The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-12-17
Ne cssssssssssss -. r...srs.
To the Congress Of The Cai.,d
States:

As the reprt sentasives Of the peo-
pie in tho legislative bsaseh Of their
6oveTpment. yen have asseubled 1T
. time when the strength and sx-
eeiience Of our free institutions and
the fitness of our citizens 10 spj,y
popular rule have been again made
The political contest Involving
nomentous couseq uences. frarghs
With feverish apprehension and ere
ating aggressiveneSs so intense as
to approach bitterness and passion.
has been vsged/ throughout our
land, and determine by the decree
Of free and independent suffrage.
without distur bance Of our frarqa ii-
ity or the least sign Of weakness in
our national structure. When we
consider these incidents and con-
t. mplate the peaceful ODE dience ard
manly submission which have sue
ceed.d q heated clash Of political
opinions, we discover abundant evi-
denee of . determins ton on the par,
of our country men TO abide by ev-
cry verdict of the popular will. and
to be controlled at all times by an
abiding faith in the agencies es.
ts. .shed for the direction of the az
fairs Of their Government.
The Cuban oae, ton.
The insurrection ia Cuba still con-
tinues with all its perplexi,ies. IL
is difficult to perceive that any pro-
gress has thus far been made toward
the pAcificat on Of the island or that
the situation If affairs rs depic'e ed
in my last annual message has in
the least improved. Ii Spain still
holds Havana and the sea poar,s and
all the considerable towns, the in
surgents still roam at will over at
least two-thirds of the inland coun-
try. If the determination of
Spain to put down the insure elton
seems but to strengthen with the
lapse Of time, and is svinced by her
unhe stating devotion of largely in
creased military ard naval forces to
the task, there is much reason to
believe that the insurgents have
gained in point Of numbers and
character and resources, and are
none the less lpflexible in their re-
solve not to succumb, without prac-
tically securing the great obj scts for
which they took up arms. If Spain
has not yet re established her au.
thority neither have the insurgents
yet made good their title TO be re-
garded as an Independent State.
Indeed, as the contest has gone on
the pretence that civil government
exists on the island, except so far a.
Spain is able to maintain it, hsI
been practically abandoned. Spain
does keep on foot such a govern
ment, more or less imperfectly, il
the large towns and their immedi
ate suburbs. But, that exception
being made, the entire country i
either given over to anarchy or i
subject to the military occupation O
one or the other party. 1t is re
ported, indeed, on reliable authorit
that, at the demand of the comman
der-in-chief OF the lnsurgent army
the putative Cuban government ha
now given up all attempt to exercis
its functions, leaving that govern
ment confessedly-what there is til
best reason for supposing it alway
to have been in fact-a governmel
merely on paper.
The spectacle of utter ruin of q
ad Dining country, by nature one &
the moss fertile and charming on tn
globe, would engage the serious q
tention of the Government and pc,
pie of the United STATES in any eli
cumstances. In point of fact, the
have a concern with it which is b
no means of a wholly sentime ntal {
philanthropic character.
1t lies so near to US as to be hare
! ly separated from our territory. o.
actual pecuniary interest in it
second only to that Q the people an
Government of Spain. 1t is reason
ably estimated that at least $50. zoo
600 to $50. 0O0, 900 of American cap
tai are invested in plantations and
railroad, mining and other busine
enterprlsing on the island. The VIC
ume of trade between the Unite
States ard Cuba, which in Isl
amounted to about $l03, 600, 900, al
in 1894, the year before the presel
instruction broke out, amounted
) nearly 500, 000. 900. Besides ih
large pecuniary stake in the fo
: tunes of Cuba, the United Stat
: finds itself inextricably involved
the present contest in other va
both vexatious and costly.
Il The result is that this governme
? Is constantly called upon to prote
:. American citizens, to claim dana
0 for injuries to persons and properi
r now estimated at many millions
f dollars, and to ask explanations q
r apologies for the acts of Spanish @
Q Gals, whose zeal for the repress.
q of rebellion sometimes bin
them to the immunities
q longing to the unoffending citizs
g of a friendly power. 1t follows fir,
f the same causes that the Unit
d States is compelled to actively pol
/ AOnS 4AAO VI oCOdoI dkdluDL
lawful expeditions, the escape
= which the utmost vigilance will !
r always suffice to prevent.
1t These inevitable entaugleme
n Of the United States with the reb
, ion In Cuba, the large Amerit
10 property interests affected, and G
Q siderations of philanthropy and
l. mainly in general, have>led to q
hement demand in various quart,
d for some sort IF positive interv
70 ton on the part of the United Sta
/. 1t was at first proposed that be
/, erent rights should be accorded
q the insurgents-a proposition
g. longer urged because untImely
Q. in practical operation clearly pc
er GUS and injurious to our own in
IS. ests. 1t has since been and is q
Id sometimes contended that the il
n pendence of the insurgents she
lis be recognized. But imperfect
C. restricted as the Spanish Gov
"a -