Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-12-11

The Cuban Rebellion the Principal Topic
Discussed-Time Not Yet Ripe, He Says
For Our Intervention-spain warned
That Hostiiities Must Soon Cease.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2. - The United
States began the second session Of the Fif
ty-fourth congress with crowded galleries
and with that accompaniment Of activity
and of greeting that usually attends the
reassembling of congress. But the upper
branch of congress never puts aside its
dignity, and the meeting developed nc
demonstration or dramatic incidents. The
reading Of the presidents message was the
feature of the proceedings, and beyond
this, no attempt was made to enter upon
the business Of the session. To many OF
the foreign representatives occupying the
diplomatic gallery the message had special
interest and significance owing to the part
they had taken in the conspicuous foreign
events to which the president referred
While the scenes attending the opening
of the house were both brilliant and inter
esting in the crowds that througed the
galleries and the conspicuous personages
present, the proceedings themselves were
dull and spiritless, being distinotively
routine.
The house met, the chaplain invoked the
divine blessing on the work Of the session,
the roll was called, a committee consisting
of Mr. Cannon of Illinois, Mr.. Payne Of
New York and Mr.. Turner of Georgia was
appointed to wait on the president, and
the latter's annual communication was
read The reading consumed about two
hours. IL was MIR. Cleveland's farewell
message and there was much curiosity as
to his views on Cuba especially, but there
was no demonstration, either of approval
or dissent throughout its reading. The
holiday nature of the opening season was
saddened by the announcement Of the
death of ex-Speaker Crisp, which Mr.. Tur-
ner Of Georgia formally made to his asso-
ciates. Out Of respect to the memory Of
the distinguished Georgian, the house,
after adopting appropriate resolutions, i'm
mediately adjourned.
The Presidents Message.
The most vital topic in the PRESIDENT s
message and the one Of most general inter
est is the Cuban question. The situation
In Cuba and our relations with Spain are
reviewed at length, but the president does
not think the time has yet arrived for in
tervention on the part of this country or
the recognition of the insurgents as bel
hgerents. He says;
1T is difficult to perceive that any
DIOBEtsh HAS hnuh lhI Dttu IDuQD DOWAIu
the pacifcation of the island or that the
situation Of affairs as depicted in my last
annual message has in the least improved.
If Spain still holds Havana and the sea-
ports and all the considerable towns, the
insurgents still roam at will over at least
two-thirds of the inland country. II the
determination of Spain to put down the
insurrection seems but to strengthen with
the lapse of time and is evinced by her
unhesitating devotion Of lar5ely increased
military and naval forces to the task, there
is much reason to believe that the insur-
gents have gained in point Of numbers and
character and resources and are none the
less inflexible in their resolve not to sue
cumb without practically securing the
great objects for which they took up arms.
If Spain has not yet re-established her au-
thority, neither have the insurgents yet
made good their title to be regarded as an
independent state Indeed, as the contest
has gone on, the pretense that civil gov
ernment exists on the island, except so far
as Spain is able TO maintain 1t, has been
practically abandoned. Spain does keep
on foot such a government, more or less
imperfectly, in the large towns and their
immediate suburbs"
Favors Autonomy For Cuba.
Of the Cubans the president says:
1T is in the assumed temper and dispo-
sition Of the Spanish government to RENE
dy these grievances, fortified by indications
of influential public opinion in SPAIN that
this government has hoped to discover the
most promising and effective means of
composing the present strife with honor
and advantage to Spain and with the
achievement Of all the reasonable objects
of the insurrection. It would seem that
If Spain should offer TO Cuba genuine
autonomy--a measure of home rule which,
while preserving the sovereignty of Spain
would satisfy all rational requirements of
her Spanish subjects-there should be no
just reason why the pacifcation of the
Island might not be effected on that basis.
such result would appear TO be in the
true interest of all concerned. 1t would
at once stop the conflict which is now con-
suming the resources of the island and
making 1t worthless for whichever party
may ultimately prevail -
Referring to the efforts of the admins
tration TO bring about a cessation of hos
tilities, the president says:
1T was intimated by this government
20 the government of Spain some months
ago that, If a satisfactory measure of home
rule were rendered the Cuban insurgents
and would be accepted by them upon a
guarantee of its execution, the United
States would endeavor to find way not
objectionable to Spain Of furnishing such
guarantee. While no definite response to
this intimation has yet been received from
the Spanish government, 1t is believed to
be not altogether unweloome, while, as al
ready suggested, no reason is perceived
why 1t should not be approved by the in
surgents
Neither party can fail to see the impor-
tance of early action, and both must realize
that to prolong the present state Of things
for even short period will add enormous
ly to the time and labor and expenditure
necessary to bring about the Industrial
reouperation of the island.
"It is therefore ferventIy hoped on all
grounds that earnest efforts for healing
the breach between Spain and the insur
gent Cubans upon the lines above indi-
Gated may be at once inaugurated and
pushed to an immediate and successful
Issue.
Our Friendly Offers.
1.-THE friendly Offices Of the United
States, either In the manner above out
lined or in any other way consistent with
our constitution and laws, will always be
at the disposal Of either party.
Whatever circumstances may arise, our
policy and our interests would constrain
us to object TO the acquisition Of the island
or an Interference with its control by any
other power.
1T should be added that it cannot be
reasonably assumed that the hitherto ex-
pectant attitude Of the United States will
be indefinitely maintained.
while we are anxious TO accord all due |