Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-12-09
REPORT BY OLNEY.
The Secretary of State Adopts an
Unusual Course and Sets
Precedent.


Washington, D. c., Dec 7.-For the
first time in memory of old officials the
secretary of state has made regular re-
port TO the President for transmission to
Congress like the reports of other officers
Of the cabinet. This report was laid be-
fore Congress today as an appendix TO
the Presidents message. 1t treats of
many details Of our relations during the
past year with foreign governments that
either were not touched upon at all in
the message or were briefly treated.
Under the head of Spain Secretary Or
ney has much to say in regard to Cuba
and in his report he sets out in great
dG4ail the history of the growth of the re-
belllon, the present evil state of affairs
on the island and other facts upon which
the President bases his broad statement
and conclusions.
No reference is made to a report from
Consul-General Lee. but the secretary
intimateS that his information comes
principally from the United States con-
sulS and so must be regarded conf
Dental as to its source
The secretary'S estimate of the present
situation is disclosed in the following
paragraph made after preliminary
statement of the destruction of the in
dustrial resources of Cuba:
From whatever point of view we re-
gard the matter, it is impossible not to
discern that a state of things exists at
our doors alike dangerous to good rela-
tons, destructive of the legitimate af
fairs of commerce, fatal to the internal
resources of Cuba and most veXatious
and trying because entailing upon this
government excessive burdens in its do
nestle administration and in its outward
relations. This situation cannot definite
ly continue without growing still worse
and the time may not be far distant
when the United States may seriously
consider whether its rights and inter-
ests as well as its international duties
in view Of it's peculiar relations to the
island do not call for some decided
change in the policy hitherto pursued"
To begin with the secretary makes it
plain that the present insurrectiOn is far
more formidable than the famous ten
year Instruction which began in 1868.
He says that, starting in the same por-
ton of the island, it very early took pro-
portions beyond its predecessor and
herewith assumed an aggressive phase.
Passing the defensive lines, or trochas,
traversing the island from north to
south formidable bodies of the reyolu-
tionary forces early in the year estab-
lished themselves in the rich sugar plant
ing districts of Santa Clara and Glen
fuegos, made hostile fOrays almost in
sight of Havana itself and advancing
westward effected Judgment in the fer
tile tobacco fields of Pinar del Rio,
which has so far resisted all efforts of
the Spanish forces to overcome.
The secretary says that while no prom
inent seaport has been attacked by the
insurgents large part of the 1900 miles
of sea coast is practically in their hands
and from its rugged and wild character
is peculiarly fitted for guerrilla warfare
Snd affords easy means of receiving clan
destine supplies of men and arms. The
secretary adds:
''While thus in fact controlling the
large area Of the whole island of Cuba
from Cape San Antonio to Cape Maisi
and enjoying practically unlimited use of
an equally large part of the coast. the
revolutionary forces are scattered, being
nowhere united for any length of time to
form an army capable of attack or siege
and fit to take the defensive in q pitched
battle. Assembling suddenly at a given
point, often in a single night they make
unexpected sallies or carry destruction
TO the tobacco and cane fields Of Cuba
and at first sign of pursuit or organized
assault they dispense only to reassemble
in like manner at some other spot.
AS bearing upon the question Of recog-
milton of the insurgents, probably soon to
come before Congress in some shape, the
following statement by Secretary Olney
is of Importance as explaining his rea-
sons for declining recognition:
$50 far as our information shows, there
is not only no effective local government
by the insurgents in the territories they
oyerrun, but there is not even a tangible
pretense to establish administration any
where. There organization, confined to
the shifting eXigencies of the military op-
erations of the hour, is nomadic without
definite centers and lacking the most ele-
meltary features of municipal govern
ment There nowhere appears the nu-
cleus of statehood. The machinery for
exercising the legitimate rights and pow
ers of sovereignty and responding to the
obligations which de facto sovereignty
entities in the face of equal rights Of
other states is conspicuously lacking
1t is not possible TO discern a homo
geneous political entity possessing and
exercising abe functions of administrator
and capable if left to itself of maintain
ing orderly government in its own terri
tory and sustaining normal relations with
the external family of governments"