The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-09
VIEWS ON THE MESSAGE.
WHAT WELL-KNOWN CFix'NS
HERE THINK OF THE DOCth'N''
Thought by Many to he an Ab'c nv" ''"'
BILE Paper Full OF sound Judgment
Especially the Cuban Question:

great deal or '"'''''
Cleyeland's message 20 Congress mas Due"
manifested In Richmond. The document
40. widely discussed throughout the city
Yesterday. Below IS given the views OF
some well-known citizens on the SUBJECT:
Al, Iobn II. Branch.-"lt is very able
,nessagc. the best ever written by the
president. l endorse everything he says
regarding Cuba l should like his hnan-
olal recommendations better If he had
recommended that State banks be allowed
10 issue circulating notes. 1 think the
settlement OF the Venezuelan trouble and
supprcsSing the Chicago riot In 1894 VIII
carry Mr.. Cleveland name down TO pos
tcrity as one Of our very best Presidents.
Major Fred. X. Scott.-"The portion OF
the message relating TO Cuba is admirable.
Ills financial recommendations are also
good but they do not 40 FAR enough
This message. 1 think, win settle the Gu
ban question. III there was any alarm
that the menace OF Cleveland 10 Spain
would ombroil this country, the approval
OF the English papers shows that we are
perfectly safe
UNCLE SAM AND SPAIN.
Major James II. DOOlcy.-"Ihc most III
tcresting portion of the Presidents res
SAGE Is that which sets forth his position
on the Cuban question. What he ms 10
say does net seem TO settle anything as
TO the future. He docs not deci - '.lc
. great question whether we shoul1 rave
war with Spain: but we ind that MT
Cleveland has opened ncgotlt.Das WIN
the Spanish government, ana naue u
proposition for the settlement OF the am
Guilty between Spain and her colony upon
the basis Of autonomy. 10 be guarahteeu
by the United States. AS Spain has not
rejected this proposition II IS iair 10 as
sumo that she has 1t under consideration.
IL she is entertaining the proposition ana
considering II. and has not yet replied 10
A. N IS because She holds il I'm reserve
as a feasible manner OF settling the
trouble IN the event OF her faiurc 10
repress the insurrcctiOn by armed FORCE
J. therefore, infer that when the patience
OF the United States government becomes
exhausted and the alternative Is present
cd To Spain Of war with the United states
or the acceptance Of our proposition
Spain will grant autonomy to Cuba rather
than go 10 war
WITH SOME SURPRISE.
81 have read the portion of the mes
SAGE which refers to our finances and
surplus reserve with some surprise. had
expected some broader and more liberal
proposition from the President on the
subject ~ banking. and ! totally dissent
from the position he seems 10 take that
II would be better to apply the surplus
In the Treasury to our current expenses.
and to raise more revenue for the Gov
eminent.
There are two things now necessary
to the complete restoration OF confidence
in the finances of this country. The one
Is II know that we are not going TO have
a foreign war: the other that revenue
bill will be passed adequate to meet the
expenses OF the Government. OF course.
Ill off In hQ "
TEN. but that is not to be expected of this
Congress.
"As whole. the message IS an unusu-
ally strong document. full of interest to
our people"
Coione! Thomas Whitehead-"I have
perused closely those portions of the mes
sage relating to the Cuban and financial
questions 1 think the President discussed
the matter relating TO Cuba in an able
and most conservative manner. Mr.. Cleve-
land makes no recommendations regard
ing our finances calculated to be of any
benefit ut the present time. He wisely
leaves the incoming administration TO
work out its own policy without sugges-
tions from him"
Mr.. NJ. S. Quarles-'T have not yet had
time TO read the message carefully. and
therefore cannot now express any opin-
ion"
Mr.. w. ]. Blunt have Aot as yet
the portion relating TO Cuba"
A SENSIBLE DOCUMENT.
Rev DR.. J. c. Hiden.-'I think the
Presidents message is a solid. sensible
document His position on the Cuban
question Is. In my opinion. the correct
one What he says about finance Is wei
enough 90 far as 1t goes. am in favor
OF state banks which | think would be
great relief by way of solving the finan-
cial problem.
THE RIGHT THING.
General Dabney II. Maury, who Is
thoroughly conversant with Cuban affa's,
said that it was very patent that the
President had done the right thing. as
far ~ that question Is concerned. 1--WE
do not want war with Spain, and Spain
certainly does not want war with r.'
Mr. Junius Mosby said he was I'm favor
of recognizing the belligerent rights Of
Cuba. and. though It was possible that
any such action on the part of this coun-
try would have brought about compiled
tons with European powers he was ut
terly opposed TO the continued preparation
OF such atrocities as have characterized
the war between Spain and Cuba on the
American Continent
Colonel John b Cary said he was hear
tily in favor of)recognizing Cuba as a
belligerent Stat ( and was of the opinion
mat tnlS country Snoulu put an emu 10
the war. If Spa In does not.
WILL EVENTUALLY BE FREE.
Rev. Dr. Starr said this country must
uphold It's record as a pacihcator. Backed
by our record. the action taken by the
President is the only course open to him.
Collision will come sooner or later. The
pride of the Spanish lIdalgo and Grandee
will not permit them 10 give up Cuba,
and they viii either hold il or fight but
Cuba viii eventually he free.
Colonel Wineo said that the message
was remarkable for nothing so much rs
the deXterity with which President Cleve-
land eVaded the direct issue .IIe talks
good deal but says nothing and the
burden Of the situation has been thrown
on Congress"
GOVERNOR OFERRALI..
Governor O'Ferrall when asked last
night whether he would consent TO OK
press his Views on the message Of Presi-
dent Cleveland very kindly agreed TO 90
So and expressed himself In about the
following manner:
Mr.. clcveland's message like every
thing from his pen. IS able and clear.
lie treats every subject in a direct and
etatesmaniikc manner, and nothing has
escaped his attention.
II have been particularly struck with
his position on the Cuban question: il is
impregnable The first prcreouisite TO
the recognition OF belligerent rights is
Oh organized and established govern
ment No one will contend that such
OoNerpDapnf exfsfe "a ruba nh. f.i.,..l