The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESS4GE.

Pee.Oe dHd prosperity with honor. 1t Is
also free from elements likely to disturb
the business and financial interests of
the country. 1t calls. as expected, for
reform in our currency system, and
refers to the evil our government en-
counters in the great cost 1t suffers in
maintaining on parity with gold the
different forms Of government money,
and emphatically refers to the neces-
sity Of protecting the government
against bond issues for repeated re-
demption Of demand notes. The Presi-
dent rightly takes the stand made dur
Ing the presidential campaign on this
subject, and urges that the pledges for
currency reform should be redeemed
and the endless chain" evil, so often
referred to nowadays, be broken. The
President does well to recommend this.
1t Is surely a step in the right direction
In a very important matter. The Presi-
dent strongly recommends the annexa-
ton of Hawaii. He thinks that "every
consideration Of dignity and honor" re-
quires that the treaty of annexation be
ratified.
The topic which receives the largest
treatment is the Cuban question, and
the utterances are of a most pacific
character. The origin Of the insurrec-
ton and the errors that have attended
the struggle are exhaustively described.
Reference is made to the failure Of the
offer Of friendly Offices made by the
last previous administration in April,
1885. The policy adopted by the Span
ish authorities in prosecuting the war
further is forcibly condemned. The eff
forts since made by our government in
this matter with view to obtaining
an ending Of the war are rehearsed,
distress being laid on the enquiry made
by the United States if the time was not
ripe for Spain, of her own volition.
moved by consideration of her own in
Iterests and every sentiment of human
ity, to put a stop to this terribly de-
structive war and make proposals Of
settlement alike honorable to herself
and just to her Cuban colony. It is re-
lcalled that 1T was urged by our country
that we could wait only a reasonable
time for the mother country to restore
peace and order in the war-devastated
island, and that we could not contem-
lplate with Indifference an indefinite pro-
longation Of the struggle. The concili-
atory and reasonable tone of the Span
ish reply is referred to and the schemes
of reform projected by the Spanish gov
eminent. Spains plan for Cuban au-
ltonomy is recommended. The terms Of
fered are substantially the same as the
rights enjoyed by Canada. The fiscal
provisions embrace the right to frame
the insular budget, both as to expendi
ture and revenues without limitation
of any kind, and to set apart the reve-
nues to meet the Cuban share OF the
national budget, which latter will be
voted by the national Cortez with the
assistance Of Cuban Senators and Dep
uties; to initiate or take part in the ne
gotiations Of the national government
for commercial treaties which may af-
feet Cuban interests; to accept or reject
commercial treaties which the national
| government may have concluded with
out the participation of the national
government; to frame the colonial tar
| if, acting in accordance with the be-
ninsula government in scheduling arti
cles of mutual commerce between the
mother country and the colonies.
SPANS querulous hint to the effect
that our government has been derelict
in our duties of an International char
acter is repealed. This charge, the Pres
ident says, is shown to be without basis
Of fact, and Spain seems not to have
been cognizant Of the constant efforts
made by our government, at the cost of
millions and by the employment of the
administrative machinery of the nation
at command, to perform it's full duty.
The President, however, recalls the wise
utterances, on similar occasion. of
President Grant in his message to con-
gress In 1875, and declares that he fails
to find in the Cuban Instruction the ex-
istence of conditions that meet the test
recognized by publicists and establish
ed principles of international law on the
subject. He opposes recognition of bel
ligerency for wise and potent consider
atoms of national policy, adding that
such a course would give the country
no right of intervention to enforce or
regulate the conduct of the strife within
the paramount authority of Spain, ac-
cording to the international code of war.
The future. the President adds, will de-
termine what course this country should
pursue in the case. When the time for
action comes, If it does come, it will be-
faced without misgiving or hesitancy in
tha IiCtt of obIigatioils this cot-ar,,r,o,,t |