The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
THE CUBAN QUESTION ITS PRINCE
 PlL FEATURE.

The Rights of tho Insurgents to Recos-
 milton Not Yet Established-Wha Our
 Government Has Suggested to spain-A Guarantee of Home Rule Suggested as a Basis of Peace-When We May Have to
 Interfere--Our Interest in the Turkish
 Outrages s-The Venezuelan Treaty-Con-
 suIar Service Reform-Needs of the Vari-
 ous Departure Tariff and the
 Currenoy-A Final Plea for Economy. Washington, Dec 1.-The president to-day transmitted to congress the fol- lowing message:
 To the Congress of the United States:
 As representatives of the people in the legislative branch of their government, you have assembled at time when the strength and excellence of our free in stiutions, and the fitness of our citi- zens to enjoy popular rule have been again made manifest. A political con- test involving niomentous consequences, fraught with feverish apprehension and creating aggressiveness so intense as to approach bitterness and passion, has been waged throughout our land, and determined by the decree of free and independent suffrage, without disturb- lance of our tran utility, 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 succeed ed a heated clash of political opinions, we discover abundant evidence of de- termination on the part of our country men 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 people exhibit a patriotic disposi- ton which entities them to demand of those who undertake to make and exc cute their laws such faithful and unsel- fish service in their behalf as can only be prompted by a serious appreciation of the trust and confidence which the acceptance of public duty invites.
 THE SITUATION IN TURKEY.
 At the outset of reference to the more important matters affecting our re- idtlolio Wltll lDiCls5i pOWSlS3 ~ NoNAN afford me satisfaction if I could assure the congress that the disturbed condi- ton in Asiatic Turkey had during the past year assumed a less hideous and bloody aspect, and that either as con- sequence of the awakening of the Turk ish government to the demands of hu- m&ne civilization, or as the result 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 mad bigotry and cruel fanaticism, the shocking features of the situation had been mitigated. Instead, however, of welcoming soft ened disposition or protective inter- vention, we have been afflicted by con tinued and not unfrequent reports of the wanton destruction of homes and the bloody butchery of men, women and children, made martyrs to their pro- fession of Christian faith.
 While none of our citizens inTurkey 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 claim our protec- tion on the score of American citizen ship Our efforts in this direction will not 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 things. The outbreaks of blind fury which lead to murder and pillage in Turkey occur suddenly and without notice, and an at tempt on our part to force such hostile presence, those as might be effective for prevention or protection, would not only be resisted by the Ottoman gov ernment, but would be regarded as an interruption of their plans by the great nations who assert heir exclusive right to intervene in their own time and method for the security of life and property in Turkey. Several naval yes sells are stationed in the Mediterranean as a measure of caution, and to furnish all possible relief and refuge in case of emergency. We have made claims against the Turkish government for the pillage and destruction of missionary property at Harpoot and Marash dur ing uprisings at those places. Thus far the validity of these demands has not been admitted, though our minis ter, prior to such outrages and in an- ticipation of damage, demanded protec- tion for the persons and property of our missionary citizens in the locali ties mentioned, and notwithstanding that strong evidence exists of actual complicity of Turkish soldiers in the works of destruction and robbery, the facts as they now appear do not permit us to doubt the justice of these claims. and nothing will be omitted to bring about their prompt settlement.
 A number of Armenian refugees hay ing arrived at our ports, an order has lately been obtained from the Turkish government permitting the wives and children of such refugees to join them here. It is hoped that hereafter no ob- stacle will be interposed to prevent the escape of all those who seek to aviod the perils which threaten them in Turk ish dominions.
 Our recently appointed consul to Err zerum is at his post and discharging the duties of his office, though for some unaccountable reason his formal exe- quatur from the Sultan has not been issued. I do not believe that the pres