Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-12-10
HIS ANNUAL MESSAGE
THE PRESIDENT SENDS HIS FAREWELL
EPlSTLE TO CONGRESS.

EPlSTlE TO CONGRESS.
The Cuban Rebellion the Principal Topic
Discussed-Time Not Yet Ripe, He Says,
For Our Intervention-spain Warned
That uostiIities Must Soon Cease.
WASHINGTON, Dec. z. - The United
States began the second session of the Fif-
ty-fourth congress with crowded galleries
and with that accompaniment of activity
and of greeting that usually attends the
| reassembAng of congress. But the upper
| branch of congress never puts aside its
dignity, and the meeting developed no
demonstration or dramatic incidents. The
reading of the presidents 5 message was the
feature of the proceedings, and beyond
this. no attempt was made to enter upon
the business of the session. To many of
/ the foreign representatives occupying the
diplomatic gallery the message had special
interest and significance owing to the part
they had takon in the conspicuous foreign
/ events to which thu President referred
While the scenes attending the opening
of the house were both brilliant and inter
esting in the crowds that thronged the
galleries and the conspicuous personages
present, the proceedings themselves were
dull and spiritless, being distinctively
routine.
/ The house met, the chaplain invoked the
divine blessing on the work of the session,
/ the roll was called, II committee consisting
/ of Mr. Cannon of Illinois, Mr. Payne of
( New York and Mr.. Turner of Georgia was
appointed to wait on the president, and
the lattcrs annual communication was
read. The reading consumed about two
hours. 1t was Mr.. Cleveland's farewell
message, and there was much curiosity as
to his views on Cuba especially, but here
was no demonstration, either of approval
4 or dissent throughout it's reading. The
holiday nature of the opening season was
saddened by the announcement of the
death of ex-Speakcr Crisp, which Mr.. Tur-
ner of Georgia formally made to his asso-
ciatos. Out of respect TO the memory of
the distinguished Georgian, the house,
after adopting appropriate resolutions, i'm
7 mediately adjourned.
The Presidents Message.
/ The most vital topic in the Presidents
/ message and the one of most general inter
est is the Cuban question. The situation
| in Cuba and our relations with Spain are
reviewed at length, but the president does
not think the time has yet arrived for in
tervention on the part of this country or
the recognition of the insurgents as bel
/ ligerents. He says:
1t is difficult to perceive that any
progress has thus far been made toward
the pacifcation of the island or that the
/ situation of affairs as depicted in my last
annual message has in the least improved
| If Spain still holds Havana and the sea
ports and all the considerable towns the
insurgents still roam at will over at least
two thirds of the inland country. If the
determination of Spain to put down the
insuuection seems but to strengthen with
the lapse of time and is evinCed by her
unhcsitating devotion of lar5ely increased
military and naval forces to the task there
/ is much reason to believe that the insur-
/ gents have gained in point of numbers and
character and resources and are none the
less inflexible in their resolve not to sue
cumb without practically securing the
great objects 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 regarded as an
! independent state. Indeed, as the contest
has gone on, the pretense that civil gov
! ernmcnt exists ON the island, except so far
/ as Spain is able to maintain it, has been
practically abandoned. Spain does keep
| on foot such government, more or less
imperfectly in the large towns and their
immediate suburbs "
Favors Autonomy For Cuba.
After referring to the political grievances
of the Cubans the president says:
1t Is in the assumed temper and diSpo-
sition of the Spanish government to rene
! dy these grievances, fortified by indications
of intlucntia, public opinion in Spain, that
this government has hoped to discover the
1 most promising and effective means of
/ composing the present strife with honor
and advantage to Spain and with the
achievement of all the reasonable objects
of the insurrection. 1t would seem that
if Spain should offer to Cuba genuine
autOnomy-a measure of home rule which,
while preserving the sovereignty of Spain,
would satisfy all rational requirements of
her Spanish subiects-there should be no
just reason why the pacifcaton of the
island might not be effected on that basis
"Such a result would appear to be in the
true interest of all concerned 1t would
at once stop the conflict which is now con
suming the resources of the island and
making it worthless for whichever party
may ultimately prevail"
Referring to the efforts of the admins.
tration to bring about a cessation of hos
tilties, the president says
1T was intimated by this government
to the government of Spain some months
ago that, if satisfactory measure of home
rule were tenGered the Cuban insurgents
and would be accepted by them upon a
guarantee of its excution the United
States would endeayor to find way not
objectionable to Spain of furnishing such
guarantee. While no definite response to
this intimation has yet been received from
the Spanish government, it is believed to
be not altogether unwelcome, while, as al
ready suggested, no reason is perceived
why it should not be approved by the in
surgents.
Neither party can fail to see the impor-
tance of early action, and both must realize
that to prolong the present state of things
for even short period will add enormous
ly to the time and labor and expenditure
necessary tn bring about the industrial
recuperation of the island
1T is therefore fervcntly hoped on all
grounds that earnest efforts for healing
the breach between Spain and the insur
gent C'ubanS uDOn the lines above ipdi-