Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-12-16


United States notes-a non-fnterest bearing
debt Surely it 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 &c
be followed by another bond issue to redeem
them-another interest debt to redeem
non-interest bearing debt
Providing Gold for Business
In my view it is OF the utmost Importance
that the government should be relieved from
the business Of providing all the gold required
for exchange and export 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 the 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. This ought TO be stopped II
we are to have an era OF prosperity In the
country with sufficient receipts for the ex-
penSes of the government, we may feel no i'm
mediate embarrassment from our present cur
rency; but the danger still exists and will be
ever present menacing us SO long as the existing
system continues. And besides it Is in times
of adequate revenues and business tranquility
that the government should prepare for the
worst We cannot avoid without serious con-
sequences the wise consideration and prompt
solution Of this question.
Secretary Cages Plan.
The secretary of the treasury has outlined a
plan in great detail for the purpose Of remov-
ing the threatened recurrence Of depleted
gold reserve and save us from future embar-
raSSment on that account. To this plan I in
vite your careful consideration. I concur with
the secretary of the treasury in his recommen-
dalton that national banks be allowed to issue
notes to the face value of the bonds which they
deposited for circulation and that the tax on
circulating notes secured by deposit Of such
bonds be reduced to one-haH of one per cent
per annum I also join him in recommending
that authority be given for the establishment
of national banks with a minimum capital of
s25. COO This will enable the smaller villages
and agricultural regions of the country to be
supplied with currency to meet their needs
recommend that the issue of national bank
notes be restricted to the denomination OF $40
and upwards If the suggestions have herein
made shall have the approval OF congress. then
would recommend that national banks be re-
quired to redeem their notes in gold
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The most important problem with which
this government is now called to deal, pertain
ing to its foreign relations. concerns its duty
toward Spain and the Cuban Instruction
Problems and conditions more or less in COM
mon 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
larger enjoyment of liberty and self-control;
OF organized resistance to the mother country;
of depression after distress and warfare, and
of Intellectual settlement to be followed by re-
newed revolt. For enduring period since
the acknowledgements of the continental possess
sion of Spain in the western continent has the
condition of Cuba or the policy of Spain to-
ward Cuba not caused concern to the United
States
The War in Cuba.
The present Instruction broke out in Febru-
airy. 1895. 1t is not my purpose at this time to
recall its remarkable increase or to character
iZe its tenacious resistance against the enor-
nous forces massed against it by Spain. The
revolt and the efforts to subdue it carried de-
struction to every quarter of the island. devel-
oping wide proportions and defying the efforts
of Spain for its suppression. The civilized
code of war has been disregarded, no less so by
the Spdniards than by the Cubans. The exist
ing conditions cannot but fill this government
and the American people with the graveSt ap-
prehenSion. There is no desire Oh the part of
Spain. We have only the desire to see the
Cubans prosperous and contented enjoying
that measure of Self-contrOf which is the in
alienable right Of man, protected in their right
to reap the benefit of the eXhauStleSS treasures
of their country.
The offer made by my predecessor in April
1885, rendering the friendly offices of this gov
eminent failed Any mediation on our part
was not accepted In brief the answer read:
There is no effectual way to pacify Cuba I'M
less it begin with the actual submission of the
rebels to the mother" Then only could Spain
act in the promised direction of her own mo-
ton and after her own plans. The cruel policy
of concentration was initiated February I6
1896 The productive districts controlled by
the Spanish armies were depopulated and the
agricultural Inhabitants were herded in and
about the garrisoned towns. their land laid
waste and their dwellings destroyed. This policy
of the late cabinet Of Spain was justified as
necessary measure of war and as a means of
cutting of supplies from the insurgents. 1t
has utterly failed as war measure 1t was
not civilized warfare. 1t was determination.
Release of American Prisoners.
Against this abuse of the rights of war have
felt constrained on repeated occasions to enter
the firm and earnest protest of this govern
ment. There was much OF public condemna-
alleged illegal arrests and long Imprisonment
awaiting trial or pending protracted judicial
procedure. I felt it my first duty to make in
slant demand for the release speedy trial of
all American citizens under arrest Before
the change of the Spanish cabinet in October
last, p prisoners, 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- sought in a
special message, and under the appropriation
of April 4 1897 effective aid has been given to
American citizens in Cuba Many of them, at
their own request have been returned to the
United States.
Instructions to Our Minister.
The instructions given to our minister to
Spain before his departure for his post directed
him to impress upon that government the sim
cere wish of the United States to lend its aid
toward the ending of the war in Cuba by reach
ing peaceful and lasting result, just and hon.
orable alike to Spain and to the Cuban people.
These instructions recited the character and
duration of the contest. the widespread losses
it entails, the burdens and restraints it imposes
upon us, with constant 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 government
was constrained to seriously inquire if the
time was not ripe when Spain, of her own
volition, moved by her own interests
and every sentiment of humanity, should put a
stop to this destructive war and make proposals
of settlement honorable to herself and just to
her Cuban colony. It was urged that as
neighboring nation, with large interests in
Cuba, we could be required to wait only a rea-
sonable time for the mother country to establish
its authority and restore peace and order
within the borders OF the island; that we could
not contemplate an indefinite period for the
accomplishment of this result. No solution
was proposed to which the slightest idea of