The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

in his utterances upon that subject it is
evident that he regards the Struggle now
going on in the island rs one Of deep in
terest to the people and Government of
the United States.
After alluding to the fact that the in
surrcction still continues with Ill it's per-
| pleXities, lie says that it is difficult to
perceive that any progress has thus far
been made towards the pacilicaton OF the
| island, or that the situation of affairs
has IN the least improved since his last
annual message. While Spain has net
yet re-establishcd her authority. neither,
he says, have the insurgents yet ""made
| good their title to be regarded us an in
| dependent state. On the contrary, as
| the contest has progressed all pretense
that civil government exists, so far us
| Spain is able to maintain it, has, he
says, been practically abandoned.
Meanwhile, as in all cases of protracted
| civil strife, the passions of tie combat
ants grow more and more inflamed and
excuses on both sides become more fire.
| quent and more deplorable. The wretcbed
inhabitants are plundered ut will by both
| sides, and, the country is wasted and
ruined in all directions The people of
the United States, he says, have con
Germ in this matter, by no means wholly
sentimental or of Il philanthrophic ni:-
ture. 1t is reasonably estimated that mt
least from $30C00 900 to 800, 90, OOOtof
American capital is invested in the
island, while the volume of trade between
the United States and Cuba in 1894
reached nearly 9G,00O,0O0.
Besides the pecuniary losses. this
country is ineXtricably involved in the
contest i'll other ways. Many Cubans re-
side in this country,..and are lending aid
and comfort to the rebellion. The United
( States has done its best to MAINTAIN it's
treaty obligations with Spain, but finds il
very difficult to prevent flibusterin1
These inevitable cntanglcments, the Pres
ident says, have lied to the demand thht
the United States intervene to stop the
| strife, and it has even been suggested
that it purchase the island, Il SUGGESTION
which, he adds, would be worthy of con
! sideration if there We're any evidence of
"A desire or Willingness on the part of
spain to entertain such proposition.
After citing the many plans proposed,
the President suggests that Spain grant
autonomy to Cuba, and proceeds to prove
the feasibility of the plan, which, he
says, was intmatcd to the Spanish gov
ernment some months ago:with the
promises of the good Offices of this gov
ernment in negotiating between That
country and the rebels. In conclusion
the President plainly intin:ates that the
United States will take decided action in
stopping the strife when the inability of
| spain to deal successfully with the nsur-
rection has become manifest ''But,"
he dds, 'until we face this contingency
we should continue on the line of con
duct heretofore pursued
He compliments the people of the
United states upon going through the re-
cent exciting national canvass without
disturbance OF their tranquility or the
least sign of weakness in their national
structure. ii comts the usual detailed
statement of our relations with foreign
nations, hut takes II gloomy view of the
Turkish situation. The Venezuelan
boundary question has, he says, ceased to
be matter Of difference between Great
Britain ana the United States while ne
gotations for general arbitration treaty
between the two nations promises to
reach II successful consummation at an
early date
He reviews the report of the Secretary
of the Treasury ut length and also
touches upon the reports of the other
Departments. The progress in con
STRUGGLING navy is given, ana the inn
provcment of coast dcfenses urged He
does not see much prospect for decrease
in pensions, the annual amount of eX-
pendturcs for whic!. amounts to s;lG2.
100000 The Observation-Disclosures Wilson
tariff are discussed and the President is
still hopeful that the receipts from the
latter Will yet be enough to meet current
expenses. Ia discussing financial mat
tiers he recommends the retirement of
grecnbacks and Treasury notes He saws
more banks are needed and looks hope
fully for the day when the United Soatcs
Government will go out Of the banking
business
Books and coal hods, paper and curry
cOmbs,and general assortment Of every
thing Toys, tin ware, picture books,
magazines. Gravatts Fair, Salem ave-
nue..