Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-12-09


The secretary of the treasury has out
| lined a plan in great detail for the pur-
| pose of removing the threatened reeur-
renee of a depleted gold reserve and save
| us from future embarrassment on that
account To this plan l invite your
careful consideration.
i concur with the secretary OF the
treasury in his recommendation that ma
tional banks be allowed TO issue notes 10
| the face value of the bonds which ihey
have deposited for circulation, ana lhat
the tax on circulating notes secured by
deposit of such bonds be reduced to one
half of one per cent per annum. h.so
Join him in recommending that authority
be given for the establishment OF national
banks of a minimum capital stock OF so
000 This will enable the smaller VIVA. O.
and agricultural regions of the country
to be supplied with currency TO NEE
their needs. / recommend that the issu
of national bank notes be restricted TO
the denomination of so and upwards If
the suggestions l have herein made shall
have the approval of congress, then l
would recommend that national banks
be required to redeem their notes in gold.
CUBAN INSTRUCTION.
The most important problem with
which this government is now called
upon to deal is pertaining to its foreign
relations and concerning its duty toward
lens and conditions, more or less com
mon with those now existing, have con-
fronted this government at various
times in the past The story of cuba
for many years has been one of unrest,
of growing discomfort, of an effort to-
ward a larger enjoyment Of liberty and
self-control: of organi ed resistance to
the mother country; Of depression after
distress and warfare, and Of Intellectual
settlement. TO be followed by renewed
revolt.
The existing conditions cannot but fiji
this government and the American peo-
pie with the gravcst appreh on. There
is no desire on the part of our people to
profit by the misfortunes of Spain We
have only the desire to see the Cubans
prosperous and contented enjoying that
measure of self-control which Is the in
alienable right of man. protected in their
right to reap the benefit of the exhaust
less treasures of their country. The offer
made by my predecessor in April 1895,
rendering the friendly offices of this gov
eminent, failed. Amy mediation on our
part was not accepted. In brief the an
swer read; There is no effectual way
TO pacify Cuba unless ii begins with the
actual submission of the rebels TO the
mother country. Then only could Spain
act In the promised direction. of her own
motion and after her own plans.
The cruel poncy OF concentration was
initiated Feb. 16, 1896. The productive dis
tricts controlled by the Spanish armies
were depopulated. The agricultural in
habitants were herded in and about the
garrison towns. their lands laid waste and
their dwellings, destroyed. This policy
the late cabinet of Spain justified as a nee
essary measure of war and as a means of
cutting off supplies from the insurgents.
It has utterly failed war measure.
II was not civilized warfare; it was ex-
termination. Against this abuse of the
rights of war, / have felt constrained on
repeated occasions to enter the firm and
earnest protest of this government. There
was much of public condemnation of the
treatment of American citizens by alleged
illegal arrests and long Imprisonment
awaiting trial or pending protracted judi
cial proceedings. / felt it my first duty 10
make demand for the release or speedy
trial of all American citizens under ar
rest Before the change Of the Spanish
cabinet in October last. p prisoners, citi-
zens Of the United States had been given
their freedom.
For the relief of our own citizens suf-
fering because of the conflict the aid OF
congress was sought in a special message
and under the appropriation of April T.
1891. effective aid has been given to Ameri-
can citizens In Cuba, many Of them at
their own request having been returned
to the United States The instru ,tions
given to our new minister to Spain before
his departure for his post directed him
to impress upon that government the sim
cere wish Of the United States TO lend
its aid toward the ending of the war in
Cuba by reaching peaceful and lasting
result, Just and honorable alike to Spain
and TO the cuban people These instruc-
tons recited the character and duration
of the contest the widespread losses Il en-
tails the burdens and restraints Il i'm
poses upon MS. with constant disturbance
of national interests and the injury result |
ing from an indefinite continuance Of this
state OF things. 1t was stated that at
this iuncture our government was con-
strained to seriously inquire If the time
was not ripe when Spain. of her own Volt
ton, moved by her own interests and ev-
cry sentiment of humanity. should put a
stop to this destructive war and make pro-
posals of settlement honorable to herself |
and just to her Cuban colony IL was |
urged that. as a neighboring nation. with |
large interests in Cuba, we could lie re-
quired to wait only reasonable time for |
the moAHtF country 10 fSNdbliSn It's du- 1
thority and restore peace and order with |
in the borders of the island: that we could |
not contemplate an indefinite period for the |
accomplishment Of this result.
No solution was proposed TO which the /
slightest idea of humiliation to Spain 1
could attach; and indeed the precise pro- /
pOsals were withheld to avoid emharrass-
ment TO that government. All that was /
asked or expected was that some SAFE wav /
might be speedily provided and perman-
ent peace restored. 1t SO CHANGED that The I
OF this offer addressed 10 the
same Spanish administration which had 1
declined the tenders OF my predecessor
and which for more than two years hal
poured men and treasure into cuba in the
fruitiess effort 10 suppress the revolt. fell
to others Between the departure NJ
General Woodford. the new envoy. and
his arrival ia Spain. the statesman who
had shaped the policy OF his country fell
by the hand Of an assassin. and, although
the cabinet OF the late premier still held /
office and received from our envoy the
he bore. the cabinet gave place
within few days thereafter to a new adj
ministration under the leadership OF Sa.
gasta.
The reply 10 our note was received on