The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-12-15

An Extraordinary Report by the
Secretary of state.

IN EhAtEUO2utftnfs AhCpoEt W tno
Secretary of State.
For the frat time within the memory
OF old officials, the Secretary-Ot State
has made a regular report 10 the Pre-
sident for transmission to Congress,
like the reports OF other officials OF the
Cabinet. This report was laid before
Congress as an appendix TO the Pre-
sidents message. 1t treats OF many
details of American relations during
the past year with foreign govern
ments that either were not touched
upon at all In the message or were
o n briefly treated.
Under the head of Spain, Secretary
Olney has much to say In reference TO
Cuba, and In his report he sets out In
great detail the history of the, growth
of the rebellion, the present evil state
OF affairs on the island and other facts
upon which the President bases bis
broad statements and conclusions. No
reference Ia made to q report from
Consul General Lee, but the Secretary
intimates that his Information III
principally from the United States
Consnls, so must be regarded as con-
tioential as to its source. The Secre-
tary's estimate of the present situation
Is disclosed in a paragraph made after
q preliminary statement of the destruc-
tton of the Industrial resources OF Cuba,
saying:
From whatever point OF view
we regard the matter it is impos-
sible not to discern thai u state of
things exists at our doors alike dan
gerous to good relations, destructive
of legitimate commerce., fatal to h
internal Of Cuba N most
vexatious and trying because entail
ing upon this government excessive
/ g.. to-. ~ - iatx 80 -
tion and in its outward relations.
This situation cannot indefinitely con
tinue without growing still worse, and
the time may not be far distant when
the United States must seriously JON
slider whether its rights and interests
a. we'll as it's international duties, in
view of it's peculiar relations to the
island, do not call for some decided
change in the policy hitherto pur-
sued"
To begin with, the Secretary makes
1t plain that the present insurrection
is far more formidable than the famous
ten years insurrection," which began
at Yara in 1868. He says that, start
ing In the same portion of the island,
1t very early took proportions beyond
its predecessor and there was assumed
an aggressive phase. Passing the de-
fensive lines Of trochas, tragersing the
island from North to South, formidable
bodies of the revolutionary forces early
in the year established themsel, es in
the rich sugar planting districts Of
Santa Clara, Cienfugos and Mantazas.
made hostile forays almost in sight OF
Habana itself, and, advancing West
ward, effected a Judgment in the fertile
tobacco fields of Pinar del Rio, which
has so far resisted all efforts OF the
Spanish forces to overcome. The
Secretary says that while no prominent
seaport has been attacked by the liz
surgents, a large part of the 1900
miles Of seacoast is practically in their
character is peculiarly fitted for guer-
rilla warfare and affords easy means of
receiving clandestine supplies Of men
and arms.
Bearing upon the question OF recog.
milton of the insurgents, probably soon
to come before Congress in some shape,
Secretary Olney says:
$50 far as our information shows,
there is not only nc effective local gov
eminent by the insurgents in the ter
ritoriCs they Overrun, but there Is not
even a tangible pretence to establish
administration anywhere. Their or
ganization, confined to the shifting ext
gencies of the military operations o,
the hour, is nOmadic, without definite
centres and lacking the most elemen-
tary features of municipal government.
There nowhere appears the nucleus OF
statehood"
The Secretary illustrates his point
as to the responsibility Of the insur.
gents by citing their destruction OF
American plantations and oppression
Of American planters who grind cane,
which he characterizes as acts OF
anarchy. On the other hand, he show
that in the capital cities ard %seaports
and all parts OF the island with which
the United, States or its citizens main.
tain legitimate normal intercourse the
Spanish power is supreme, though
often exercised in a vexatious and
arbitrary way, calling for just remon-
STRANGE, and most Of the functions OF
government proceed as in time Of
peace. Recurring to his comparison
OF this. -insurrection with those that
have preceded it, Secretary Olney
makes this significant statement /:
From every accessible indication
1t is clear hat the present rebellion is
on a far more FORMIDABLE scale as to
numbers, intelligence and Representa-
tive features than any of the preced-
ing revolts of this century that the
corresponding effort of Spain for its
repression has been enormously aug
iSuOC : tthu UhaO uSSplUC VIC COuS UtuI
influx of fresh armies and material Of
war from the metropolis, the rebellion,
after nearly two years of successful
resistance, appears to-day to be in d
condition to indefinitely prolong the
contest on its present line"
He also compliments the tactical
skill displayed by the leaders of the
i~nsurrection. THE insurgept armies
says the Secretary, " fairly represent
the intelligent aspirations Of a largo
proportion OF the people Of the whole
island and it is shown hat they pur-
pose to wage this contest on these bet
ter grounds of vantage to the end, and
to make the present struggle a SUI
preme test of the capacity of the Cuban
people to win for themselves and their
children the heritage Of self-govern-
ment."
The Secretary speaks OF the appall-
ing phases Of the struggle, such as
often appear In contests among the
Latin races of the Western hemisp-
here of the excess and forceful and
arbitrary acts Of the military Of tho
ravaging OF private property, the
violation Of principles of civilized war
fare by irresponsible officials, and the
killing of noncompliance, In some In
stances, happily few, OF American
citizens.
PROHIBITION ADDRESS.