The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1896-12-11
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
President Cleveland Transmits His
Message to Congress-
Relations with Foreign Countries Clearly
De6ned-The Cuban Situation-Radfcai
Currency Reforms Urged-Trusts
and Monopo!ies Discussed.

.yyIsuISGToS, Dec. THE FIFTY
Fonrth congress assem- lied for the short
session at noon to-day and soon after
committees from the house and
SENATE waited on the president and in
formed him that they were ready to
receive anv communication he mi MT
have to make and the president then
sent the following communication:
To the Congress OF the United States:
AS representatives Of the people in the legis-
latiye branch of their government you have as
sembled at a time when the strength ana e1-
cellence of our free institutions and the htness
of our citizens to enjoy popular rule have been
again made manifest. political contest In
yolving momentous consequences, fraugnt
with feversh apprehension and creating ag-
gressiveness so intense as to approach pltter-
ness and passion. has been waged throughout
our land and determined by the decree OF free
and independent suffrage. without disturbance
Of our tranquility or the least sign OF weakness
in our national structure. When we CONSIDER
these incidents and contemplate the peacelui
obedience and manly submission which nave
succeeded heated clash OF poiitlcai opinions
we discover abundant evidence OF determl-
nation on the part of our country men to abide
by every'verdict of the popular will and TO De
controlled at all times by an abiding faith IN
the agencies established for the direction OF
the affairs OF their government Thus our peo-
pie exhibit q patriotic disposition which en-
titles them to demand of those who undertake
to make and execute their laws such faithful
and unselfsh service in their behalf as can
only be prom ptei by serious appreciation Of
the trust and confidence which the acceptance
of public duty invites. In obedience to q con-
stitutional requirement herein submit to the
congress certain information concerning ma
tional affairs, with the suggestion OF such leg
islation as in my Judgment is necessary and
expedient. To secure brevity and avoid tire
some narration. shall omit many details con-
corning matters within federal control which.
though by means unimpOrtant. are more
probably discussed in departmental reports
/ shall also curtail this communication by
emitting minute recital of many minor Incl
dents connected with our foreign relations
which have hitherto found q place in executive
messages but are now contained in a report Of
the secretary Of state, which is herewith sub
mit:ed.
The Armenian Question.
o At the outset OF reference to more impor-
tant matters affecting our relations with foreign
powers it would afford me satisfaction il
could assure the congress that the disturbed
condition OF ASiatic Turkey had during the
past year assumed q less hideous and bloody
aspect and that either as a consequence OF the
awakening or the Turkish government to the
demands OF human civilization, as the re-
suit of decisive action on the part Of the great
nations having the right by treaty to interfere
for tho protection OF those exposed to the rage
of mere bigotry and cruel fanaticism. the
shocking fea lures of the situation had been
mitigated. Instead. however, OF welcoming a
softening disposition or protective interven-
tion, we have been AFFLICTED by continued and
not unfreQuent ports OF the wanton deStruc-
tion OF homes and the bloody butchery Of men,
women and children, made martyrs to their
profession Of Christia faith. While none OF
our citizens in Turkey have thus far been
killed wounded, though often in the midst
OF dreadful scenes of danger. their safety in
the future is by no means assured Our gov
eminent at home and our minister at Constan-
tinople have left nothing undone to protect our
missionaries in Ottoman territory. who consti
tute nearly all the individuals residing there
who have u right to claim our protection on
the score of American citizenship
o Several naval vessels are stationed in the Med
iterranean as measure Of caution and to fur
nish oil possible relief and refuge in case of
. emergency. We have made claims against the
Turkish government for the pillage and de-
struction OF missionary property az Harpool
and Marash during uprsings at those places.
The Insurrection In Cuba.
The instruction in Cuba still continues with
all its perplexities. 1t is difficult to perceive
that any progress has thus far been made to-
wards the qualification Of the island or that the
situation of affairs as de pcted in my last an
nual message has in the least improved. II
Spain still holds Havana and the Seaports and
all considerable towns. the insurgents still
roam at will over at least two-thirds Of the in
land country. II the determination OF Spain
20 put down the inSurrection seems but to
strengthen with the lapse of time and is
evidenced by her unhesitating devotion
OF largely increased military and naval
forces to the task, there is much rea-
son to believe that the insurgents have gained
in point of numbers, and character, and
resources. and are none the less infiexible in
their resolve not to Succumb. without practi-
cally securing the great project for which they
took up arms. II Spain has not yet re-estab-
% lished her authority. neither have the insur-
gents yet made good their title to be regarded
as an independent state Indeed as the con-
test has gone on, the pretense that civil gov
eminent exists on the island, except so far as
Spain is able TO maintain it. has been prActi-
cally abandoned. Spain does keep on foot such
agovernment. more or less imperfectly, in the
large towns and their immediate suburbs.
But. that exception being made. the entire
country is either given to
archy or is subject to the mill
tary occupation OF one or the other
party. 1t is reported. indeed. reliable au-
thority that. at the demand OF the commander
fu-chief of the insurgent army. the putative
Cuban government has now given up all at
tempt To exercise its functions, leaving that
government confesseily (what there is the
best reason for surprising it always to have
been in fact q government merely on paper.
Were the Spanish armies able to meet their
antagonists in the open, or in pitched battle.
prompt and decisive results might be
looked for and the immense superiority
=,
discipline and equipment, could hardly
fail to tell greatly to their advantage.
But they are called upon to face o foe that
shuns general engagements. that can choose
and does choose its own ground, that from the
nature OF the country is visible or invisible at
pleasure and that fights only from ambusca de
and when MI the advantages Of position and
numbers are on its side. In a country where
all that is indispensable to life in the way Of
food clothing and shelter is so easily obtain
able especially by those born and bred on the
soil 1t is obvious that there is hardly a limit
the time during which hostilities OF this sort
may be prolonged. Meanwhile, us in all
cases Of protracted civil strife. the pas
sions Of the combatants grow more and
more inflamed and excuses on both sides
become more frequent and more deplorable.
They also are participated in by bands Of
marauders, who now in the name of one party
and now in the name OF the other as may best
suit the occasion. harry the country ut will
md plumber its wretched Inhabitants for their
own advantage. Such a condition OF things
would inevitably entail immense destruction
of property even II 1t were the policy OF both
parties to prevent 1t as far as Practicable. But
while such seemed to be the original policy of
the Spanish government, it has now apparent
ty abandoned il. and is acting upon the same
theory the insurgents. namely. that the ex-
tgencies Of the contest require the wholesale
annihilat.on OF property. that it may not
prove OF use and advantage to the enemy.
1t is to the same end that in pursuance OF gen.
ernl orders. Spanish garrisons are now being
withdrawn from plantations and the rural pop
ulation required to concentrate itself in the
towns. The sure result would seem to be that
the industrial value OF the island is fast di-
fninishing and unless there is q speedy and