The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-10
Appendix 70 THE MESSAGE
SECRETARY OLNEY's INNOVATION
OF SENDING HIS REPORT
TO CONGRESS-.
CUBAN VAR Treated At LENGTH
The Present Rebellion Is More Formula
BILE Than the Previous Ones-Praises
the Military Genius of Cuban
Leaders-Other Questions.

Washington, De0 Z. - For the frs
time within the memory of old statesmen
the secretary of state has made regu
lar report to the president for transmits
sion to congress, like the reports OF Other
officers of the cabinet. This report was
laid before congress today as an appendix
to the presidents message. 1t treats OF
many details of our relations during the
past year with foreign governments that
either were not touched upon at all in the
message or were more briefly treated.
Under the head of Spain, Secretary o.
ney has much to say in reference to Cuba
and in his special report he points out in
general detail the history of the growth
of the rebellion, the present state Of af-
fairs on the island and other facts upon
which the president bases his broad state
ment, for conclusions.
Reference is made to report from
Consul General Lee, but the secretary ad-
nits that his information comes principal
ly from the United States consuls and so
must be regarded as confidential. The
.
uation is disclosed in the following para
graph, made after a preliminary state
ment of the industrial resources:
From our point of view we regard the
matter as showing state of things prev
alent in the island dangerous alike to good
relations, destructive of legitimate COM
merce, fatal to the internal resources of
Cuba and most vexatious and trying be-
cause entailing upon this government ex-
cessive burdens in it's domestic admins
tration and in its outward relations. This
situation can not indefinitely continue
without growing still worse and the time
may not be far distant when the United
States must seriously consider whether
international duties, in Wow of its pecul-
lar relations to the island, do not call for
some decided change in the policy hither-
to pursued"
To begin with, the secretary makes it
plain that the present instruction is far
more formidable than the famous ten
year insurrection, which began in 1867.
He says that starting in the same portion
of that land it very early took proportions
beycndsits predecessor and there assumed
an aggressive phase. Passing the defen-
sive lines Of trochas traversing the isl
and from it's south, formidable bodies of
esta blished themselves in the rich sugar
planting districts of Santa Clara, Glen
fuges and Matanzas, made hostile enc
mics almost in sight Of Havana itself
and advancing westward, effected a Iodg-
ment in the fertile tobacco fields of Pinar
del Rio, which has so far resisted all eff
forts of the Spanish forces to overcome.
The secretary says that While no prom
inent fort has been attacked, large part
of the $500 miles of the trocha is prac
tically in the hands of the insurgents.
The secretary adds:
while they in fact control the larger
part of the internal area OF the whole
island of Cuba, from Cape San Antonio
to Cape Maysi, and enjoy practically IN
limited use of the larger part OF the coast,
the revolutionary forces are scattered,
not being camped for any length OF time
to form an army capable OF making
siege and fail to take the defensive IN
pitched battle. Assembling suddenly at
given point, often IN single nlg1t, .ney
make unexpected rallies or carry destruc,
ton to the tobacco and cane sugar OF
Cuba and at the first sign of pursuit or or
canized assault, they dispense only to re-
assemble in like manner at some other
spot" in ~
It is probable some questions will soon
come before congress apd secretary VI
ney adds the following III uehhins 'ne
situation:
Our information shows there is not
only no effective local government by the
insurgents in the territories now overrun,
but there is not even a tangible p, retbense
The organization, confined to the exigen-
cies Of the military operations So Of !, the the
bour. is within definite centers ana lacK-
ing the most elementary features S o OF mps
the nucleus of statehood. The machinery
Spouse to Obligations, which is de fa ,to
to sovereignty entaed Eot tine i&ef lacking eE
ut is not possible to discern a homo mo-
genous political entity possessing =, ana ana
Exercising the functions of administration
and capable, if left to itself 10 of d man terr
tn S and Sustaining normal relations with
the the perennial ere family of governments ,.o
a.FIe illustrates his point as to the IRE