The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1897-12-10

|
| gets 1t from the government he shoul1
| not receive back from the government
| United States note without paying god In
| exchange for IL. The reason for this is
| made ali the more apparent when the
government issues an interest-bear!ng
| debt TO provide gold for tho redemption
| OF United States notes--a non-interest-
bearing debt. Surely IL should not pay
| them out again except on demand and for
| gold. If they are put out In any other
way they may return again to be fol-
| lowed by another bond issue TO redeem
| them-another Understanding DEBT 10
redeem a MISUNDERSTANDING debt.
| In my view II Is of the utmost import
ance that the government should be re-
! lieved from the burden OF providing all
| the gold required for exchanges and eX-
port. This responsibility is alone borne
| BY the government without any of the
| usual and necessary banking powers TO
| help itself. The banks do not feel the
strain of gold redemption. The whole
strain rests upon the government, and the
| size of the gold reserve in the treasury
| has come to be. with or without reason
| the signal of danger or OF security. ms
ought to be stopped.
IL we are TO have an era of prosperity
| in the country with sufficient receipts for
| the expenses of the government, We may
| feel no immediate embarrassment from
| our present currency; but the danger still
| exists, ard will be ever present, menacing
us 50 long as the existing system con-
| tinues.
/ concur with the secretary OF the treas
ury in his recommendations that national
banks be allowed to issue notes TO the
| face value of the bonds which they have
deposited for circulation, and that the tax
on circulating notes secured by deposit OF
such bonds be reduced to one-halt or one
per cent per annum. | also join him In
recommending that authority be given Tor
the establishment of national banks with
a minimum capital of $4,000. This VIII
enable the smaller villages and agricul-
tural regions of the country to be sup
piled with currency to meet their needs.
| Il Issue national
bank notes be restricted TO the denomina-
ton of ten dollars and upward. 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.
The Cuban Question.
The most important problem with which
this government is now called upon to
deal pertaining TO its foreign relations
concerns its duty toward Spain and the
Cuban instruction. Problems and con-
ditions more or less in common with
those now existing have confronted this
government at various times in the past.
The story of Cuba for many years has
been one of unrest; growing discomfort;
an effort toward a larger enjoyment OF
| liberty and self-control; of organized re-
| sistance TO the mother country; of de-
| preston after distress and warfare, and
| Of Intellectual settlement to be followed by
renewed revolt. For no enduring period
since the Acknowledgement of the con-
| tinental possessions Of Spain in the
western continent has the condition of
Cuba or the policy of Spain toward Cuba
not caused concern to the United States.
The prospect from time TO time that
the weakness of Spain's hold upon the
| island. and the political vicisstudes and
81 N an
might lead to the transfer of Cuba to
continental power, called forth, between
1923 and 1860, various emphatic declara-
| lions of the policy of the United states
| to permit no disturbance OF Cubas con-
! nection with Spain unless in the direction
| of independence or acquisition by us
through purchase; nor has there been any
| change of this declared policy since upon
| the part of the government.
The revolution which began In looo last-
ed for ten years, despite the strenuous
efforts of the successive peninsula gov
| ernments to suppress II. Then, as now
! the government of the United states tes-
titled it's grave concern and offered It's
| aid to put an end to bloodshed in Cuba.
| The overtures made by Gen. Grant We're
refused, and the war dragged on, entah-
| ing graf loss of life and treasure, and IN
| creased injury TO American interests. be-
| sides throwing enhanced burdens OF ne1o
! trality upon this government In 1913
| peace was brought about by the truce OF
| canton, obtained by negouatohs pc
| tween the Spanish commander, Marine
de Campos, and the insurgent leaders.
! The present instruction broke out III
| February, 1895. 1t is not my purpose AT
| this time to recall its remarkaple IN
| crease or to characterize its tenacious re-
| sistance against the enormous forces
| massed against it by Spain. The revolt
and the efforts to subdue 1t carried de-
| struction to every quarter or the island
| developing wide proportions and defyng
| the efforts of Spain for It's suppression
The civilized code of war mas Deen G as
| regarded, no less so by the Spahlatus
| than by the Cubans. -,
The existing conditions cannot but fill
| this government and the American people
| with the graVest apprehension. There Is
| no desire on the part of our people to
| profit by the msfortunes of Spain. We
! have only the desire TO see the Cubans
| prosperous and contented, enjoying tnat
| 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.
spain's Cruel Policy.
The cruel policy of concentration was
inaugurated February 16, 1885, The pro-
ductive districts controlled by the Span
ish armies were depopulated. The agri-
cultural inhabitants were herded in and
about the garrison towns; their lands AID
waste, and their dwellings destroyed
| This policy the late cabinet or spain JUS
titled as a necessary measure OF war
! and as a means of cutting OIL supplies
|
| as "a war measure. 1t was not civilized
! warfare. 1t was determination. 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
| protracted judicial proceedings. / felt II
| nv first duty TO make instant demand
for the release or speedy trial of all
| American citizens under arrest Before
| the change of the Spanish cabinet in
| October last twenty-five prisoners, citi-
zens of the United States, had been given
| their freedom.
| For the relief orr own citizens suffer-
ing because Of the conflict the aid of
| congress was sought in a special mes
| sage. and under the appropriation OF
! April A. 1897. effective aid has been given
| to American citizens IN Cuba, many OF
| them at their own request having been
returned to the United States.
Our Appeals TO Spain.
The instructions given to our new minis
ter to Spain before his departure for his
post directed him to impress upon that
government the sincere wish Of the United
States to lend it's aid toward the ending
OF the war in Cuba by reaching a peace
full and lasting result, just and honorable