River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-10
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our Standing with the Nations OF
the World.
Secretary of State Olney Makes a Report
Conditions May Cause Change In
Our Policy Toward Cuba
other Topics.


the secretary of state referred TO in the
presidents message is printed docu-
ment of 80 pages, summarizing the for
eign relati rs of the United States dur
ing the past year. The nations are
taken up in alphabetical order and the
progress and political condition of their
with this country are con-
eisely presented. 1t was from this re-
port that the president drew material
for the foreign subjects dwelt upon in
his message.
On the Cuban question Secretary
Olney has much TO say, and this is
briefly summarized as follows:
He sets out In great detail the history 81
the growth of the rebellion. the present
evil state of affairs on the island and other
broad statement and conclusions. No ref
erence Is made to report from Consul
General Lee. but the secretary intimates
that his Information comes principally
from the United States consuls. and so
must be regarded as confidential as TO its
source. The secretary's estimate of the
present situation Is disclosed I'm the fol-
lowing paragraph. made after Q prelimi
nary statement of the destruction OF the
Industrial resources OF Cuba:
From wnatever point of view we regard
the matter. Il is impossible not to discern
that a state OF things exists at our doors
alike dangerous to good relations. destruc-
tive of legitimate commerce, fatal TO the
internal resources of Cuba and most veXa-
tious and trying because entailing upon
this government excessive burdens in its
domestic administration and In It's outward
relations. This situation cannot Indefinite
ly continue witt out growing still worse.
and the time may not be far distant when
the United States must seriously consider
whether les rights and interests, as well
as it's international duties. in view OF its
peculiar relation to the island, do not call
for some decided change in the policy hith-
erto pursued"
To begin with. the secretary makes II
plain that the present Instruction is far
more formidable Than the famous ten
year instruction" which began at Yara In
1865 He says that, starting In the same
portion of the island. 1t very early took
proportions beyond its predecessor. and
herewith assumed an aggressive phase.
Passing the defensive lines or trochas
I reversing the island from north to south,
formidable bodies of the revolutionary
forces early in the year established them
selves in the rich sugar-planting districts
OF Santa Clara and Clenfugos. made hos
tile forays almost In sight of Havana IT,
self, and. advancing westward, effected
Judgment In the fertile tobacco fields of
Pinar del Rio, which has so far resisted
all efforts of the Spanish forces to over
come
The secretary says that while no prom
inent seaport has been attacked by the
insurgents, large part Of the 1900 miles
of seacoast is practically I'm their hands,
and from its rugged ana wild character is
peculiarly fitted for guerrilla warfare and
affords easy means of receiving elandestine
supplies of men and arms. The secretary
adds:
while thus. in fact, controlling the large
area of tie whole island of Cuba, from
Cape San Antonio to Cape Maisi, and en-
joying practically unlimited use of an
equally large part of the coast. the revolu-
tionary forces are scattered. being no.
where united for any length of time to
form an army capable of attack or siege
and nj to take the defensive In a pitched
battle. Assembling suddenly at given
point, often I'm a single night, they make
unexpected sallies or carry destruction TO
the tobacco and cane fields of Cuba. and at
tho first sign of pursuit or organized as
sault they dispense. only TO reassemble at
some other spot"
As to Recognit on.
Al 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 reasons
for declining recognition;
so far as our information shows, there
Is not only no effective local government
by the insurgents In the territories over
run, but there Is not even a tangible pre-
tense to established administration any
where. Their organization, confined TO
the shifting exigencies of the military OPP
erations of the hour, is nomadic, without
definite centers and lacking the most eIe-
mentary features of municipal govern
ment. There nowhere appears the nucleus
of statehood. The machinery for exercis-
ing the legitimate rights and powers OF
sovereignty and responding to the obiiga
lions which de facto sovereignty entails in
the face of equal rights of other states Is
conspicuously lacking. 1t is not possible
to discern a homogeneous political entity
of possessing and exercising the functions
of administration, and capable, If left to
itself, of maintaining orderly government
in its own territory and sustaining normal
relations with the external family of gov
eminent"
acts of Anarchy.
The secretary illustrates his point as to
the irresponsibility of the insurgents by
citing their destruction of American planta-
lions and oppression of American planters,
who grind cane, which he characterizes
as acts of anarchy. On the other hand. he
shows that in the capital, cities and sea
ports, and all parts of the island with
which the United States or its citizens
maintain legitimate normal Intercourse,
the Spanish power is supreme, though
often exercised In a yexatious and arbi-
trary way, calling for just remonstrance,
and most of the functions OF government
proceed as in time of peace.
Recurring % his comparison of this in
surrection with those that have preceded
Il. Secretary olney makes this significant
statement:
"FTom every accessible Indication It is
clear that the present rebellion IS on a far
more formidable scale as to NUMBERS, In
telli~- nee and representative features than
any of the preceding revolts of this CEN
tury; that the corresponding effort of
Swain for its repression has been enor-
ously augmented, and that, despite the
constant influx of fresh armies and ma
terial OF war from the metropolis, the re-
bellion, after nearly two years of success
full resistance. appears to-day to he In a
condition to indefinitely prolong the con-
test on its present lines.
The secretary speaks of the appalling
phases of the struggle, such as often an
pear in contests among the Latin races Of
the western hemisphere; of the excesscs
and forceful and arbitrary acts of the mill
tary; of the ravaglng of private property,
the violation of principles of civilized war
fare by irresponsible officials, and the kill
ing of noncombatants, in some instances,
happily few. OF American citizens lie
says: ,
"a large part OF the correspondent of
the state department with Its agents IN
Cuba has been devoted to these cases OF
assault upon the rights OF our citizens. In
no instance has earnest remembrance and
energetic appeal been omitted. But the
representatives of the Spanish power often
find Il easily practicable to postpone ek-
plantations and reparation on the grouno
Of alleged ignorance of facts or for other
plausible reasons
The secretary next treats at length OF
the financial and Industrial losses inflicted
upon American citizens by the continuance
Of the strife, all OF which Is summed UP
concisely by the president In portion OF
his message. That part of the report de-
voted 10 Cuba concludes with brief state
ment OF the Competitor case, which, II APP
pears, has now been rcmanded by the
Madrid authorities for rctrial, and state
mcnt of the dissent of the state department
from the requirement of the governor-gen-
eral of Cuba that all aliens In Cuba shali
be registered within certain time, unueT
pain OF disbarment from the protection OF
law.
Secretary OIrey says very little more than
does the president in his message respect
ing the Venezuelan boundary question. tie
announces. with qualification, that AMIGA
bic counsels have prevailed to induce sat
isfactory result of the attempts TO an unuer-
standing. and tnat the boundary o. ss,loi .
and its associated phases have been at last
eliminated, as between this country end
England He gives. however no tnkhnE
OF the nature Of the treaty. beyond the
Statement that It provides for honorable
arbitration of the whole controversy.
General Arbitration.
Touching the negotiations for general
arbitration treaty for the settlement OF
all future disputes between the United
states and Great Britain. Secretary Olney
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