The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-12-17
.CLEvELAND'S LAST
Delivers Ills Final Message to
American Congress.
WOULD LET CUBA ALONE
Resolutions Promptly Of.
fered by Senators.
Minister Henry E. Cooper Dined in
Washington and Calls on
Mckinley.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. Pres
| ident Grover Cleveland's message was
presented to Congress this morning.
Perhaps the most interesting portion
of the message is that relating to the
debts due the Government by the Pa
cific bond-aided railroads. In plain
| language the President says it is time
that proceedings were taken to collect
these debts, by foreclosure if neces-
sary.
Former sentiments on questions re-
lating to the tariff and currency are
repeated, and foreign relations are re
viewed at length. There is just a
shadow of warning to Turkey on the
subject of Armenian outrages. These
significant words. are used: THE pres
ent somber prospect in Turkey will not
be long permitted to offend the sight
of ChristendOm."
The President says the Cuban insur-
gents have not yet proved their claim
to be recognized as belligerents, but
that the independence of the island will
be the only final settlement of the war
fare that is now blighting the Gem
| of the Antilles
The message opens with. cOngratu-
latOry remarks as to the outcome Of
the recent election, and the peaceful
obedience and manly submission
which have succeeded a heated clash of
political opinions"
Cuba is given the greatest promi-
nence. The following extracts are
made
The insurrectiOn in Cuba still con-
tinues with all its perpleXities. It is
difficult to perceive that any progress
has thus far been made toward the pa
cification of the island or that the sit
uation of affairs as depicted in my last
annual message has in the least i'm
proved. If Spain still holds Havana
and the seaports, and all the cOnsidera-
bic towns the insurgents still roam at
will over at least two-thirds of the isl
and country If the determination of
Spain to put down the instruction
seems but to strengthen with the lapse
of time and is evinced by her unhesi-
tating devotion 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 resources
and are none the less fnheXible in their
resolve not TO succumb without prac-
tically securing the great object for
which they took up arms. If Spain
has not yet re-estabIished her author
ity 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 government exists on the
island, except so far as Spain is able
4,x,e,l Ix-
abandoned. Spain does keep on foot
such a Government, more or less i'm
perfectly, in the large towns and their
Immediate suburbs. But, that eXcep-
ton being made. the entire country is
either given over to anarchy or is sub
ject to the military occupation of one
or the other party. 1t is reported, in
deed, on reliable authority, that at the
demand of the cOmmandeT-in-chief of
the insurgent army the putative Cuban
Government has now given up all at
tempt TO exercise its functions, leaving
that Government cOnfessedly (what
that is is the best reason for suppOsing
it always to have been in fact). Gov
eminent merely on paper.
No other great power, it may safely
be said, under circumstances of similar
perpleXity. would have manifested the
same restraint and the same patient
endurance 1t may also be said that
this persistent attitude of the United
States toward Spain in connection with
Cuba unquestionably evinces no slight
respect and regard for Spain on the
part of the American people. They in
truth do not forget her connection
with the discovery of the Western
Hemisphere, nor do they underestimate
the great qualities of the Spanish peo-
pie, nor fail to fully recognize their
splendid patriotism and their chival-
TOus devotion to the national honor.
When the inability of Spain to deal
successfully with the insurgents has
become manifest and it is demonstrat-
ed that her sovereignty is extinct in
Cuba for all purposes of its rightfui
existence and when hopeless strug-