The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1896-12-11
HIS LAST MESSAGE.
WHAT PRESIDENT CLEVELAND
SAYS TO CONGRESS.
in and Finance Matters Reviewed at
Length Foreign Affairs Strongly
Presented.

President Clevoland's message read in
both houses OF congress on the opening
day OF the session was substantially as
follows:
TO the Congress of the United States:
As representatives of the people in the
legislative branch of their government,
you have assembled at Il time when the
strength and excellence of our free in
stituuons and the fitness of our citizens
10 enjoy popular rule have been again
mado manifest. political contest in
Volving momentous consequences fraught
with feverish apprehension, and Great
Ing aggrcssiveness so intense as to APP
proach bitterness and passion, has been
wagod throughout our land, and determ-
tined by the decree of free and independ-
cnt suffrage, without disturbance of our
tranquility or the least sign of weakness
in our national structure When we
consider these incidents and contemplate
the peaceful obedience and manly sub
mission which have succeeded Il heated
clash Of political opinions, We discover
abundant evidence of a determination 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 I'm the agencies established for the
direction of the affairs OF their govern
ment. Thus our people exhibit pat
riotic disposition which entities them to
demand of those who undertake TO
mako and execute their laws such faith
ful and unselfsh service in their behalf
as can only be promised by a serious
apprehension of the trust and confidence
which tho acceptance of public duty In
vites.
In obedience to a constitutional re-
quirement 1 herein submit to the con-
gross certain information concerning ma
tional affairs with the suggestion of such
legislation as i'm my judgment is neces-
sary and cXpcdient.
Our ReIntiOns with Turkey.
At the outset of a reference to the more
important matters affecting our relations
with foreign powers. it would afford me
satisfaction IL l could assure the congress
that the disturbed condition i'm Asiatic
Turkey had during the past year assumed
a less hideous and bloody aspect. and that
either as consequence of the awakening
of the Turkish government TO the demand
of humane civilization, or as the result OF
decisive action on the part OF the great
nations having the right by treaty TO In
terfero for the protection OF those exposed
10 the rage of mad bigotry and cruel fam
atheism. the shocking features OF the STU
alton had been mit.gatcd. Instead, now
ever. Of welcoming softened disposition
or protective intervention, we have been
afflicted by continued and not unfrequent
reports of the wanton destruction OF
homes and the bloody butchery OF men,
women and children, made martyrs TO
their profession of Christian faith.
While none of our citizens in Turkey
haVo thus far been killed or wounded,
though often i'm the midst of dreadful
scenes Of danger, their safety in the fu-
ture is by no means assured our gov
ernment at home and our minister AT
Constantinople have left nothing undone
20 protect our missionaries in Ottoman
territory, who constitute nearly all the
individuals residing there who have
right to claim our protection on the score
OF American citizenship. our EFFORTS In
this direction will not be relaxed; but the
deep feeling and sympathy that nave pceh
aroused among our peop.c ought not TO
so far blind their reason and Judgment as
10 lead them to demand impossible Things.
Tho outbreaks of blind fury which LEAD
70 murder and pillagc in Turkey occur
suddenly and without notice, ana an at
tempt on our part 20 force such hostlle
presence there as might be enectlve Ior
prevention or protection would not only
be resisted by the Ottoman government,
but would be regarded as an lnterrupuol
OF their plans by the great nations who
in their own time and method for the sc
curity OF life and property I'm Turkey: !
do not believe that the present som iito5
to offend the sight of Chsistendom. IL so
mars the humane and emil Ehtened civilZa-
ton that belongs TO the close OF the nine
tecnth century that il seems hardly pos
sibC that the earnest demand or goou peo-
pie throughout the Christian world for
its corrective treatment Will remain unan-
swered.
The Cuban Situation.
The instruction in Cuba still con-
tinues with all its perplexties. 1t is diff
fcult 90 perceive that any progress has
thus far been made towards the pacifica
ton OF the island or that the situation of
affairs as depicted i'm my last annual
message has in tho least improved. Ii
Spain has not yet rc-established her au-
thority, 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 thal
civil government exists on the island, eX-
cept so far as Spain Is able TO maintain
il has been practically abandoned. spain
more or less imperfectly. in the large
towns and their immediate Suburbs. but
that exception being made, the ent; nc
country is either given over 10 anarchy
or is subject to the military occupation
of one or the other party. Sucn con
dition of things would inevitably entai
immense destruction of property, even 4
il were tho policy OF both parties
to prevent Il as far as practicable. Bu
while such seemed to be the origina
noiicv of the Spanish government. it hai
now apparently abandoned 1t. and IS act
ing upon the same theory as the lnsur
v,
contest require the wholesale anninilatloi
of property that ii may not prove OF us'
and advantage to the enemy. 1t Is TO tn
same end that in pursuance OF genera
orders Spanish garrsons are now beinl
withdrawn from plantations and the ru
raj population required to concentrat
ttseIf i'm the towns The sure result woulc
seem TO be that the industrial value o
the island is fast diminishing. and tina
unless there is speedy ana rauica
change i'm existing conditions. 1t VII
soon disappear altogether. That Valu
consists very largely, of course. IN ~
capacity to produce sugar-a capacity al
ready much reduced by the inieirup ion
10 tillage which have taken place durin
tho last two years. 1t Is reliably assert
ed that should these Interruptions con
tinue during the current year and prac
tically extend. as is now threatened I
the entire producing territory OF a.
land, so much time and so much none
will be required TO restore the land 70 IL
normal productiveness that II Is extreme
Nv doubtful IL capital can be induced [
even make the ATTEMPT.
The spectacle OF the utter ruin OF ~
adjoining country, by nature one of tn
most fertile and charming on the globe
would engage the serious attention OF tn
government and the people OF the Unite
States In any circumstances. In point O
fact, they have a concern with IL wnlc
ais by no means of n wholly sentimental
philanthroDic character. II lies so near
We as 10 he hardly separated from on
'so~rft,r,- O,tr apfunl peCuniarV intprpS