Bridgeton pioneer., 1896-12-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To the Congress of the United States:

AS representatives of the people in the
legislative branch of their government you
have assembled at time when the strength
and excellence of our free institutions and
the fitness Of our citizens to enjoy popular
rule have been again made manifest. A po-
litical contest involving momentous conse-
quences, fraught with feverish apprehen-
eion and creating aggressiveness SO intense
as to approach bitterness and passion, has
been waged throughout our land and de-
termined by the decree of free and inde-
pendent suffrage, without disturbance of
our tranquility or the least sign of weak
ness in our national structure.
When we consider these incidents and
contemplate the peaceful obedience and
manly submission which have succeeded a
heated clash of political opinions, we dis
cover abundant evidence of determine
tion on the part of our countrymen to abide
by every verdict of the popular will and to
be controlled at all times by an abiding
faith in the agencies established for the di-
rection of the affairs of their government
X +
At the outset of a reference to the more
important matters affecting our relations
with foreign powers it would afford me
satisfaction if / could assure the congress
that the disturbed condition in 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 humane civilization or as the result of
decisive action on the part of the great ma
tions having the right by treaty to inter
fere for the protection of those exposed to
the rage of mad bigotry and cruel fanati-
~, Of 4Io cid
had been mitigated. Instead, however,
of welcoming softened disposition or pro-
tective Intervention we have been afflicted
by continued and not infrequent reports of
the wanton destruction of homes and the
bloody butchery of men, women and chill
dren, made martyrs to their profession Of
Christian faith.
The Situation In Turkey.
While none of our citizens in Turkey
has thus far been killed or wounded,
though often in the midst of dreadful
scenes of danger, their safety in the future
is by no means assured. Our government
at home and our minister at Constantine
pie have left nothing undone to protect
Dur missionaries in Ottoman territory,
WHO constitute nearly all the individuals
residing there who have a right to claim
Dur protection on the score of American
citizenship. Our efforts in this direction
will not be relaxed, but the deep feeling
and sympathy that have been aroused
among our people ought not to so far blind
their reason and judgment as to lead them
10 demand impossible things. The out
breaks of blind fury which lead to murder
and pillage in Turkey occur suddenly and
without notice, and an attempt on our
L. L
rs might be effective for prevention or pro-
lection would not only be resisted by the
Ottoman government, but would be re-
garded as an interruption of their plans by
the great nations who assert their exclusive
right to intervene in their own time and
method for the security of life and property
In Turkey
Several naval vessels are stationed in the
Mediterranean as a measure of caution and
10 furnish all possible relief and refuge in
case of emergency.
We have made claims against the Turk
ish government for the pillage and destruc-
tion of missionary property at Kharput and
Marash during uprisings at those places.
Thus far the validity of these demands has
not been admitted, though our minister,
prior to such outrages and in anticipation
of danger, demanded protection for the
persons and property of our missionary
citizens in the localities mentioned and
Notwithstanding that strong evidence ex-
lists of actual completely of Turkish SOL
diers in the work of destruction and rob-
berry.
The facts as they now appear do not per-
NIT us to doubt the justice of these claims,
and nothing will be omitted to bring about
their prompt settlement.
A number of Armenian refugees having
arrived at our ports, an order has lately
been obtained from the Turkish govern
ment permitting the wives and children of
such refugees to join them here. 1t is
hoped that hereafter no obstacle will be in
terposed to prevent the escape of all those
who seek to avoid the perils which threaten
them in Turkish dominions.
Our recently appointed consul to Ere
rum is at his post and discharging the
duties of his office, though for some unac-
countable reason his formal exequatur
from the sultan has not been issued.
do not believe that the present somber
prospect in Turkey will be long permitted
to offend the sight of Christendom. 1t so
mars the humane and enlightened civiliza-
tion that belongs to the close of the nine
teenth century that it seems hardly posi-
BILE that the earnest demand of good people
throughout the Christian world for it's cor
rective treatment will remain unanswered
The Cuban Rebellion.
The insurrection in Cuba still continues
with all its perplexities. 1t is difficult to
perceive that any progress has thus far
been made toward the pacification 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 seaports and all the con-
siderable towns, the insurgents still roam
at will over at least two thirds of the in
land country. If the determination of
Spain to put down the insurrection seems
but to strengthen with the lapse of time
and is evinced by her unhesitating devo-
tion of largely increased military and naval
forces to the task, there is much reason to
believe that the insurgents have gained in
point OF numbers and character and re-
sources and are none the less inf1eyihIa in