Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-12-09

issue OF national bank notes be restric
ed to the denomination of ten dollars
and upwards and that they be re-
auired to redeem their notes in gold.
Cuba.
Turning to foreign affairs tn
president devotes much space to
consideration of the Cuban question:
which he says is the most important
problem with which our government is
now called upon to deal in Its foreign
relations. Summarizing the history
of former outbreaks the president
comes down to the present insurrec-
ton, speaking Of its remarkable in
crease, it's Tenacious existence
against the enormous forces massed
by Spain, the widespread destruction
of property and the disregard Of the
civilized code of war on both sides. He
says the second condition gives rise
to the gravest apprehensions. There
Is no desire on our part he declares
to profit by Spains misfortunes and
we have only the desire to see the
Cuban enjoying that measure Of self
control which Is the inalienable right
OF man. OF the concentration policy
Of Gen. Weyler he says: 1T has ut
terly failed as war measure. 1t Is
not civilized warfare-it Is extermina-
ton" Against this abuse Of the rights
of war the president says he has felt
constrained on repeated occasions to
enter the firm and honest protest of
this government. He outlines his in
structions to Minister Woodford,
which were in substance to impress
upon the Spanish government the
sincere wish of the United States to
lend it's aid toward the ending of the
war by reaching peaceful and lasting
result, just and honorable to Spain
and to the Cuban people. 1t was also
asked whether Spain of her own Volt
ton should not make proposals for
settlement and 1t was said that he could
not contemplate an Indefinite period
for the accomplishment of this re-
suit. The Spanish reply to Mr.. Wood
ford was, in the presidents opinion,
in the direction of better under
standing. 1t admitted that the new
government was bound to change of
policy that should satisfy the United
States and pacify Cuba within a
reasonable time. To this end politi-
cal reforms will be put into effect and
military operations continued on hui
name lines. 1t was suggested that
STain be left free to conduct her mill
taly operations and grant political
reforms while the United States for
its part should enforce neutral OBJ
legations and cut off the assistance
which the insurgents, it. was asserted.
received from this country. An early !
and complete pacitcation Spain hoped
for. The president declares that the
Spanish disposition to charge us with
failure to meet international duties is
baseless and points to the efforts this
government have made at the cost of
millions and by employment of the
administrative machinery of the
nation to perform its full duty. He
also says that the fact that no military
expedition or armed vessel has left
our shores has been automatically
represented to Spain. Promising that,
throughout all the horror and danger
to our own peace, the United States
has never abrcgated it's right to de-
termine it's policy as to Cuba, the
nrnciJant i,,te no ~
tried measures there remains only:
Recognition Of the insurgents as
belligerents; recognition of the in
dependence of Cuba; neutral interven-
ton to end the war by imposing O
rational compromise between the con-
testants; an intervention in favor of
one or the other party. He says: II
speak not Of forclble annexation, for
that cannot be thought Of That by
our code of morality would be crimi-
nal aggression" Taking up the
question of belligerency, the presiden.
quotes at length from President
Grants message of December 7, 1875,
wherein he declared that the condi-
lloio III Iubtt Wal lt'AlGu HCIlISl lu5
recognition of independence nor the
recognition Of belligerency. He adds
moreover a recognition of belligerency
would confer upon neither party to
the conflict a status not heretofore
actually possessed, while 1t would
weigh heavily in Spain's behalf, Civ
ing her the right of search on the
high seas and extending her maritime
rights to the margin of our territorial
waters For these reforms" says the
president, 81 regard the recognition OF
the belligerency Of the Cuban insur-
gents as now unwise and therefore
inadmisslble."
should that step hereafter be
deemed wise, as matter OF right and
duty, the executive will take it," he
continues. He points to the ropeful
change in the Spanish policy to the
pledge of reform and to the abatement
OF the horrors OF war as reasons
against intervention On humanitarian
grounds. The first acts of the new