
insurgents should be recognized But
imperfect and restricted as the S,an-
ISM government of the island may be.
no other exist there-unless the will of
the military officer in temporary COM
of ar~t,,
algnlled as a species of government.
1t is now also suggested that the Unit
ed States should buy the island-a sug-
Sestlon possibly worthy of considera-
llon !. there were any evidences of a /
desire or Willingness on the part of
SPAIN to entertain such a proposal. 1t
is urged. finally. that, all other meth
DDS falling. the existing internecine (
strife IN Cuba should be terminated by I
our intervention even at the cost of a
war between the United States and /
Spain-a war which its advocates con- |
identity prophesy could neither be large !
n rs proportions or doubtful in its !.
ssue 10
The correctness of this forecast need
De neither affirmed nor denied Tho /
United States has, nevertheless. q char /
acter 20 maintain as a nation. which ,
plainly dictates that right and NOT /
night should be the rule of its con- ,
luct.
Further, though the United States is !
lot nation 70 which peace is a ne /
'essitv. it is in truth the most pacific |
If powers and desires nothing so much I
Is to live IN amity With all the world
Is own ample and diversified domains
satisfy al possible lodgings for terri
DRY, precludes all dreams Of conquest
lnd prevents any casting of coveto,1c
yes upon nelghboring regions. however +.
attractive. That our conduct towards
spain and her dOminions has consti-
uted no exception TO this national
disposition Is made manifest bv the
curse Of orr government. not only
hus Ear during the present insi,rrec-
ion, but during the ten years that fol-
owed the rising at Yara in 1868.
No other great power, it NAV safely
e said, under circumstances of similar
erDleXity, would have manifested tba
anne restraint. and the same natiant
ndurance. It may also be said that
his persistent attitude of the United
tates towards Spain in connection
'ith Cuba, unquestionably eviuces no
light respect and regard for Spain on
he part of the American people. They.
4 truth. do not forget her connection
'lth the discovery of the western hem
sphere, nor do they under-estimata
he great qualities of the Spanish peo-
lie. nor fail to fully recognize their
plendid patriotism and their chival-
ous devotion to national honor.
They view with wonder and adnira-
on the cheerful resolution with which
asst DodleS OF men are sent across
of miles of ocean and an
lormouS debt accumulated. that the