The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-12-08

He Makes Report to the President just AS
the Other Members of the Cabinet Have
Done--His Estimate of the Present Stu
alton ON tho Island OF Cuba-Larger
Portion of the Coast In the Hands of the
Insurgents.
Washington, Dec. S.-For the first
time within the memory of old officials
the secretary of state has made a regu-
lar report to the president for trans
mission to congress, like the reports OF
other officers Of the cabinet. This re-
port was laid before congress Monday
as an appendix to the presidents mes
sage. 1t treats of many details of our
relations during the past year with for
eign governments that either were not
touched upon at all in the message or
were more briefly treated. Under the
head of Spain Secretary Olney has
much to say In regard to Cuba. and in
his report he sets out In great detail
the history of the growth of the rebel
lion; the present evil state Of affairs
on the island, and other facts upon
which the president bases his broad
statements and conclusions. No ref
erence is made to a report from Consul
Geneal Lee, but the secretary intimates
that his information comes principally
from the United States consuls, and so
must be regarded as confidential as to
its source.
Estimate of the Situation
The secretary's estimate of the pres
ent situation Is disclosed in the follow
ing paragraph made after prelimi-
nary statement of the destruction OF
the industrial resources of Cuba:
From whatever point of view we
regard the matter, II is impossible not
to discern that a state of things exists
at our doors alike dangerous to good
relations, destructive of legitimate COM
merce, fatal to the internal resources
OF Cuba, and most vexatious and try
ing because entailing upon this gov
ernment excessive burdens In Its do
mestic administration and in Its out
ward relations. This situation cannot
indefinitely continue without growing
still worse, and the time may not be far
distant when the United States must
seriously consider whether its rights
and interests, as we'll as its interna-
tional duties in view OF it's peculiar re-
| lations TO the island, do not call for
some decided change in the policy hith-
erto pursued"
Formidable Revolution.
To begin with the secretary makes II
plain that the present insurrection Is
! far more formidable than the famous
"ten year insurrection." which began
at Yara in 1868. He says that starting
| in the same portion of the island, II
early took proportions beyond its pre-
decessor and Herewith assumed an ag-
gressive phase. Passing the defensive
lines or trocha traversing the island
from north TO south, formidable bodies
of the revolutionary forces early in the
year established themselves in the rich
sugar planting districts of Santa Clara,
| Cienfugos, made hostile forays almost
| in sight of Havana itself, and, advanc-
| ing westward, effected a lodgment In
| the fertile tobacco fields of Pinar del
Rio. which has so far resisted all ef-
forts OF the Spanish forces to overcome.
Practically I'm Cuban Hands.
| The secretary says that while no
prominent seaport has been attacked
by the insurgents large part of the
| 1900 miles of sea coast is practically In
| their hands and from Its rugged and
wild character is peculiarly fitted for
guerrilla warfare and afforos easy
means of receiving clandestine supplies
| of men and arms. AS bearing upon the
question of recognition of the insur-
gents, probably soon to come before
congress in some shape, the following
| Is important as explaining his reason
| for declining recognition:
$50 far as our information slows.
there Is not only no effort for local gov
| eminent by the insurgents In the ter
ritories there overrun. but there Is
not even q tangible prentense to estab-
lished administration anywhere.
Conspicuously Lacking.
Their organization. confined to the
shifting exigencies of the military oper-
ations uf the hour, Is nomadic, without
definite centers and lacking the most
elementary features Of municipal gov
ernment. There nowhere appears the
nucleus of statehood. The machinery
for exercising the legitimate rights and
powers of sovereignty and responding
TO the obligations which de facto SOW
ereignty entails in the face or equal
rights Of other states. Is consequently
lacking. 1t is not possible to discern
homogeneous political entity. of pos
sessing and exercising the functions OF
administration, and capable, IL left tc
itself, of maintaining orderly govern
ment In its own territory and sustain
ing normal relations with the external
family of governments"