The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-08
The MessnEe.

fairs and our relations with other nations.
The part of it which is of the greatest
/ interest is that relating to the Cuban war
The President has not changed his policy
in respect 10 it, but he tells Spain very
plainly what public sentiment in this
country in regard to 1t is, and points out
what course the United States win prob
! ably take unless the war is brought to
/ an end within a reasonable time. He
does not see that Spain has made any
progress towards re-establishing her au-
thority in Cuba since he sent his previous
message to congress, but he does see that
/ the feeling between the Spaniards and
the insurgents is becoming more bitter,
and that on the plea that they must do
all they can to cripple each other their
/ excuses are becoming more frequent and
deplorable
He does not believe, however that the
time has come for the United States to
intervene in the war with the view of
putting a stop to it. They are one of the
family of nations and must respect the
laws which those nations have accepted
for their guidance. 1t is difficult of course
for the United States to so guard her
great sea coast as to prevent sympa-
thizers in this country from rendering the
insurgents assistance, but they do what
the can to enforce the laws.
The President recognizes the fact that
the sympathy of the people of this coun-
try is with the insurgents, not only be-
cause they are struggling against a
tyrannical government, but also because
they believe American interests
would receive more generous con-
sideration if the Cubans were
to succeed in gaining their in
| dependence. Americans have property in
Cuba valued at from $4,000, 900 to $5O,OO0-
600, and our commerce with Cuba before
the beginning of the war amounted to
about $1OO,O0OOO0 year. The property in
terests are being destroyed and the com
merce is fast declining.
The United States have made a propo-
sition to Spain looking to an ending of
the war 1t is that Spain shall grant the
Cubans home rule-such home rule as will
be acceptable to the Cubans-and the
United States, in order to satisfy the Gu
bans of Spains sincerity, will furnish
them with a guaranty. in a way that will
not be offensive to Spain, of Spain's good
faith. This proposition Spain has under
consideration. If she accepts 1t the war
may soon come to an end. If she rejects
it, and the war reaches a point where it
is simply question whether the Span
iards or the insurgents can destroy the
more lives and property, the United States
will intervene in all probability and call
a halt
There will be much dissatisfaction of
course with the Presidents Cuban policy,
but those who give it careful considera-
ton will be apt to reach the conclusion
that it is wise and should be adhered to
by the incoming administration AS the
President says, the United States have
character to maintain. They cannot
afford to ignore the law of nations By
doing so they might make a precedent
that would be a source of great annoy
ance to them at some future time.
The President does not have much sym
pathy with those good Americans who
want the United States to send their
cruisers and battleships to ConstantinopIe
and bulldoze the sultan into doing
what the American missionaries in
| Turkey who sympathize with the Arme-
mans want done. He says we must not
demand impossible things. We should
quickly find ourselves in a conflict with
the nations of Europe if we undertook
to manage the domestic affairs of Turkey
in accordance with our ideas. The best
we can do is to protect Americans and
American interests in Turkey, and that is
what the government is doing
The President hasn't much to say about
the Venezuela boundary dispute. There
Is no occasion for saying much. because
that matter is practically settled as far
as this country is concerned, and in the
settlement of it this country won nota-
BILE diplomatic victory. 1t is gratifying to
know that treaty is being negotiated
in which the United States and Great
Britain agree to settle by arbitration all
differences which may arise between them
There are no other matters of very
great interest in the message which are
not more fully dealt with in the reports
of the heads of the different departments
At the close of his message the President
states his views of the currency question
at considerable length. He reiterates his
opinion that the greenbacks and treasury
notes should be retired, and that the gov.
eminent should go out of the banking bus.
mess. He is inclined to think that if the
greenbacks were retired the outstanding
treasury notes would not occasion much
trouble. The greenbaeks, he believes
should be funded into bonds bearing a low
rate of interest, and the national bank.
should have the privilege Of issuing note:
to the extent of the face value Of tn,
bonds on which the notes are based
He also holds that the tax on tn,
circulation of the banks should be re-
duced. II these things were done many
banks, he thinks. would be established
in the small towns throughout the coun
try and there would be a far NOR,