The herald., 1896-12-08
Information Given on Ma
tiOnaI Affairs
PROPER LEGISLATION SUGGESTED
Turkish Troubles Do Not War
rant Our Interference
THE INSURGENTS IN CUBA
Have Done Nothing TO Entitle Them
to Recognition
Though American Interests May Yet Make
Decisive Action Necessary
The Great Duty Of the Hour Is the Ex-
ercise Of Rigid Economy in the
Affairs of the
Nation.
transmitted with the compliments of the
Western IIninn Telepraph Community

transmitted with the compliments of the
Western Union Telegraph Company
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.-Following is
President Cleveland's message. sent to
congress today:
The Congress of the United States: AS
representatives of the people in the leg
islative branch of their government, you
have assembled at time when the
strength and excellence Of our free in
stitutions and the fitness of our citizens
to enjoy popular rule have been again
made manifest. A political contest in
volving momentous consequences,
fraught with feverSh apprehension, and
creating aggressiveness SO intense as to
approach bitterness and passion has
been waged throughout our land, and
determined by the decree of free and in
dependent suffrage, without disturb
ance 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 sue
ceeded a heated clash of political opin-
ions, we discover abundant evil
dence of determination on
the part of our countrymen to abide
by every verdict of the popular will and
to be controlled at all times by an abid-
ing faith in the agencies established
for the direction of the affairs of the
government Thus our people exhibit
a patriotic disposition which ensures to
those who undertake to make and exc
cute their laws such faithful and i'm
plicit service in their behalf as can only
be prompted by serious appreciation
of the trust and confidence which the
acceptance of public duty invites.
In obedience to constitutional re-
quirement | hereby submit to congress
certain information concerning nation
al affairs, with the suggestion of such
legislation as in my judgment is neces-
sary and expedient. To secure brevity
and avoid tresome narration, l shall
omit many details concerning matters
within federal control which. by no
means unimportant, are more profita-
billy discussed in departmental reports.
| shall also further curtail this commu-
ncation by emitting minute recital of
any minor Incidents connected with our
foreign relations which have hereto
fore found place in executive messages,
but are now contained in report of
the secretary of state which is herewith
submitted.
'SNOILv1HH NDIHHOI
Al the outset of reference to the more
important matters affecting our rela-
tions with foreign powers, it would af-
ford me satisfaction If l could assure the
congress that the disturbed condition in
Asiatic Turkey had during the past year
assumed less Mucous ana DlOOQy as
pect, and that either as consequence of
the awakening of the Turkish govern
ment to the demands of humane civili-
zation or as result of decisive action on
the part of the great nations having the
right by treaty to interfere for the pro-
lection of those exposed to the rage of
mad bigotry and cruel fanaticism, that
the shocking features Of the situation
had been mitiGated.
Instead, however of welcoming soft
ened disposition or protective interven-
ton we have been afflicted by continued
and not unfrequent reports of the wan
ton destruction of houses, and the
bloody butchery of men, women and
children, made martyrs to their profess
sion 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 government at home ana
our minister at Constantinople have left
nothing undone to protect our mission
aries in Ottoman territory, who consti-
tute nearly all the individuals residing
there who have right to claim our pro-
lection on the score Of American citizen
ship.
Our efforts in this direction will not be
relaxed, but the deep feeling and sympa-
thy that has been raised among our
people ought not so far to blind their
reason and judgment as to lead them to
demand impossible things The out
breaks of blind fury which lead to mur-
der and pillage in Turkey occur sudden
ly and without notice, and an attempt
on our part to force such hostile pres
ence there as might be effective for pre-
vention or protection would not only be
resisted by the Ottoman government,
but would be regarded as an interruD
tion of their plans by the great nations
who assert their exclusive right to in
terVene in their own time and methol
for the security of life and property in
Turkey.
Several naval vessels are stationed in
the Mediterranean, as measure of eau
tion and to furnish all possible relief
and refuge in case of emergency We
made claims against the Turkish gov
ernment for the pillage and destruction
or missionary property at Harpool and
Marash during uprising at these places.
Thus far the validity Of these demands
has not been admitted, though our min
lister, prior to such outrages and in an
tlclpatlon or danger, demanded pro-
lection for the persons and property of
our missionary citizens in the localities
mentioned, and, Notwithstanding that
strong evidence exists of the actual COM
plicity of Turkish soldiers in the work
of destruction and robbery, the facts. as
they now appear. do not permit us to
doubt the justice of these claims. and
nothing will be omitted to bring bout
their prompt settlement A number of
armenian refugees having arrived at
our ports, an order has recently been
obtained from the Turkinsh government
permitting the wives and children of
such refugees to join them here. 1T is
hoped that hereafter no obstacle will be
1nterposed to prevent the escape of all
those who seek to avoid the perils which
threaten them in Turkish dominions.
Our recently appointed consul to Err
xeroum is at his post and discharging the
duties of his office, though for some un-
accountable reason his formal exequa-
TOR from the sultan has not been issued.
L do not believe that the present somber
prospect in Turkey will be long per-
mitted to offend the sight of Christen-
DOM 1t so mars the humane and en-
lgntened civilization that belongs TO the
close of the nineteenth century that it
seems hardly possible that the earnest
demand OF good people throughout the