Evening star., 1896-12-07
HOME RULE WITH A GUARANTY
Intimation to Spain That Patience
Has a Limit.
TARIFF, TRUSTS And REVENUE
Nothing to Justify Our Interference
in Turkish Affairs.
OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED

Following is the full text OF the annual
message sent to Congress today by Presi-
dent Cleveland:
To the Congress of the United States:
AS representatives Of the people in the
legislative branch of their government yo!
have assembled at time when the strength
and excellence of our free institutions and
the fitness of our citizens to enjoy popular
rule have been again made manifest.
A political contest involving momentous
consequences. fraught with feverish appre-
hension and creating aggressiveness SO in
tense as to approach bitterness and passion,
has been waged throughout our land, and
determined by the decree of free and indie
pendent suffrage. without disturbance of
our tranquility or the least sign of weak
Eess in our national structure.
When We consider these incidents and
contemplate the peaceful obedience AMI
manly submission which have succeeded a
heated clash Of political opinions, we dis
cover abundant evidence of a determination
on the part of our countrymen to abide by
every verdict of the popular will and to be
controlled at all times by abiding faith
in the agencies established for the direction
OF the affairs of their government.
Thus our people exhibit a patriotic dispo-
sition which entities them to demand of
those who undertake to make and execute
their laws such faithful and unselfsh serv-
ice in their behalf only be prompted
by serious appreciation of the trust AMI
confidence which the acceptance OF public
duty invites.
In obedience to a constitutional require
ment 1 herein submit to the Congress GER
tain information concerning national af-
fairs, with the suggestion of such legisa-
lon as In my judgment is necessary and
cxpedient. To secure brevity and avoid
tiresome narration, l shall omit many de-
tails concerning matters within federal con-
trol. which though by no means unimpor-
tant. are more proftably discussed in de-
partmental reports. l shall also further
curtail this communication by omitting a
minute recital of many minor incidents con-
nected with our foreign relations which
have heretofore found place in executive
messages, but are row contained in report
OF the Secretary of State, which is here
with submitted.
THE TURKISH SITUATION.
AT the outset of reference to the more
important matters affecting our relations
with foreign powers, 1t would afford me
satisfaction If / could assure the Congress
that the disturbed condition in Asiattc
Turkey had during the past year assumed
a less hideous and bloody aspect and that
either as consequence of the awakenings
of the Turkish government to the demands
of humane civilization, or as the result of
decisive action on the part of the great ma
tion having the right by treaty to interfere
for the protection of those exposed to the
rage of mad bigotry and cruel fanaticsm
the shocking features of the situation had
been mitigated. Instead, however of well
Intervention 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 chill
dren, made martyrs 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 government
at home and our minister at Constantine
pie nave left nothing undone to protect our
missionaries in Ottoman territory, who
constitute nearly all the individuals resid-
ing there, who have a right to claim our
protection on the score of American citi-
Zenship. Our efforts in this direction will
rot 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 to lead them TO
demand impossible things. The outbreaks
of blind fury. which lead to murder and
pillage in Turkey. occur suddenly and with
cut notice, and an attempt on our part to
force such hostile presence there as might
be effective for prevention or protection
would not only be resisted by the Ottoman
government. but would be regarded as an
in tiny of hai~ t,,&l
tions who assert their exclusive right to in
tervene in their own time and method for
the security of life and property in Turkey.
Our Fleet In the Medfterranean.
Several naval vessels are stationed in the
and to furnish all possible relief and refuge
IN case of emergency.
We have made claims against the Turk
ish government for the pillage and de-
struction of missionary property at Har-
poot and Marash during uprisings at those
places. Thus far the validity of these
demands has not been admitted. though
our minister prior to such outrages, and in
anticipation of danger, demanded protec-
tion for the persons and property of our
missionary citizens in the localities men-
toned, and notwithstanding that strong
evidence exists of actual completely of
Turkish soldiers in the work 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 having
arrived at our ports an order has lately
been obtained from the Turkish govern
ment permitting the wives and children
of such refugees to join them here. 1t is
hoped that hereafter no obstacle will be
interposed to prevent the escape of all