Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-02
THE MESSAGE.
President Cleveland Putting
on Finishing Touches.
He Is Not Yet Prepared to Change
His Cuban Policy.
The End Of Cuban Rebellion Predicted The
Cuban lunta.

Washington, Dee. 1.--(SpeciaD. -f.fes-
dent Cleveland is putting the finishing
touches upon the last annual messages
which he will send to the congress AS Is
always the case with the message OF an
outgoing president, there Is not much IN
terest in it except such as attaches 60 'he
(,uban ouestion. No recommendations
which the president cares to makeas 10 the
tariff, the deficiency, the silver or banking
currency will receive tho slightest attention
ut the hands of congress, and II ne makes
any such recommendations they Will pe
more in the nature of u valedlctory ADDRESS
to the country than anything else but III
reference to Cuba whatever the president
NAV have to say will be looked for with
deep concern.
Tho Cuban Question.
There is a strong belief hero that tho
president is not prepared to change his
Cuban policy in any particular unless IL
be with reference to tho matter of recognl-
ton of the belligcrent rights of the insur-
gents. If Mr.. Cleveland had q year and
three months instead of simply quarter
of a year to stay in office, there can be lit
tle doubt he would take up the Cuban
question in a vigorous fashion and attempt
to find some solution of the problem. But
in tho nature of things he cannot consist
entity do so unless action be forced upon
him by some unforeseen event. 1t would
not DO fair to his successor in the White
House, to the country or to his own fame
deliberately to stir up trouble which he
could not remain to settle.
Up to the present time President Cleve-
land has been opposed to recognition of the
belligerent rights of the insurgents. He
was opposed thereto last winter, and the
resolution of congress was made concur
rent instead of joint in order to avert the
necessity of its signature or veto by the
executive am told by a member Of the
cabinet that Mr. Cleveland chief objection
in the past to recognition of the belliger-
ency of the insurgents is duo to considera-
ton for the insurgents themselves. 1t
would really hinder their operations more
than it would help them. 1t would, too,
add to the difficulties Of the United States
government, already trying enough.
As to Bclligerency.
l am told it is likely the presidents
message next week will contain an intima
ton that if congress in its wisdom thinks
it best to recognize belligerency le will
not object This would be concession to
the prevailing sentiment in favor of the
Cubans and would not greatly alter the
relations existing between tho United
States and Spain. General Bradley John
ston, who has been in Cuba as news
paper correspondent, recently made the
prediction in an interview that the bel
ligorency of the Cubans would be recog
nized by this government shortly after the
meeting of congress, and that this would
be quickly followed by declaration of
war upon tho United States by Spain.
The first part of his prediction Is conceiv-
able, but the latter is not.
But declaration of war by Spain on
this account is another matter. asked a
member of tho cabinet today what he
thought of General Johnston 8 prediction,
and he replied 1T is nonsense. The right
to recognize belligerency is inherent in ev-
cry nation. 1t is simply d matter of CON
venience for the government granting the
recognition, and has never, save in ex-
treme cases, been regarded as an act of
unfriendliness If merely local rebellion
were to break out In some country, dis
turbance of temporary duration which the
government We're known to be fully able
to suppress, and foreign power were to
Jump in and recognize the belligerency of
the rebels, which, after all, is simply a
declaration that q state of war exists, the
government having the trouble on its
hands might justly regard this an I'M
friendly act. But that Is not the case with
Cuba. The war there has been going on
for two years The Spanish have lost con-
troll of two-thir1s of tho island and are
not making any progress toward recovery
of it. If we recognize that n state of war
exists as IA matter of convenience to our
selves, Spain will have no right to object.
AS matter of fact, we know she will not
object openly, though actually She may
wish we had not done 1T. Talk of war on
this account is absurd. Most people con-
found recognition of belligerency with rec
ognition of Independence. They are quite
different things, and have little or no re-
lation one with tho other -
British Prediction.
President Cleveland is waiting till the
last minute before closing those paragraphs
of his message devoted to Cuba. He wants
to hear the latest news from Havana, and
moro particularly the latest intelligence as
to the success of General Weyler in his pur
suit of Macco. Weyler has accomplished
nothing as yet, and there is no likelihood
that no will succeed in doing anything be-
fore the meeting Of congress, A member
of the Spanish legation in this city tells NE
his people believe the Cuban war will come
to an end within few weeks They init
mate that General Gomez has been bought
off. and it certainly is queer that nothing
has been heard of his operations for several
months Maceo, they say, has but a small
force and is running short of ammunition
and will soon be compelled to cut and run
for life out Of Pinar del Rio When he
does. they add, he will be lost, and the re.
bellion will quickly come to an end.
This hopeful view is not Endorsed by
military men here and is, OF course, secuted
by the agents of the Cuban junta. They
scorn the suggestion that General Gomez
has sold out and say Maceo will soon lead
Weyler into trap and cut him to pieces
They predict that the winter will pass with
out Spain having heen able to accomnlisl
ANYTHING in the way of suppressing the re-
bellion, and that this will mean the ahan
comment of Cuba by the oppressors.
am told, On high authority. that the
danger OF the situation, so far as the i'm
mediate future is concerned js an ,,nris;no