Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-12-10

terests OF the United States in Cuba.
Almost 100000, 900 of American capital
is invested there and the trade before
nually. Our concern in Cuba is there
fore neither sentimental nor wholly
philant hropic. He points out the diff
ticulty to which We are subjected by
reason of the many Cuban residents
who are naturalized Americans and
through public meetings, the press
war funds, and other means require
the constant vigilance Of the auth
titles at Washington. Besides this, the
natural sympathy OF the people OF this
country with those who struggle for a
better and a treer government, COM
bined with the adventurous and restless
elements in our population, makes the
position of the United States in its
declared nutrality most difficult 10
maintain These inevitable entangle-
ments and considerations Of philan-
thropy and humanity in general have
led to vehement demand in various
quarters for some sort Of positive in
terVention on the part OF the lmi"d
States. The president declares against
according belligerent rights, does not
think Spain desires to sell Cuba, and
deprecates a war with Spain as a
settlement of the question on the
ground that might is not a sufficient
reason for this country to violate its
universal reputation as the most pacific
of powers and the desire of its people
to live in amity with all the world
The United States, he says, has plenty
of territory and should continue to
manifest its patient endurance, which
is no slight testimonial of the regard
for Spain on the part, of the American
people. While remembering the part
Spain has played in the history of the
western hemisphere neither the people
or the government of the United
States have shut their eyes to the
course of Spain in this contest After
summing up the complication of inter
national law bearing on the. case the
president says: 1T would seem that
if Spain should offer to Cuba genuine
autonomy, measure of home rule
which while preserving the sovereignty
of Spain, would satisfy all rational re
Cuirements of her Cuban subjects,
there should be no just reason why
the pacifcation of the island might
not be effected on that basis. 1t would
put the prosperity of the island and tho
fortunes of its inhabitants within their
own control without severing the
natural and ancient ties which bind
them to the mother country" 1t has
been intimated to Spain, and that
country does not seem unwilling to
adopt the suggestion. that the United
States act as mediator in bringing
about this result At the same time
Spain demands that the insurgents lay
down their arms before a compromise
will be considered and the Cubans in
sist upon something more definite than
a promise of autonomy before they will
consent to do so. In any event the
president says the United States should
make no attempt to acquire the island
ard should prevent any other power
from acquiring it, If, however. the in
ability of Spain to demonstrate its
sovereignty becomes manifest, the
United States should not hesitate to
recognize and discharge it's duties
without fear of the consequences.
Fiscal Affairs.
Briefly touching on the Venezuelan
boundary question and the Behring
sea complications. the president then
devotes himself to internal affairs. His
message takes up in detail the various
departments of the national govern
ment. In the treasury department the
receipts for 1896 were S409 475 ,40S.7S,
expenditures $434 .67S .G544S. decrease
$25. 2O3 ,24570 The value Of dutiablc
imports was 1863. 757. 47O; value Of free
imports s409 967 40, total increase $40
754,709 The value of exports was
$3.50. SOC .93S. increase over preceding
year $75,06S. 773. The gold exported
amounted to SIP 1929 and the silver
to 500 .541 $50: gold increase s45,941 .466;
silver increase $13,246. 1854 The gold
imports were s33 525 ,065, silver s2S,-
77.1S6. a decrease of s2,S59 sos of gold
and an increase Of $S.566.O07 of silver.
The total me,allic money in the United
States July !, 1896. was 81 228, 326, OBS,
of which 1899 .597,96 was gold and
1923. 72S,071 silver. November l. 1896.
the total Of money in the United
States was $2,285.410,590 and the
amount in circulation exclusive Of
treasury holdings was 81 ,627 ,055. Gal or
s22.63 per capita on population of
II ,902 900 The coinage OF these
metals throughout the world the same
year was 1922 ,7O1 .438 in gold and s121.-
996.219 in silver. October G.. 1896, there
were 1873 national banks in operation
with $3,263 .6S5 900 Of resources or
the liabilities 1880, S91, 05S was due