The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1897-12-09

| 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 10
| be, with or without reason, the signal of
danger or OF security. This ought to be
stopped IL We are to have an era of
prosperity In the country With suffi-
| Client receipts for expenses Of the govern
ment, we may feel no immediate mbar-
| rassment from our present currency; but
| the danger still exists and will be ever
present menacfng US so long as the exist
| Ing system continues, and besides it is in
| time of adequate revenues and business
tranquility that the government should
prepare for the worst. We cannot avoid,
without serious consequences. the wise
consideration and prompt solution of this
question.
The secretary of the treasury has out
| lined n plan In great detail for the purpose
| of removing the threatened recurrence of
depleted gold reserve and save us from
luture embarrassment on that account.
To this plan / invite your careful con-
si6erat.on.
1 concur with the secretary of the
treasury in his recommendation that ma
tional banks be allowed to issue notes to
the face value of the bonds which they
have deposited for circulation and that
the tax on circulation notes secured by
deposit of such bonds be reduced to one
half of l per cent per annum. join in
| recommending that authority be given for
the establishment OF na1Ional panks with
minimum capital OF $25, 900. This will en-
| able the smaller villages and agricultural
regions OF the country to be supplied with
currency to meet their needs.
1 recommend that the issue of national
bank notes be restricted to the denomina-
ton OF $40 and upwards. If the sug-
| gestions 1 have herein made shall have
the approval Of congress, then 1 would
recommend that national banks be re-
CURED to redeem their notes in gold
The (uban OupSttOu
The most important problem with which
| this government is now called upon to
deal, pertaining to it's foreign relations
concerns its duty toward Spain and the
Cuban insurrection. Problems and con-
ditions more or less in common with those
| now existing have confronted this gov
ernment at various times in the past. The
story OF Cuba for many years has been
one Of unrest. growing discomfort; an
effort toward larger enjoyment of lib
| erty and self control; of organized re-
SiStance to the mother country; of depres-
| sion after distress and warfare, and of
Intellectual settlement to be followed by
| renewed revolt. For no enduring period
since the enfranchisement Of the conti-
mental possessions of Spain in the west
| ern continent has the condition of Cuba
caused concern to the United States.
| The prospect from time TO time of the
weakness of Spain's hold upon the island
and the political vicissitudes and embar-
rassments OF the home government, which
might lead to the transfer of Cuba to q
continental power. called forth. between
1898 and 1860 various emphatic declara-
! tions of the policy of the United States to
permit no disturbance Of Cuba's connec-
| ton 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 this government
| The revolution which began in 1868 last
| ed for ten years. despite the strenuous eff
forts of the successive peninsular govern
ments to suppress it. Then, as now, the
government OF the United States testi-
| fled its grave concern and offered its aid
| to put an end to bloodshed in Cuba The
| overtures made by Gen. Grant were re-
| fused and the war dragged on, entailing
great loss of life and treasure and in
creased injury to American interests. be-
| sides throwing enhanced burdens OF neu-
| trality on the government. In 1878 peace
| was brought about by the truce OF Zsn-
| Jon. obtained by negotiations between the
| Spanish commander. Martinez de Cam
! pos. and the insurgent leaders
The present insurrection broke out in
February, 1885. 1t is not my purpose a t
this time to recall its remarkable increase
| or to characterize it's tenacious resist
ance against the enormous forces massed
against 1t by Spain: The revolt and the
efforts to subdue 1t have carried de-
structton to every quarter of the island.
developing wide proportions and defyirg
the efforts OF Spain for its suppression
The civilized code Of war has been dis
regarded, no less so by the Spaniards tina n
| by the Cubans. The existing conditions
cannot but fill this government and the
America american people with the gravest appre
| our people to profit by the misfortunes Of
Spain. We have only the desire to see
the CubanS prosperous and contented, en-
Joying that measure Of self control which
1 ha 70 lion ri.y,t
| IN their right TO reap the benefit OF the
exhaustless treasures of their country.
The offer made by my predecessor in
April, 1886. rendering the friendly Offices
on our part was not accepted. In brief
| the answer read: There Is no effectual
| way to pacify Cuba unless it begins with
| the actual submission of the rebels to the
act in the promised direction Of her own
action and after her own plans"
The cruel policy OF CONCENTRATION was
| initiated February 16, 1896. The product
i've districts controlled by the Spanish
were depopulate ted. The agricultural In.
habitants were herded in and about The
sarrisons to die, and their lands laid waste
| and their dwellings destroyed. This pol.
icy the late cabinet of Spain justified as a
necessary measure of war and as means
of cutting Off supplies from the iusur-
gents. 1t has utterly failed as war meas
ure. 1t was not civilized warfare. 1t was
extermi ination.
Against this abuse Of the rights of war
I have felt constrained on repeated occa-
sions to enter the firm and earnest pro-
test of this government. There was much
Of public condemnation of the treatment
of American citizens by alleged Illegal ar
rests and long imprisonment awaiting
trial. or pending protracted judicial pro
ceedings. l felt 1t my first duty to make
instant demand for the release or speedy
trial Of all American citizens under ar
rest. Before the change Of the Spanish
cabinet an U..vber last twenty-five prs-
oners. citizens of the United States. had
been given their freedom. For the relief
of our own citizens suffering because OF
the conflict the aid of congress was
sought in special message. ana under
the appropriation Of April. 1897. effective
aid has been given to American citizens
in Cuba. many OF them at their own
quest having been returned to the United
States.
The Instructions given to our new min
lister to Spain before his departure for his
post directed him to impress upon tha.
government the sincere wish Of the United
States to lend its aid toward the ending
OF the war in Cuba. by reaching a peace
full and tasting result. just and honorable
alike to Spain and to the Cuban people.
These instructions recited the character
and duration of the contest. the wide
spread losses it entails. the burdens and
restraints 1t imposes upon US. with con-
slant disturbance Of national interests
and the injury resulting from an indef-
mite continuance Of this state of things
1t was stated that at this juncture our
in ol fn Sari1t1S SlV