The Mena weekly star., 1896-12-09
THE MESSAGE.
The President Sends Communication to Congress On National Affairs.
THE CUBAN RESURRECTION.
fsevernmen< Revenues and Expenditures The Departments-rhe Pension Roll The Pacific Railroads-Our Financial
 Methods-Trusts and MonopoIies.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.-The Fifty. Fourth congress assem bled for the short session at noon to-day and soon after committees from the house and senate waited on the president and in. formed him that they were ready to receive any communication he mig Int have to make and the president then sent the following communication:
 TO inc Congress of tho United States:
 As representatives of the people in the legis- Iativc branch of their government you have as- sembled at time when the strength and ex- cellence of our free institutions and the fitness of our citizens to enjoy popular rule have been again made manifest A political contest in- volving mon1entous consequences fraught with feverish apprehension and creating ag- pressiveness so intense as to approach bitter ness and passion. has been waged throughout our land and determined by the decree of free and independent suffrage. without disturbance of our tranquility or the least sign Of weakness in our national structure When We consider these incidents and contemplate the peaeeful obedience and manly submission which have succeeded heated clash Of political opinions we discover abundant evidence of a deterni- nation on the part Of our countrymen to abide by every verdict of the popular will and to be controlled at all times by au abiding faith in the agencies established for the direction of the affairs of their government Thus our peo- pie exhibit patriotic disposition which en- titles them to demand of those who undertake Co make and execute their laws such faithful and unselhSh service in their behalf as can only be prompted by serious appreciation of the trust and confidence which the acceptance of public duty invites. in obedience to e con- stitutional requirement. herein submit to the congress certain information concerning na- tional affairs, with the suggestion of such leg islation as in my judgment ls necessary and expedient. To secure brevity and avoid tire some narration. shall omit many details con- cerning matters within federal control which. though by means unimportant. are more proita0ly discusse in departmental reports l shall also curtan this communication by emitting minute recital of many minor incl dents connected with our foreign relations which have hitherto found place in executive messages, but are now contained in report of the secretary of stabe, which is herewith sub mit:ed
 The Armenian Question.
 Al the outset Of a reference to more impor- tant tiaatters affecting our relations with foreign powers 1t would afford me satisfaction if l could assure he congress that the disturbed condition of AsiatIc Turkey had during the past year assumed less hideous and bloody aspect and that either as a consequence Of the awakening of the Turkish government to the demands Of human civilization, or as the re- suit Of decisive action on the part of the great nations having the right by treaty to interfere for the protection Of those exposci to the rage Of mere bigotry and cruel fauatcism. the shocking features of the situation had been mliigated. Instead. however. or welcoming a softening disposition or protective interyen- hon We have been afflicted by continued and not unfrequent reports of the wanton destruc- u0n Of homes and the bloody butchery Of men, women and c1ildren. made martyrs to their profession of Christian faith While none of our citizens in Turkey have thus far been killed or wounded, though often in the midst oi dreadfni scenes Of danger, .aG,sf safety in the future is by no means assured Our goy- ernment at home and our minister at Constan- anoplc have left nothing undone to protect our missionaries in Ottoman territory. who censti ute nearly all the individuals residing there who have Q right to claim our protection on the score of American citizenship Several naval vessels are stationed in the Med Herrancan as measure of caution and to fur hSh all possible relief and refuge in ease of emergency. We have made claims against the turkish government for the pillage and de- stfuctlon of missionary property at Harpool uha Marash during uprisings Ut those places.
 The Insurrection Tn Cuba.
 The instruction in Cuba still continues with an It's perplexities It is difficult to perceive shat any progress has thus far been made to- wards the pacification of the island or that the aluation of affairs as depicted in my last an- nuai message has in the least improved If spaln still holds Havana and tho seaports and Ai considerable towns, the insurgents still toain at will over at least two-thrds of the in- anu country If the determination of Spain 'o put down the insurreetion seems but to strengthen with the lapse of time and is evNenced by her unhesitating devotion
 
 tpfces to the task, there is much req soA to believe that the insurgents have gained = polht Of numbers, and character, and .ssources, and are none the less inflexiblo in @ sno'r resolve not to succunib, without practi- .aai9 .a securing the great project for which they ,s', ,.VA up arms. If Spain has not yet re-estab- Asheo her authority. neither have the insur- ssllS vet made good their title to be regarded .sa - ah independent state Indeed. as the con- .s .ss' has gone on, the pretense that civil gov e.Aiueut exists on the island, except so far as n,q ni,iH IN able to maintain 1t. has been pricti-
 'F "nandoned. Spain does keep on foot such ssspfernment, more or less imperfectly. in the se pa towns and their immediate suburbs. .a. nuN mat exception being made. the entire
 ty Is either given over to an- .NnS or Is subject 10 the mili- sa occupation of one or the other .r it IS reported. indeed, on reliable au- x s'l.y that. at tho demand of the commander cusu'ei or the insurgent army. the putative ,a..a s'ah government has now given up all at- sa.' ~s"e 10 exercise it's functions, leaving that ss'' ssss.fninent confessc ily (what there is the hsss ss reason for supposing it always to have VII en n lact1 government merely on paper. aa. .o the spanish armies able to meet their nrsssts nasonists In the open. or in pitched battle. iSnpe and decisive results might be os ss"uu M Tor and the immense superiority dl...' sne Spanish forces in numbers. fai, pune ' and equipment. could hardly R,, " tell greatly to their advantage. ~. ,s' taey are called upon to face a foe that