The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1896-12-17
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
President Clevela1d TRANSMITS His
Message to Congress-.
Relations with Foreign Countries Clearly
Defined-The Cuban Sitaation--RadicaI
Currency Reforms Urgcd-Trusts
and Monopoiies Discussed.


Fourth congress assem- bled for he short
session at noon to-day and soon after
committees from the house and
senate waited on the president and in
formed him that they were ready to
receive any communication he mil hit
have to make and the president then
sent the following communications;
To the Congress- of the United States;
As representatives OF the people in the leris-
lative branch of their government you have as
sembled at a time when the strength and ex-
cellence of our free institutions and the fitness
Of our riti7rIs 90 enjoy popular rule have been
again made manifest political contest in
volving tuomcutous consequences, fraught
with feverish apprehension and creating ag-
gressiveness so intense MS to approach bitter
ness and passion. has been waged throughout
our land and determined by the decree OF free
and independent 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 submission which have
succeeded heated clash OF political opinions
we discover abundant evidence OF determi-
nation 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 in
the agencies established for the direction of
the affairs of their government Thus our peo-
pie exhibit patriotic disposition which en-
titles them to demand OF those who undertake
TO make and execute their laws such faithful
and unselfish service in their behalf ms Gun
only be prompted by serious appreciation OF
the trust and confidence which the acceptance
OF public duty invites. In obedience TO con-
stitutional requirement. herein submit to the
congress certain Information concerning na-
tional affairs, with the suggestion of such leg
islation as In my Judgment is necessary and
expedient To secure brevity and avoid tire
zhu F.ff1if dat
cerning matters within federal control which,
though hy no means unimportant are more
prohtaOly discussed in departmental reports
! shall also curtail this communication by
emitting minute recital OF many minor Incl
dents connected with our foreign relations
which have hitherto found place in executive
messages, but are now contained in a report Of
the secretary OF state, which is here with sub
mitted
The Armenian Question.
At the outset of reference to more impor-
tant matters affecting our relations with foreign
powers it would afford me satisfaction If l
could assure the congress that the disturbed
condition OF Asiatic Turkey had during the
past year as >umed less hideous and bloody
aspect and that either as d consequence OF the
awakening of the Turkish government to the
demands OF human civilization or as the re-
suit OF decisive action on the part OF the great
nations having the right by treaty to interfere
for the protection of those exposed to the rage
of mere bgotry and cruel fanaticism, the
shocking featu OF the situation had been
mitigated. Instead. however, OF welcoming a
softenfng disposition protective interven-
tion, we have been afflicted by continued and
not unfrequent reports of the wanton destruc-
tion of homes and the bloody butchery of men,
women and children, made martyrs't to their
profession OF Christian faith. 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 gov
ernment at home and our minister at Constan-
tinople have left nothing undone to protect our
missionaries In Ottoman territory. who consti
tute nearly all the individuals residing there
who have n right to claim our protection on
the of American citizenship
Several naval vessels are stationed in the Med
iterranean as measure of caution and to fur
nish all possible relief and refuge In case of
emergency. We have made claims agaiIst the
Turkish government for the pillage and de-
struction of missionary property at Harpool
and Marash during uprisings at those places.
The Insurrection in Cuba.
The iinsurrection in Cuba still continues with
all its perplexities. 1t is dificult to perceive
that any progress has thus far been made to-
wards the pacifcation of the island or that the
situation of affairs as de picted in my last an
nual message has in the least improved. II
Spain still holds Havana and the seaports and
all considerable towns, the insurgents still
land country. II the determination OF Spain
TO put down the insurrecton seems but ia
strengthen with the lapse of time and is
evidenced by her unhesitating devotion
of largely increased military and naval
forces to the task, there is much rea-
son to believe that the insurgents have gained
in point of numbers, and character, and
resources, and are none the less intieXible in
their resolve not to succumb. without practi-
cally securing the great project for which they
took up arms. II Spain has not yet re-cstab-
lished her authority, neither have the insur-
gents vet made good their title to be regarde d
as an independent state. Indeed the con-
test has gone on, the pretense that civil gov
ernment exists on the island, except so far as
Spain is able to maintain it. has been practi-
caly abandoned. Spain does keep on foot such
agovernment, more or less imperfectly, In the
large towns and their immediate suburbs.
But. that exception being made. the entire
country is either given over to an
archy is subject to the mill
tary occupation Of the other
party Ut is reported, indeed. on reliable au-
tuority that. at the demand of the commander r
in-chief OF the insurgent army. the putative
Cuban government Las now given up all at
tempt To exercise its functions leaving that
government confesseily (what there is the
best reason for supposing it always to have
been in faCt government merely on paper
Were the Spanish armies able to meet their
antagonists in the open, or in pitched battle
prompt and decisive results might be
looked for and the immense superiority
OF the Spanish forces in numbers
discipline 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 advantages of position and
hal nra IN fG N n rN har re
all that is Indispensable to life in the way OF
food. clothing and shelter is so easily obtain
able especially by those born aud bred on the
soil 1t is obvious that there is hardly "a limit tC
the time during which hostilities of this sort
may be prolonged. Meanwhile as in al
cases of protracted civil strife, the pas
sions OF the combatants grow more and
more infiamed and eKeesses on both sides
become more frequent and more eplorable
They also are participated in by bands Of
marauders, who now in the name of one party
and now in the name OF the other as may best
suit the occasion, harry the country at viii
and plunder its wretched inhabitants for theil
own advantage. Such q condition of things
would inevitably entail immense destruction
OF property even II IL were the policy OF bott
parties TO prevent 1t as far as practicable Bu
while such seemed TO be the original policy 81
the Spanish government IL has now apparent
ly abandoned it, and is acting upon the same
theory as the Insurgents, namely, that the ex'
igencies of the contest require the Wholesale
annihilaton of property, that it may moi
prove OF use and advantage to the enemy
1t is to the same end that in pursuance OF gen
eral orders, Spanish garrisons are now being
withdrawn from plantations and the rural pop
ulation reouired to concentrate itself In the