Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1896-12-12
FOREIGN AFFAIRS,


FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
The Armenian Massacrea
At the outset Of reference to the moro I'm
portant matters affecting our relations witt
Foreign powers it would afford me satisfaction
! II could assure congress that the tiSturbe,
condition in Asiatio Turkey had curing TN
past year assumed less hideous and blood
inspect, and that either as q consequence O
the awakening Of the Turkish government /,
the demands OF humane civilization, or as tn,
result OF decisive action on the part of tn,
| great NATIONS having the right by treaty, t,
| Interfere for the protection OF those expose,
| to the rage OF mad bigolry and cruel fanatI
! cism, the shocking features Of the situation
| had been mtigatcd.
disposition or positive intervention, we hay,
been afflicted BY confirmed and not unfroouen
reports OF the wapton destruction Of home.
end the bloody butcherlng OF men, women nnt
children, made martyrs to their profession O
Christian faith. While none OF our citizens il
Turkey have thus far been killed or wounded
though often In the midst of dreadful scenes Of
danger, their safety In tho future Is by ne
means assured. Our government at home ane
our minister at Constantinople have left moth
Ing undone TO protect our missionaries In OF
toman territory, who constitute nearly all The
individuals residing there who have right t,
claim bur protection on the score Of American
citizenship
several NAVAL Vessels are stationed IN Tho
Mediterranean as measure OF caution and tC
l. furnish all possible relief and refuge In case o
The Cuban Insurrectiont
The insurrection in Cuba still continues with
oil Its perplexities IL Is difficult to perceive
that any progress has thus far been made to-
wards the paclilcation Of tho island or that the
situation OF affairs Us depicted In my last an.
nual message has In the least improved, II
Spain still holds Havana and the seaports and
R!l the considerable towns, the insurgents still
roam at VIII over at least two-thirds OF the
Inland country, II the determination OF SPAN
TO put down the insurrection seems but tc
deneed by her unhesltatlng devotion Of largely
Increased military and naval forces to the
task, there Is much renson to believe
that the insurgents have gained in
point OF numbers and character and
resources, and are none the less intlexible IN
their resolve not to succumb, without prac.
tcally securing the great objects for which they
took up arms. III Spain has not vet 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 goes on tho pretense that civil govern
ment exists on the island, except SO far as
Spain is able to maintain II. has been practical.
Abandoned Spain does keep on foot
in the large towns and their Immediate sub.
nrbs' But that exception ,being made, the
entire country is either given over to anarchy
or Is subject to the military occupation Of one
or the other party
IL Is reported, Indeed. on reliable authority
ehat at ,no demand Of the commander-in
Sniei q tne insurgent army, the reputatiye
Supan government has now given up all at.
temp. to exercise its functions, leaving tha,
e9yernlnent confessedly (what there Is the bes,
yason Tor supposing 1t always to have been In
iact government merely on paper.
Were thp nj oh MI -, ttotu
ohists In the open, or In pitched battle prompt
ana decisive results might be looked for and
the immense superiority Of the Spanish forces
IN numbers, discipline and equipment could
nafdIy tail to tell greatly to their advantage.
but lhey are called upon to face foe that
snlhs general engagements; that can choose
anu uoes choose, Its own ground; that from the
nature OF the country is visible or invisible nj
pieasure, and that fights only from ambuscade
anu Whoh all the advantages OF position and
~ ihat is Indispensable to life In the way Of
1000 a9od' clothing and shelter is so easily obtain
eoie' especially by those born and bred on the
$oi, u is obvious that there is hardly limit Ia
.ae tiine during which hostilitles OF this sort
may be prolonged. Meanwhile, as In all cases
Of hrotraeted civil strife. the passions OF the
sganeatantS grow more and more infamed, and
processes on both sides become more frequent
and more deplorabe.
Ihey also are participated In by bands Of
ans nasrauuers who, row in the name OF one party
anu now In the name OF the other, as may bes :
sui the occasion, harry the country at will and
psiuhder lts wretched Inhabitants for their own
raantagc. Such q condition Of things would
r,, sme,vitaoy entail immense destruction OF prop
10 V, S enen y II were the policy OF both parties
suvn Sna seemed to be the original policy Of the
opagish government. 1t has now apparently
ssysnuoned ", and is acting upon the same
Ssioay SGiury as me insurgents, namely, that the
SM,senSles OF the contest require the Wholesale
Sumanllstlon nu.,1i OF property. that 1t may not
pISSe Of use and advantage to the enemy.
Ill IL is 70 the same end that In pursuance OF
yeaerai orders, Spanish garrisons are now be-
nn,,v, s M,ilhutawn from plantations and the rural
kUpuiauon pu required to concentrate itself In the
sSs "hs, ~ Inc sure result would seem to be that
my, snv INDUSTRIAL value Of the island Is fast d.
sns ssnnasllshing and that unlesss there is speedy
VIII VIII rauleal change In existing conditions. II
rnns, @ soon disappear altogether. That value
"a soasSSs very largely, Of course In Its capacity
E,sr,. rT9uee ,i sugar-a capacity already much re-
ssSe .eu py the interruption OF tillage which has
SSaeh place during the last two years.
ELS ~ N rellab ly asserted that should these In
anadtuptlons AMI continue during the current year,
10 to- ~, praet,caliy extend, as Is now threatened,
ny ny island, so much time aud SO much money
norn, m, oe required to restore the land TO its
Souh.i Sorinai productiveness that II is extremely
%oi,n nvIip.iul II capital can be induced 10 even
pin In. ~ tne attempt. The spectacle Of the utter
mem. me most fertile and charming on the globe,
s. would engage the serious attention OF the gov-
SVsnment Ssa md people Of the United States un-
Ssr any circumstances In point Of fact they
asve M concern with 1t which is by no means Of
~ s.wnolly sentimental or philanthropio charac-
W w, IL lies so near TO us ns to be hardly sep-
afSsed from our territory.
Dr; Vur actual peouniary interest in u 10 secona
SnSy,a Say 70 that OF the people and government OF
1psih: u is reasonably estimated that ~
cs vss! rom sso 100000 to e6o,0OooO0 OF American
ropsa. vo IRE Invested In plantations ana IN rail-
IN H. ,jj,ning jsn,ing and other business enterprises
smouna un,tea states and CUBE wnivh, in ,oo wy M
sbo", W., 70 70 ABOUT toaMyp rose III iosS Ssoro @
ths nrsa siVoyVV, ana IN lcs4, the ycar u.vS "a
W oo present insurrection broke out, amounted
Siarva sv9WVou. Besides snis inase seps,ed ptou
States na ~ tne q Ine ~ tSe
paSSsent ny M contest In other ways, both vexatious
M .os'y.
draaany Cubans reside In this country, anu IN IN