The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-12-11
THE MESSAGE.
The President Sends Communication
70 Congress on National Affairs.
THR CUBAN RESURRECTION.
Government Revenues and Expenditures
The Departments-The Pension Roll
The Pacific RailrOads-Our Financial
MethOds-Trusts and MOnOpolies.

Fourth congress assem- OleQ Tor the snort
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 any communication he might
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-
lative branch of their government you have as
Sembled at a time when the strength and ex-
cellence OF our free institutions and the fitness
of our citizens to enjoy popular rule have been
again made manifest. political contest in
volving momentous consequences fraught
with feverish apprehension and creating ag-
gresSiveness so intense as to approach bitter
ness and passion. has been w2ged 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 peaceful
obedience and manly submission which have
succeeded a heated clash OF political opinions
we discover abundant evidence of a determi-
nation on the part Of our countrymen to abide
by every verdict OF the popular will and to be
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 a patriotic disposition which en-
titles them to demand OF those who undertake
TO make and execute their laws such faithful
and unSelhSh service in their behalf as can
only be prompted by serious apprec alton of
the trust and confidence which the acceptance
of public duty invites. In obedience to con-
stitutional requirement. herein submit to the
congress certain information concerning ma
tional affairs, with the suggestion Of such leg
1Slation as in my judgment is necessary and
expedient. To sc 'ure brevity and avoid tire
some narration, I shall omit many details con-
corning matters within federal control which,
though by no means unimportant. are more
profitaoly 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 a place in executive
messages but are now contained in report OF
the secretary Of state, which is herewith sub
United.
The Armenian Question.
At the outset Of a reference to more impor-
tant matters affecting our relations with foreign
powers it would AFFORD me satisfaction II
could assure the congress that the disturbed
condition OF Asatic Turkey had during the
past year assumed a less hideous and bloody
aspect and that either as a consequence OF the
awakening OF the Turkish government to the
demands OF human civilization, or as the re-
suit of decisive action on the part of the great
nations having the right by treaty to interfere
for the protection of those exposed to the rage
of mere bigotry and cruel fanatcism, the
shocking features of the situation had been
mitigated. Instead. however, of welcoming
Softening disposition or protective interview
ton, we have been afflicted by continued and
not unfreQuent reports of the wantOn destruc-
ton OF homes and the bloody butchery OF men,
women and children. made martyrs to their
profession of Christian faith. While none OF
our citizens in Turkey have thus far been
- ssIne
of dreadful scenes Of danger. their safety in
the future is by no means assured. Our gov
eminent at home and our minister at ConStSn-
tinople have left nothing undone TO protect our
missionaries in Ottoman territory. who consti-
tute nearly all the individuals residing there
who have a right to claim our protection on
the score OF American citizenship
Several naval vessels are stationed in the Med
iterrsnean measure Of caution and to fur
nish all 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 a. Harpool
and Marash during uprisings at those places.
The InsurrectIOn In Cuba.
The insurrection in Cuba still continues with
all its perplexitieS 1t is difficult to perceive
that any progress has thus far been made to-
wards the pacidc1tion Of the island or that the
situation of affairs as depicted in my last an
nual message has in the least improved II
Spain still holds Havana and the Sesports and
all considerable towns. the insurgents still
roam at will over at least two-thirds Of the in
land country. If the determination Of Spain
to 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
the less inflpVlhla 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 abb to maintain it. has been pr icti-
cally abandoned. Spain does keep on foot such
a government more or less tmperfectly, In the
large towns and their immediate suburbs
But that exception being made, the entire
archy or is subject to the mill
tary occupation OF one or the other
party. 1t is reported. indeed. re liable au-
thority that at the demand of the commander
in-chief of the insurgent army. the putative
Cuban government has now given up all at
tempt 70 exercise its functions, leaving that
government ronfesSe lily (what there is the
best reason for Supposing il always to have
been in fact) a 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
of the Spanish forces in numbers.
discipline and equipment. could hardly
fail TO tell greatly TO their advantage.
But they are called upon TO face 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 tghtS only from ambuScade
and when all the advantages Of position and
numbers are on its slide. 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 aud bred on the
soil il is obvious that there Is hardly limit TO
the time durng which hOstilitieS Of this sort
may be prolonged. Meanwhile, as IN all
cases of protracted civil strife, the pas
sions Of the COmbatauts grow more and
more inf med and eXcesses on both sides
become more frequent ana 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 at viii
and plumber its wretched inhabitants for their
own advantage. such condition Of things
would inevitably entail immense destruction