The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-12-10
HIS LAST MESSAGE,
Cleveland Instructs Congress On Ma
Points,

all eleculOn Wnlcn Hlleu the country
with feverish apprehension, and ex-
planning that he would not reiterate
minute details from departmental re-
ports which have already been pub
ished, the President proceeds to take
up the matter of our foreign relations
and says:
While none of our citizens in Turkey
have thus far been killed or wounded
though often in the midst of dreadful
scenes Of danger, their safety in the
future is by no means assured. Our
government at home and our minister
at COnstantinOple have left nothing
undOne to protect our missionaries in
Ottoman territory, who constitute
nearly all the individuals residing
there, who have a right to claim our
protection on the score of American
citizenship.
on ACTIVE INTERVENTION.
Our efforts in this direction Will non
be relaxed; but the deep feeling and
sympathy that have been aroused
among our people ought not to so far
blind their reason and judgment as TO
lead them to demand impossible
v
which lead to murder and pillage in
Turkey occur suddenly and without
notice, and an attempt on our part to
force such a hostile presence there as
might be effective for prevention or
protection, would not only be resisted
by the Ottoman Government, but
would be regarded as an interruption
of their plans by the great nations
who assert their exclusive right to in
tervene in their own time and method
for the security of life and property in
Turkey.
DAMAGES DENIANDED.
We have made claims against the
Turkish Government for the pillage
and destruction of missionary prop
erty at RarpOOt and Marash during
uprisings at those places. Thus far
the validity of these demands has not
been admitted, though our minister,
prior to such Outrages and in anticipa-
ton of danger, demanded protection
for the persons and property of our
missionary citizens in the localities
mentioned, and Notwithstanding the
strong evidence exists of actual com
plicity of Turkish soldiers in the work
of destruction and robbery, the
facts as they now appear do not per
claims, and nothing will be Ommitted
to bring about their prompt settle
mcnt.
ARMENIAN REFUGEES
A number of Armenian refugees
having arrived at our ports, an order
has been lately obtained from the
Turkish Government permitting the
wives and children of such refugees to
join them here. 1t is hoped that here
after no obstacle will be interposed to
prevent the escape of all those who
seek to avoid the perils which threaten
them in Turkish dominiOns. Our re-
Gently appointed consul to ErzerOum
is at his post and discharging the du-
ties from his office, though for some
uncOuntable reason his formal eXequ-
tur from the Sultan has not been is
sued,
| do not believe that the present
3d. somber prospect in Turkey will be
long permitted to offend the sight of
ChristendOm. 1t mars the humane
and enlightened civilization that be-
belongs to the close of the nineteenth
century that it seems hardly possible
that the earnest demand of good peO-
pie throughout the Christian world
for its corrective treatment will re
main unanswered,
THE CUBAN STRUGGLE.
The instruction in Cuba still con
tinues with all its perpleXities. 1t is
difficult to perceive that any progress
has thus far been made towards the
pacitication of the island or that the
situation of affairs as depicted in my
last annual message has in the least
improved If Spain still holds Havana
&c oil hn
cradle towns, the insurgents still roam
at will over at least two thirds OF the
inland country. If the determination
of Spain to put down the insurrectiOn
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, character, and resources,
and are none the less infleXible in
their resolve not to Succumb, without
practically securing the great objects
for which they took up arms.
GUERRILLA TACTICS.
Were the Spanish armies able to
meet their antagonists on the opener
in pitched battle, decisive results
might be looked for and the immense
superiority of the Spanish forces III
numbers and equipment could hardly
fail to tell greatly to their advantage.
But they are called upon to face a
foe that shuns general engagements,
that can choose, and does choose its
own ground, that from the nature of
the country is visible Or invisible at
pleasure, and that fights only from
ambuscade and when all the advan-
tages of position and members are on
its side. In a country where all that
is indispensable to life in the way of
food, clothing, and shelter is SO easily
obtainable, especially by those born
and bred on the soil, it is obvious that
there is hardly limit to the time
during which hostillities of this sort
may be prolonged. Meanwhile, as in
all cases of protracted civil strife, the
passions of the combatants grow more
and more infiamed and eXcesses on
both sides become more frequent and
more deplorable.
THE PROCESS OF DESTRUCTION.
Such condition of things would
inevitably entail immense destruction
. - Il