The silver lance., 1897-12-10
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE:
FINANCIAL QUESTION AND CUBA DISCUSSED
Recommended that Gold Notes Only be Paid Out for Cold
Banks Should be Allowed to Issue the Limit Of Their
Bond Deposits -Denounces Spain but Wants Give Her
Another Chance-Sdn Hopes for Some Result Of VOL
cot Commissions Work

| redeem non-interest- bearing debt.
Ii we are to have an era of prosper
| ity we may feel no embarrassment
from our present currency. but the
danger still exists and will be ever
present menacing us so long as the ex
listing system continues.
| l concur with the secretary of the
treasury that national banks he allow
| ed to issue notes to the face value of
the bonds they have deposited and that
the tax on circulating notes secured by
such deposits be reduced to one-half of
| 1 per cent. per annum. Also that the
! authority be given for the establish
ment of national banks with n mini
mum capital of $4,000 to enable all
regions to be supplied with currency
to meet their needs.
/ recommend that the issue of ma
! tiOnal bank notes be restricted to the
denominations of $40 and upward. If
these suggestions l have made shall
have the approval of Congress then l
would recommend that national banks
be required to redeem their notes in
gold.
| Spain and the Cuban Rebellion.
The most important problem with
which this government is now called
upon to deal pertaining to its foreign
relations concerns its duty toward
Spain and the Cuban insurrection.
Problems and conditions more or less
in common with these now existing
have confronted this government at
various times in the past. The story
of Cuba for many years has been one
of unrest and growing discomfort. an
effort toward a larger enjoyment of
liberty and self-control. of organized
resistance to the mother country, of
depression after distress and warfare,
and of settlement TO be followed by
continual revolt. For no enduring
period since the enfranchisement of
the continental possessions of Spain in
the Western continent has the cOndi-
tion of Cuba or the policy of Spain to-
ward Cuba not caused concern in the
United States.
The prospect from time to time that
the weakness of Spain's hold upon the
island and the political vicissitudes
and embarrassments of the home gov
ernment might lead to the transfer of
Cuba to a continental power called
forth between 1920 and 1850 various
emphatic declarations of the policy of
the United States to permit no dis
turbance with Cuba and Spain unless
in the direction of independence or ac-
QUESTION by us through purchase, nor
has there been any change of this de-
clared policy since upon the part of
the government. The revolution which
began in 1868 lasted for ten years, de-
spite the strenuous efforts OF the sue
cessiye peninsula governments to sup
press it. Then, as now, the United
States testified its grave concern and
offered its aid to put an end to blood
shed in Cuba. The Overtures made by
President Grant We're refused and II
was dragged on, entailing great loss of
life and treasure and increased injury
to American interests. besides throw
ing enhanced burdens of neutrality
upon this government.
The present insurrection broke out in
February, 1895. 1t Is not my purpose
at this time to recall its remarkable in
crease, or to characterize its tenacious
resistance against the enormous forces
massed against 1t by Spain. The re-
volt, and the efforts to subdue it, car
ried destruction to every quarter of
the island. developing wide proper
tions and defying the efforts of Spain
for its suppression. The civilized code
of war has been disregarded no less by
the Spaniards than by the Cubans.
The existing conditions cannot but
fill this government and the American
people with the grayest apprehension
There is no desire to profit by the mis-
fortunes of Spain. We have only the
desire that the Cubans be prosperous
and cOntented. enjoying that measure
of self-control which Is the inaliena-
BILE right of man. protected in their
rights to reap the benefit of the ex-
| haustless treasures of their country
The offer made by my predecessor
in April, 1896, rendering the friendly
offices of this government, failed. and
mediation on our part was not accept
ed. In brief, the answer read: There
is no effectual way to pacify Cuba un-
less it begins with the actual submis-
sion of the rebels to the mother coun-
try"
Then only could Spain act in the
promised direction of her own motion
and after her own plans.
The cruel policy of concentration
was initiated February 16, 1896. The
productive districts controlled by the
Spanish armies We're depredated. the
agricultural inhabitants were horded
in and about garrisoned towns, their
lands laid waste, and their dwellings
destroyed. This policy the late cabi-
, net of Spain justified as Il necessary
measure of war and as means Of cut
ting off supplies from the insurgents.
1t has utterly failed as a war measure.
,, 1t was not civilized warfare. 1t was
determination. --
Instructions Given to Minister Woodford
; Against the abuse of the rights of
the war l have felt constrained on re-
peated occasions to enier the firm and
earnest protest of this government
There was much of public condemna-
ton of the treatment of American citi-
, zens by alleged illegal arrests and long
imprisonment awaiting trial. felt my
/ first duty to make instant demands for
the release of American citizens under
arrest Before the change of the Span
3 lish Cabinet in October last, twenty-five
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