The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-12-09

eQ ltSel1 OF a single seaport whence IL
may send forth it's flag. nor has it any
means Of communication with foreign
powers except through the military
liz s Of its adversaries. Considered as
a question of expediency. l regard the
&C, lrdance of belligerent rights still to
be as unwise and premature as l re-
gard it to be, at present, indefensible
as measure of right.
DANGERS OF RECOGNITION.
Such recognition entails upon the
country according the rights which flow
fro 1t difficult and complicated duties
and ~equires the exaction from the con-
tehding parties Of the strict observance
of their rights and obligations. 1t con-
fers the right of search upon the high
seas by vessels of both parties; it
would subject the carrying of arms
and munitions of war which now may
be transported freely and without in
terruptiOn, in vessels of the United
States, to detention and to possible
seizure; it would give rise to countless
vexatiOuS questions, would release the
parent government from responsibility
for acts done by the insurgents, and
would invest Spain with the right to
exercise the supervision recognized by
our treaty of 1895 over our commerce
on the high seas. There can be little
doubt as to what such supervision
would before long draw this nation"
The president discusses at length the
necessity fer a policy of international
neutrality which must accompany the
recognition Of beligerency, with the
dangers which would necessarily
threaten our shipping interests, and
proceeds:
For these reasons l regard the recOg-
milton of the belligerency of the Cuban
insurgents as now unwise, and there
fore inadmissible. Should that step
hereafter be deemed wise as measure
of right and duty the executive will
take it.
Intervention upon humanitarian
grounds has been frequently suggested,
and has not failed to receive my most
anxious and earnest consideration. But
should such a step be now taken when
1t is apparent that a hopeful change
has supervened in the policy of Spain
toward Cuba? A new government has
taken office in the mother country. 1t
is pledged in advance to the declaration
that all the effort in the world cannot
suffice to maintain peace in Cuba by the
bayonet; that vague promises Of reform
after subjugation affected no solution
of the insu!ar problem; that with a
substitution of commanders must come
a change of the past system of warfare
for one in harmony with a new policy
which shall no longer aim to drive the
Cubans to the horrible alternative Of
taking to the thicket or succumbing in
misery"
The first acts Of the new government
lie in these honorable paths. The policy
of cruel rapine and determination that
so long shocked the universal sentiment
of humanity has been reversed. Under
: neW military commander a broad
clemency is proffered. Measures have
already been set on foot to relieve the
horrors of starvation. The power of
the Spanish armies, it is asserted, is to
be urged not to spread ruin and DESC
lation, but to protect the resumption
of peaceful agricultural pursuits and
productive industries. That past meth
ods are futile to force a peace by SUBJ
jugation is freely admitted, and that
ruin without conciliatiOn must in
evitably fail to win for Spain the fidel-
ity of a contented dependency.
The president then details the scheme
of autonomy for Cuba proposed by the
Sagasta cabinet, declares that 1.-The
government of Sagasta has entered
upon a course from which recession
with honor is impossible" and de-
clareS further:
GIVE SPAIN A CHANCE.
1 shall not impugn it's sincerity nor
should impatience be suffered to en-
barraSs it in the task it has undertaken.
1t is honestly due to Spain and to our
friendly relations with Spain that she
should be given a reasonable chance
to realize her executions and to prove
the asserted efficacy of the new order
of things, to which she stands irreVO-
cably committed. She has recalled the
commander whose brutal orders in
famed the American mind and shocked
the civilized world She has modified
! the horrible order of concentration and
has undertaken to care for the helpless
and permit those who desire to resume
the cultivation Of their fields to do sc
and assures them the protection of the
Spanish government in their lawful
| occupations. She has just released the
| competitor" prisoners heretofore SEN
| fenced to death and who have been the
| subject of repeated diplomatic CORE
! spondence during both this and the
preceding administration
Not a single American citizen is now
J In arrest or confinement in Cuba OF
I whom this government has any knowl-
| edge The near future will demonstrate
| whether the indispensable condition OF
| a righteous peace, just alike to the
| Cubans and to Spain, as well as equita-
| BILE to all our interests, so intimately in
volved in the welfare Of Cuba, is likely
| to be attained. If not. the exigency OF
! further and other action by the United
| States will remain to be taken. WheI
! that times comes that action will be de.
termined in line of indisputable right
and duty. 1t will be faced, without
misgivins or hesitancy.
! Sure of the right, keeping free from
ell offense ourselves, actuated only by
upright and patriotic considerations
, Ioved neither by passion nor selfish
ness, tho government Will continue Its
watchful care over the rights anc
property Of American citizens and Will
abate none of it's efforts to bring abou
by peaceful agencies a peace which
shall be honorable and enduring. i
it shall hereafter appear to be duty
imposed by our obligations to ourselves
to civilization and humanity to inter
vene with force, it shall be withou
fault on our part, and only because tn
necessity for such action will be 81
clear as to command the support ant
approval of the civilized world.
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION.
By a special message dated the 16tl
day of June last 1 laid before the sen
ate a treay signed that day by tn
plenipotentiaries Of the United State
and Of the republic of Hawaii, havin
for its purpose the incorporation OF tn
Hawaiian Island as an integral par
OF the United States and under it
sovereignty. The senate having re
moved the injunction Of secrecy. al
though the treaty is still pending befor
that body, the subject may be properl
referred to in this message, becaus
the necessary action Of the congress
required to determine by legislatio
many details of the eventual unio
should the fact of annexation be ae
complished. as l believe it should be.
| SiSoCnUinp fY0y