The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-12-11
THE MESSAGE.
President CieVeland's Letter to the
Fifty-Fourth Congress.
an Exhaustive Review Of Cur Domestic and
Foreign ARaiFs-PrOmpt and Radical
Financial Legislation Recommended
Work Of the Departments,

WASHINGTON, Dec 7.-Tbe Fifty
Fourth congress assem- bled for the short
session at noon to-day. Soon after
committees from the house and
senate waited on the president and iu-
formed him that they were ready TO
receive any communication he might
have to make. The president then
isent TO congress the following message;
ITO the Congress Of the United States;
As representatives Of the people Ia the iegis-
.latiYe branch Of their government you have as
sembled at time when the strength and ez-
eelleAee Of our free institutions and the fitness
pf our citizens to enjoy popular rule have been
again made manifest A political contest in
vOiying mOmentcus consequences, fraught
With feyerish apprehension and creating ag-
gressiveness so intense as to approach bitter
ness ana 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 peaceful
obedience and manly submission which have
succeeded a heated clash OF political opinions
we discover abundant evidence Of determla
nation on the part Of our copntFymen 70 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 pso-
pie exhibit a 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 prompted by serious appreciation Of
OF public duty invites In obedience to q con-
stitutional requirement, herein submit to the
congress certain information concerning ma
tlonal 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-
eerning matters within federal control which,
though BY no means unimp0rtant are more
probably discussed in departmental reports
shall also cuFtail this communication by
emitting minute recital Of many minor iRcia
dents connected with our foreign relations
which have hitherto found place in executive
messages, but are now contained in a report OF
the secretary Of state, which is herewith SUBJ
United.
The Armenian Question.
At the outset of q reference to more impOr-
tant matters Affecting our relations with foreign
powers 1t would ahord me satisfaction II
could assure The congress that the disturbed
condition OF Asatic Turkey had during the
past year assumed less hideous and bloody
aspect and that either as a consequence or 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
ut hiuOfru and fnugfi0iaTd
shocking features OF the situation had been
mitigated- Instead, however, Of welcoming
softening disposition or protective tnterYen-
tion, we have been afflicted by continued and
not unfFeQuent reports Of the wahtOH dCstTtie-
ton OF homes and the bloody b1teheFy OF men,
women aud children, made martyrs to their
profession Of Christian faith While none OF
our citizens IN Turkey have thus far been
killed or 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 Constau-
tinOple have LETT nothing undOne to protect our
missionaries in Ottoman territory, who oonsti
tute nearly ali the individuals residing there
who have right to claim our protection on
the score Of American citizenship
Several naval vessels are stationed in the Med
Iterrenean as measure Of caution and to fur
emergency. We have made claims against tho
Turkish government for the pillage and de-
struction OF missionary property az Harpool
and Marash during uprisings ct those places.
The InsurFectiOn In Cuba.
The iusuTreetion ia Cuba still continues with
all its perplszities 1t is dif1cult to perceive
that any progress has thus far been made to-
wards the paeihcation Of the island or that the
ntfuoEfOn 81 ri 4afu- IA il T.r
nual message has in the least improved II
Spain still holds Havana and the SeaQorts and
al considerable towns, the insurgents still
roam at will over at least tWO-thiFdS Of the in
land country. II the determination OF Spain
10 put down the Instruction seems but to
strengthen with the lapse Of time and IS
evidenced by her uGhesitatng devotion
OF largely increased military and naval
forces to the task, there is much Fea-
son TO believe that the insurgents have gained
10 point Of numbers, and character, and
resources, and are none the less infexible in
their resolve not to succumb. without practi-
caIly securing the great project for which they
took up arms. II Spain has not yet Te-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-
Sest has gone on, the pretsnse that civil gov
NA-lN-Ah GAAat1 b4 tisC lsAAlltAf GANI " ~ Ae-
Spain is abba to maintain IL, has been prIcti-
eally abandoned Spain does keep on foot such
agovernment, mora or less imperfeetly, in the
large towns and their immediate suburbs
But that exception being made, the entire
country is either given over to an
archy or IS subject to the mill
tary occupation Of one or the other
party. Il is reported indeed, on reliable au-
thOrity that at the demand Of the commander
in-ehiei Of tbs insuTgsnt army. the putative
Cuban government has now given up all at
tempt 70 exercise It's functions, leaving that
government coEiessedly what there is the
best reason for suppOsing 1t always to have
been in factl 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 70 their advantage.
But they are called upon to face a Zoe that
shuns general engagements, that can choose
and does choose its own ground, that from the
nature OF the country is visible OF Invisible at
pleasure and that fights only from ambuScade
aad when all the advantages OF position and
numbers are on its side Ia country where
all that is indispensable to life In the way OF
fsods clothing and shelter is so easily obtain
able especially by those born and bred on the
soil it Is obvious that there IS hardly limit 70
the tins during which hOstiiities Of this sort
may be prolonged. Meanwhile, as in ell
cases Of prouseted civil strife, the pas
sionS Of the conbataDts grow more aud
more infiamel and excuses On both sides
become more frequent and more dsplorabie-
They also are participated In By bands CT
HlaTsudsrss who row IN tue name Of one party
ana nov n the name CT the ether Is nay best
Ep8 the occasion. harry the country 81 viii
she ps-naer is EFetekel inhabitants fos their
gHn asrsEt~se Sgal 3 ceEditton q Things
Uts.d ;zsFilg<. s eGiFIF tsam5nse destruction
cs pr9sefty e7srs 3 lt we're the palio7 o. both
yaless % prevent y IS za1 IS pEscticaols But
while such seemed to pe the original policy q
The Spanish government, il has now appassat-
IL aoandeEsd IT, ard il acting Ep3p tbs same
taeofy as the Insurgents, uaEiely. that the sx-
iFsEeies q tse contest require the wholesale
s1zshilstiol q property, Tat IL may not
prove OF nss and advantage to the enemy.
Il b to the same sld shat In pursuance OF gen
eEai orders. spanish gsFrisoEs are nov being