River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-10
Recognition of the Independence of
Cuba Impossible Under Pres
ent Circumstances.
Spain MIST Soon Take Steps TO
End the War, or Interference by
United States Will Follow.
Much Space Devoted to the Financial
Questioa-Necessity for Cur
rency Reform.

To the Congress of the United States:
As representatives Of the people In the
have assembled at time when the
strength and excellence OF our free insti-
tutions and the fitness of our citizens 70
enjoy popular rule have been again made
manifest. political contest involving
momentous consequences, fraught with
feverish apprehension and creating ag-
gressiveness so intense as to approach bit
throughout our land and determined by
frage, without disturbance Of our tran
GUILTY. or the least sign OF weakness in our
national structure when we eonsid ae
full obedience and manly submission which
have succeeded a heated clash OF political
opinions. we discover abundant evidence
OF a determination on the part of our coun-
trynien to abide by every verdict of the
popular Will and to be controlled at all
established for the direction of the af-
fairs OF their government
The Turkish Question.
At the outset of a reference to the more
tmpo. tant matters affecting our relations
isfaction II l could assure the congress
that the disturbed condition Ia Asiatic Tur-
less hideous and bloody aspect. and that
either as a consequence of the ava kening
Of the Turkish government 10 the deman1
Of humane civilization. or as the result
OF decisive action on the part of the great
nations having the right by treaty to In
TO the rage OF mad bigotry and cruel
fanatlcism. the shocking features of the
situation had been mltigated.
Instead, however, OF welcoming a soft
ened disposition or protective Intervention,
we have been afflicted by continued AID
not unfrequent reports. Of the. wanton as-
cry OF men. women and children. made
martyrs to their profession of Christian
faith
Protection of Americans
While none of our citizens in Turkey
have thus far been killed or wounded,
though often I'm the midst OF dreadful
scenes OF danger, their safety In the flu
ture Is by no means assured. our govern
ment at home and our minister at Con-
stantinople have left nothing .undone to
protect our missionaries In Ottoman terri
tory, who constitute nearly all the indvld-
uals residing there who have a right to
claim our protection on the score of Amer
Cuban Insurrection.
The Insurrection I'm Cuba still continues
with all It's perplexities. 1t Is difficult to
perceive that any progress has thus far
been made towards the pacihCation of the
island. or that the situation of affairs as
depicted In my last annual message has
IN the least Improved. II Spain stu holds
siderable towns, the insurgents still roam
a will over at least two-thirds of the in
land country. IL the determination of
Spain to put down the instruction seems
but to strengthen with the lapse OF time
and is evinced by her unhesitating devotion
OF LARGELY increased nltltdfl ana naEal
forces 10 the task. there is much reason TO
believe that the insurgents have gained
In point of numbers and character and re-
sources, and are none the less intiexible In
their resolve not TO succumb without prac-
tically securing the great objects for which
they took up arms.
Not Vet Entitled to Recognition.
IL Spain has not Yet rcestabllshed her
authority, neither have the Insurgents yet
made good their title TO be regarded as an
independent state. Indeed, as the con-
government exists on the island, except so
far as Spain is able to maintain II. has
been practically abandoned. Spain does
keep on foot such a government, more OF
less lmperfectly. in the large towns and
their immediate suburbs. But, that cxcep-
ton being made, the entire country is either
given over 10 anarchy or is subject to the
military occupation of one or the other
party.
why spain Does Not Win.
Were the Spanish arm les 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 dis
cipllne, and equipment, could hardly fail
TO tell greatly 10 their advantage.
situation DepIorabIe.
Meanwhile, as In all cases Of protracted
civil strife. the passions of the con,hstsnts
grow more and more infiamed an. exercises
on both sides become more frequent and
more deplorable. They arc also partici-
pated I'm by bands OF marauders, who, now
In the name of one party and now I'm the
name of the other, as may hest suit the
occasion, harry the country at will ard
plumber its wretched Inhabitants for their
own advantage. Such a condition of things
would Inevitably ent all immense destruction
of property, even If Il were the policY
of both parties to prevent II as 4ar q praC-
ticable. But while such seemed 10 be the
original policy OF the Spanish government.
1t has now apparently abandoned IL and =
acting upon the same theory as the in
surgents. namely. that the exigencies of
the contest require the wholesale annihila-
ton of property that It may not prove of
the Same end that in pursuance of general
orders, Spanish garrisons are now being
withdrawn from plantations and the rural
population required TO concentrate itself
The sure result would seem TO be that
the industrial value OF the island is fast
diminishing, and that unless there is n
speedy and radical change IN existing con-
ditions, IL will soon disappear altogether.
course. in its capacity TO produce s,gar-.a
capacity already much reduced by the in
terruptlons to tillage, which have taken
place during the last two years II Is re-
liably asserted that should these Interrupt
lions continue during the current year
and practically extend. as Is now threat
ened, TO the entire sugar -prou icing ter
ritory of the island. so much time and 50
much money will be required to restore
the land TO its normal productivcness that
II is extremely doubtful " capital car he
induced to even make the attempt
Would Engage Our Serious Attention.
The spectacle OF utter ruin of an adjoin-
ing country, by nature one of the most
fertile and charming on the globe, would
engage the serious attention of the gov
eminent and the people OF the United
States in any circumstance. In point OF
fact, they have concern with II which is
by no means OF wholly sentimental
or philanthropic character II lies so near
to Us as TO be hardly separated from our
territory. Our actual pecuniary interest in
it is second only to that Of the people and
government of Spain. 1t Is reasonably es-
fimated that at least from s30.OJ0,01e to
So. 900 OF American capital are invested
and other business enterprises on tho
island, The volume of trade between the
amounted TO about SCI. 0O0.000, rose in 1898
20 about sos. 100000. and In 1924. the
year before the present insurrectlon
broke out. amounted TO nearly Ss6.60e. 0e0.
vexatIous Entangiements.
Resides this large pecunlary stake in
the fortunes of Cuba, the United States
finds itself inextricably involved in the
present contest in other ways both vex-
atious and costly. Many Cubans reside in
this country and indirectly promote the
insurrection through the press, by public
meetings by the purchase and shipment OF
arms, by the raising of funds and by other
means. which the spirit OF our institutions
10 be made the subject of criminal prosecu-
tions. Some OF them. though cubans at
heart and in all their feelings aid lnteres' :.
have taken out papers as natuTallzed cttt-
zeus of the United States, proceeding re
sorted TO VII view 10 possible protec-
ton by this sovernment, ana not unnat-
Urally regarded with much Indignation by
the country of their origin
The Question of Intervention.
These inevitable entanglenents OF the
United States with the rebellion In Cuba,
the large American property Interests af-
fccted and considerations of philanthropy
and humanity in general have led to vc-
hement demand IN various quarters Tor
some sort of positive Intervention on
the part OF the United States 10 was at
first proposed that beiiigerent rights should
be accorded TO the insurgents-a propo-
sition no longer urged because untimeiy
and in practical operation clearly periluus
since been ard Is now sometimes contended
that the independence OF the insurgeaiS
should be recognized But imperfect and
restricted n the Spanish government OF
the island may be, no other exists thers---
temporary command Of a particular dis
trict can he 6iEuincd as species OF gov
eminent II Is now also suggested that the
United States should buy the isiand-a siir-
gestiou possibly worth % consideration
N there were any evidence Of a desire or
willingness o. the part OF Spain 10 enter
tain such a proposal. II Is urged, nnaliy.
internecine strife in Cuba should be ter
minated by our Intervention, even AT the
cost Of a war between the United states
and Spain-a war which its advocates con-
fdentiy prOphesy could be neither large
IN its Proportions nor doubtful In It's issue
Right. Sot Might, Must Rule.
The correctness OF this forecast need be
neither affirmed nor denied. The United
States has ncverthe less character TO
maintain as 4 naticn. which plainly die
tates that right and not might should re
the United States is not a nation 70 which
peace is a necessity. II IS In truth the most
pacific OF POWERS. and desires nothing So
much as 70 live in amity With al the Morle.
Its own ample and diversified domains sat
fsfv al i,ozSthie lonCinxS for territory, pre-