The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-12-14

which they have deposited for circuIe.
tion, and that the tax on circulatfnR
notes secured by deposit OF such bonds
reduced to n half of 1 per cent. per
annum. also join him in recommend
ing that authority be given for the es-
Enlistment of National Banks with q
minimum capital of $25, 900. This will
enable the smaller villages and agri-
cultural regions of the country to be
supplied with currency to meet their
needs.
II recommend that the issue of Ma
tional Bank notes be restricted to the
denomination of ten dollars and up
wards. If the suggestions 1 have here
in made shall have the approval OF
Congress, then I would recommend
that National Banks be required to re-
deem their notes in gold"
CUBA.
Turning to foreign affairs, the PresE-
dent devotes a great part Of his message
to a consideration of the Cuban ues
ton, which he says is the most import
SAS R4OO4CL0 "4BA "uACA tAt5 EOF0Eh"
ment is now called upon to deal per-
tanning to its foreign relations. The
story Of Cuba has for many years been
one Of unrest and for no enduring
period has it ceased to cause concern
to the United States. Briefly summar-
izing the history Of the former out
breaks, the President then proceeds to
discuss the first head, namely, the rec
milton of belligerency.
RECOGNITION OF BELLIGERENCY NOW UN-
WISE.
He recalls the resolutions of Congress
in 1895 and since then. He quotes the
wise utterances of President Grant in
his message of December z, 1875, par
ticutarly where he declares against the
recognition of independence at that
time and also President Grants decla-
ration that he failed to find in the in
surrectlon the existence of such q sub
stantial political organization and other
elements required by international
usage as would place it on the footing
OF war to which a recognition of bellig-
erency would aim to elevate it. Com
pleting his quotation from that portion
Of President Grants message, the
President says still further pertinent
considerations appear as to the prac-
teal aspects of the questions. In the
code of nations there is no such thing as
a naked recognition of belligerency,
accompanied by the assumption of in
-ternational neutrality. Such recogni-
ton would not confer upon either
party to the conflict q status not there
totore actually possessed and a recOg-
milton Of be~lligerency, while nominally
equal, would weigh heavily in behalf
Of Spain. she could only claim the
right of search on the high seas and Of
seizure of cOntrabands, but her mari
time rights could be asserted UP to the
margin OF u own territorial waters
and a condition of things would exist
for which the Cubans, within their
own domains, could not hope to create
a parallel. The United States would
acquire no right of intervention to en-
force the conduct of the strife within
the paramount authority Of Spain, &C
cording to the international code of
war. For these reasons" says the
President, 81 regard the recognition Of
the belligerency of Cuban insurgents
as now unwise and therefore inadmis-
sible. Should that step hereafter be
deemed wise as a measure Of right and
duty, the executive will take it.
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION FAVORED.
The President next takes up the sub
iect Of annexation of Hawaii. He re-
fers to this subject because the Senate
has made public the treaty now pend
ing and legislation is required to settle
many details of the eventful union,
should it be accomplished. as he be-
lieves it should be. Rapidly reviewing
the argument he has heretofore made
in favor of annexation, the President
says:
1T the treaty is confirmed, as every
consideration of dignity and honor re-
quires the wisdom of Congress will see
to it that, avoiding assimilation OF ele-
ments perhaps hardly yet fitted to
share in the highest franchises Of citt
zenship, and having due regard to the
geographical conditions, the most JUST
provisions for self rule inlocal matters,
with the largest political liberties as an
integral part of our nation, VIII be &C:
corded to the Hawaiians. No less is
due to q people who, after nearly five
znnnn Of 6nmnnnknnkc6 nnnnnitu n R.nl