The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-08
The PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
continued from pnge L

people and government of Spain. IL is
reasonably estimated that ut least from
S30, GEO. COO to $50, 900, 900 of American
capital are invested in plantations and i'm
railroads. mining and other business in.
terprises on the Island. The volume of
trade between the United States and
Cuba, which i'll 1889 amounted to about
1000, 600, rose in 1893 to about *103,-
100000, and in 1894, the year before the
present insurrcction broke out, amounted
to nearly SJ6, 600, 600. Besides this large
pecuniary stake in the fortunes of Cuba
the United States finds itself inextrica-
bly, involved in the present contest in
other ways both veNatious and costly.
Has Our Sympathies.
Many Cubans reside in this country
and indirectly promote the instruction
through the press, by public meetings,
by the purchase and shipment of arms, by
the raising of funds and by other means
which the spirit of our institutions and
the tenor of our laws do not permit to be
made the subject of criminal prosecution.
Some of them, though Cubans at heart
and i'll all their feelings and interests,
have taken out papers as naturalized cit.
liens of the United States, Il practice lie.
ing resorted to with view to possible
protection by this Government and not
unnaturally regarded with much intiigna-
tion by the country of their origin The it,
surgentS are undoubtedly encouraged and
supported by the widespread sympathy
the people ot this country always and in
stinctivc!y feel for every struggle for bet
ter and ireer government, and which. in
the case OF the more adventurous and
restless clements OF our population, leads
i'll only too inany Instances to active and
personal participation in the contest.
The result is t.iat this government is con-
stantly called upon 10 protect American
citizens, To claim damages for injuries to
persons and property, now estimated ut
many millions Of dollars, and to ask cX.
planations and apologies for the acts Of
Spanish officials, whose zeal for the re-
preston OF the rebellion sometimes blinds
them to the immuniticS belonging to the
unoifending citizens OF n friendly power
lt follows from the same causes that the
United States is compelled to actively
police long line of sen coast against I'M
lawful expeditions. the escape of which
the utmost vigilance Twill not always
suffice to prevent. These inevitable entan-
clements of the United States with the
rebellion in Cuba, the large American
property interests affected and considera-
ton OF philanthropy and humanity in
general have led to IL vehement demand in
various quarters for some sort of positive
intervention on the partssof the United
States. 1t was proposed at first that bel
ligerent rights should be accorded TO the
insurgents, proposition no longer
urged, because untimely and in practical
operation -clearly perilous and injurious
to our own interests.
independence Not Practicable.
1t has since been, and is now some
times contended that the indepcnt ence of
the insurgents should he recognized. But
imperfect and restricted as the Spanish
government of the Island may bp, no
othei exists there-unless the will of the
military officers in temporary command
OF II particular district can be digniied as
species of government. 1t is now also
suggested that the United States should
buy the Island-a suggestion possibly
worthy OF consideration if there were any
evidence of Il desire or Willingness on the
part of Spain to entertain such Il pro.
posal. II is urged finally that all other
methods failing. the existing internecinc
strife in Cuba should be terminated by
our intervention, even at the cost of Il
war between the United States and
Spain--a war which it's advocates conf
IDENTIFY prophesy could be neither large in
its proportions nor doubtful in its issue.
The correctness OF this forecast neither
need be affirmed or denied. The United
States. nevertheless, has Il character to
maintain rs II nation which plainly die.
tates that riuht and not might should be
the rule Of its conduct Further. though
the United States is not IL nntion TO which
peace Is II necessity, it is in truth the
most pacific of powers, and desires moth
ing 50 much rs to live in amity with all
the world Its own ample ana diversi-
fled domains satisfies all possible longing
for territory preclules all dreams of
conquest and prevents any casting of
co"ctous eyes upon neighborng regions,
however attractive. That our conduct
towards Spain and her dominions has
constituted no exceptions to this national
disposition is made manifest by the
course of our Government, not only thus
far during the presnet Instruction, but
during the ten years that followed the
rising at Iara in 1868. No other great
cumpower, it may safely be said, under cir
stances of similar perpleXity would have
manifested the same restraint and the
same patient endurance. 1t may also he
said that this persistent attitude of the
United States towards Spain in connec.
tion with Cuba unqucstionably evinces
no slight respect and regard for Spain on
the part of the American people. They,
in truth, do not forget her connection
with the discovery of the Western hcmis-
phcrc, nor do they underestimate the
great qualities OF the Spanish people, nor
fail to fully recognize their splendid PIT
triotism ana their chivalrous .derotion co
the national honor.
Cuban Grievances.
They view with wonder and admiration
the cheerful resolution with which vast
bodies of men are sent across the thou.
sands of miles of ocean, and an enormous
debt accommodating, that the costly pos
session of the Gem of the Antilles" may
still hold its place in the Spanish Gown,