The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-12-16
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


10 he Congress Of The United States.
"As representatives of the people in
the legislative branch of the Govern
ment, you 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 con-
test involving momenious consequences
fraught with feverish apprehension,
and creating aggressiveness so intense
as to approach bitterness and passion,
has been waged throughout our land,
and determined 10y the decree Of free and
independent suffrage, without disturb
ance of our tranquility or the least sign
of weakness in our National structure
"When we consider these incidents
and contemplate the peaceful obcdi-
ence and manly submission which have
succeeded heated clash Of political
opinions, we discover abundant evil
dence of determination on the part
of our countrymen 10 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 the Govern
ment.
''Thus our people exhibit patriotic
disposition which er titles them 10 de-
mand of those who undertake TO make
and execute their laws, such faithful
and unseliish service in their behalf Us
can only be prompted by a serious ap-
probation OF the trust and confidence
which the acceptance of public duty
invites"
The President then expresses his re-
gret at the unimproved condition of
affairs in Turkey. While he says no
citizens of the United States in Turkey
have thus far been killed or wounded,
their SAFETY in future is by no means as
sured. Efforts have not been spared,
and will not be, by the Government or
the United States Minister at Constan-
tinople to protect our missionaries i'll
Ottoman territory. Bat" says the
President, ''the deep feeling aud SYM
pathy that has been aroused arl pag
our people ought not TO 50 far bind
their reason and judgment as to lead
them to demand impossible things.n
An adequate force Tor protection, would
headds, be resented by both Turkey
and the Powers. Nothing viii he omit
ted to bring about the prompt settle
ment Of the claims for destruction of
missionary property at Harpoot and
Masash. Hope is expressed that no
obstacle will in future be interposed to
prevent the escape from Turkey of all
those who seek 10 avoid the perils
which threaten them there, and that
the present sombre prospect in Turkey
will not long be permitted to offend
the sight of Christendom.
Considerable space is given TO Cuba.
The President finds it difficult TO per-
ceive that any progress has thus far
been made toward the pacification of
the Island, Notwithstanding Spain's
strengthened determination to put
down the insurrection. "There is much
reason to be ieve that the Insurgents
have gained in point of numbers, char
acter, and resources, and are none the
less infeXible in their resolve not to
succumb without practically securing
the great objects for which they took
up arms. If Spain has not yet re-es-
tablished her authority, neither have
the Insurgents yet made good their
title to be regarded as an Independent
State.u The only civil government
maintained is that by Spain, more or
less imperfectly, in the large towns
and their immediate suburbs. at is
reported, indeed, the President pro-
ceeds, "on reliable authority, that, at
the demand of the CommandeT-in-Chief
of the Insurgent army, the putative
Cuban government has now given up
all attempt to exercise its functions,
leaving that government confessedly
what there is the best reason for sup
posing il always to have been in fact
a government merely on paper"
Arguing from the inability of the
Spanish troops to bring about apitch
ed battle, the President points out that
there is hardly limit to the time hos
tilities may be prolonged, and the
Spanish authorities seem to have i'm
itated the Insurgents in policy OF
wsllloles.s.ie annihilation nf fpyoperty. thai it
it may not BE- used 10y their opponents.
Atleast from S3O,OO0,000 to S50,00o,00o
of American capital are invested in the
Island, and there is an immense ira lie
between the United States and the Is
land. Beside, Cuban residents in this
country, many of them naturalized,
promote the Insurrectiou 10y means
which the laws aud the spirit Of our
institutions can not reach, and Ameri-
can citizens express their sympathy in
many substantial ways, thus necessi-
tating constant claims by this country
for protection of its citizens aud for
damages now estimated at many mil
lions. The demands made for the ac-
cording of belligerent rights TO the ln-
surgenis, the recognition of their inde-
pendence; the purchase by the United
States of the Island, or the interven-
ton of the United States to end the
strife, even at the cost of war with
Spain, are all dismissed by the Presi-
dent.
TIE restraint and patient endurance
of the United States of conditions in
Cuba are pointed out, as well as the
respect and regard for Spain thus man
ifested by the American people. Final
Iy the President suggests: at would
seerl that if Spain should offer to Cuba
genuine auton0my-a measure of home
rule which, which, while preserving
In sovereignty of Spain, would satisfy
all rational requirements of her Span
ish sublects-lhere should be NJ just
reason why the pacification of the Is
land might not be effected on that
basis. Such a result would appear TO
be in the true interest of all concerned.
Ii would at once stop the conflict
which is now consuming the resources
of the Island and making it worthless
for whichever party may ultimately