Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-12-10
CLEYELAND'S LAST MESSAGE.
What He Says Upon the Cuban
and Greenback Questions.


presidents message was read TO congress
to-day. The message was full Of words and
many of them could have been left out with
out depriviug the public of any information.
President Cleveland opens his message with
a tribute to the gold and applauds the VIC
tory Wall street secured over the people who
earn their dollars,
THE CUBAN SITUATION.
THE insurrection in Cuba still contin-
ues with all its preplexities. 1t is difficult
to preceive that any progress has thus far
been made towards the paciication of the
island or that the situation of affairs, as
depicted in my last annual message, has in
the least improved. II Spain holds Havana
the sea ports and all the considerable towns.
the insurgents still roam at will over at least
two-thirds of the inland country. Ifthe de-
termination of Spain to put down the lnsur-
rection seems but to strengthen with the
lapse of time, and is evinced by her unhesi-
tating devotion of largely increasing mill
tary and naval forces to the task, there is
much reason to believe that the insurgents
have gained in point of numbers, and char
acter and resources. and are none the less
| infiexible in their resolve not to succumb.
without practically securing the great OBJ
jects for which they took up arms.
"If Spain has not yet re-established her
authority, neither have the insurgent yet
|
independent state.
Indeed as the contest has gone on, the
pretense that civil government exists, on the
island, exceptso far as Spain is able to
maintain it, has been practically abandon
ed. Spain does keep on foot such govern
ment, more or les imperfe:tly, in the large
towns and their immediate suburbs, but,
that exception being made, the entire coun-
try is either given over to anarchy or is sub
Innt Itor Nf Ann n
other party.
ut is reported, indeed, on reliable au-
thority that at the demand of the tommand-
er IN chief OF the insurgent, army, the puta-
tive Cuban government has now given up
all attempt to exercise its functions, leaving
that government confessedly (what there is
the best reason supposing it always to have
been in fact) government merely on
paper. Were the Spanish armies able to
meet their antagonists in the open, or in
field battle, prompt and decisive results
might be looked for. and the immense su-
perlority of the numbers, discipline and
equipment, could hardly fail to tell greatly
to their advantage.
"But they are called upon to face a foe
that huns 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
ages of position and numbers are on its
side.
I'm country where all that is indipens-
able to life in the way of food, clothing, and
shelter is 80 easily o0tainable, especially by
those born and bred on the soil, it is obvious
that there is hardly limit to the time dur
ing which hostilities of this sort may be
prolonged, meanwhile, as in all cases of
protracted civil strife, the passions may not
prove of use and advantage to the enemy"
MANY Cubans reside in this country and
indirectly promote the insurrection though
the press, by public meetings, by the pur-
chase and shipment of arms. by the raising
OF funds, and by other means, which the |
spirit of our institution and the tenor of our |
laws do not premit to be made the subject |
of criminal prosecutions.
Some of them, though Cubans at haart |
and IN all their feelings and interests, have |
taken out papers as naturalized citizens of |
the United States, approaching resorted to |
wtiha view to possible protection by this
government, and not unnaturally regarded |
with much indignation by the country of |
their origin. The insurgents are undoubtedly |
encouraged and supported by the widespread
the people of this country always
and instinctively feel for every struggle for
better and freer government, and which in
.he case Of the more adventurous and rest
less elements of our population leads in only
too many instances to active and personal
in the contest. The result is
that this government is constantly called
upon to protect American citizens to claim
damages for injuries to persons and pro-
perty now estimated at millions of dollars
and to ask explanations and apologies for |
the acts of Spanish officials whose zeal for
the repression of rebels sometimes blinds
them to the immunities belonging to unof-
Tending citizens, ofa friendly power. 1t
follows from the same cause that the United |
States is compelled to actively police long
line of seacoat against unlawful expeditions,
the escape of which the utmost vigilance
Will not always suffice the prevent. These |
inevitable entanglements of tie United |
States with the rebellion of Cuba. the large |
American prosperity interests affected, and |
considerations of philanthropy and humani- |
ty in general, have led to a vehement de- |
mand in various quarters for some sort of
positive Intervention on the part of the |
Uuited States.
1T was at first proposed that beligerent
rights should be accorded to the insurgents |
A proposition no longer urged because ulti-
mately. and in practical operation clearly |
perilous and injurious to our own interests. |
1t has since been and is now sometimes con- |
tended that the independence of the insurg-
ents should be recognized. But imperfect
and restricted as the Spanish government of
the island may be, no other exists there, un-
less the will of the military officers in tenn
porary command of particular district
can be dIgnified as a species of government.
ut is now also suggested that the United
States should buy the island, suggestion
poss bly, worthy of consideration, if there
were any evidence of desire or willingness
on the part of Spain to entertain such pro-
posal.
at is urged, finally, that, all Other meth
DDS failing the existing strife in Cuba |
should be terminated by our intervention |
even at the cost of war between the United |
States and Spain-a war which its advocates |
confidently prophesy could neither be large |
in its proportions nor doubtful in its issue. |
1.-The correction of this forecast need be
neither affirmed nor denied. The United |
States has, nevertheless, character to main
tain as nation, which plainly dictates that |
right and not might should be the rule of its
conduct"
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 adj ra-
tional requirements of Spanish subjects
there should be no just reason why the paci-
fcations of the island might not be effected
on that basis. Such result would appear
to be in, the true interest of all concerned"
President Cleveland here uses four or five
hundred words to jolly the New Workers,
and Wall street money lender, who have
chattel mortgage on the island and with
whom he seems to wish to create favor and |
he closes this paragraph by hoping for an |
early settlement of this question, instead of |
talking for decided stand for one side or
the o her.
sit should be added that it can not be rea-
sonabty assumed that the hitherto expectant