The Holly chieftain., 1897-12-10

| The secretary OF the treasury has outlined
! plan Ia great detail for the purpose OF remoy-
| ing the threatened recurrence of depleted
! gold reserve and save us from future embar-
rassmeRt on that account To this plan | in
! yite your careful consideration. / concur with
! the secretary OF the treasury 10 hts recommen-
! dalton that national banks be allowed to issue
| notes to the face value of the bonds which they
1 deposited for circulation. and that the tax on
| circulating notes secured by deposit OF such
| bonds be red uced TO one-haif of one per cent
! per Hnnum. l also loin him IN Recommending
I that authority be gwen for the establishment
OF national banks with minimum capital OF
| IS. OOl This Will enable the smaller villages
and agricultural regions II the country to be
| supplied with currency To meet their needs
! recommend that the issue OF national bank
notes be restricted 10 the denomination OF 40
and upwards II the suggestions have herein
made shall have the approval OF congress, then
I 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
l toward Spain and the Cuban insurrectiou-
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 Tor many years has be'n one
| OF unrest; growing disconteut; an effort toward
U "a larger chgOhtltht Ul hOerty ann st4i-cOhtFoI.
/ 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 no enduring period since
the enfranchisemcnt 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 insurrectiou broke out In Febru-
nry ls9A 1t IS not my purpose Al this time TO
recall It's remarkable increase or TO character
iZe It's tenacious resistance against the enor-
nous forces massed against Il By Spain The
revolt and the efforts to subduc il carried de-
struction TO every quarter Of the island, devel-
oplng wide proportions and dsfylHR the efforts
OF Spain for its suppression. The civilized
code OF war has been disregarded. no less 80 By
the Spaniard, than by the Cuhans The exist
ing conditions cannot but I'LL this government
and tn" American people with the l'rayest ap-
prehcnsiOn. There Is no desire on the part Of
our people to profit by the misfortunes OF
Spain. We have only the desire TO the
Cubans prosperous and conJeu;cd enjoying
that measure Of sclf-control which is the in
a!icnnblc right OF man, protected In their right
TO reap the benefit OF the eKhau-tless treasures
Of their country
The offer made By my predecessor in April
1895, tcnlerins the friendly oficrs Of this EOY-
ernment failed Any mediation on our part
was not accepted. In brief the answer read
There is no erectual way to pacify Cuba un-
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-
tiOn and after her own plans. The cruel policy
OF concentration was initiated February l6
lsa6 The productive districts controlled by
the Spanish armies were depopulatei and the
agricultural inhabitants were herdei in and
about the garrisoned towns. their land laid
waste and their dwellings destroyed This policy
n fg cal hiDDf ps Sunir - ~ uga
necessary measure OF war and as a means OF
cutting OF supplies from the insurgents II
has utterly failed as war measure Ii WAS
not civilized warfare II 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-
tion OF the treatment of American citizens by
alleged Illegal arrests and long imprisonment
awaiting trial or pending protracted Judicial
procedure. / felt it my frst duty to make in
stant demand for the release or speedy trial OF
all American citizens under arrest Before
the change OF the Spanish cabinet In October
last - 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 CONGRESSES was sought In q
special message, and under the appropriation
OF April T. 1897. effective aid has been given to
American citizens in Cuba. Many of them, At
their 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 sin
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
orabe nike to Spain and to the Cuban people
These Instructions rccitcd the character and
duration of the contest the widespread losses
1t tails, the burdens and restraints II imposes
upon us. with constant disturbance of national
interests and the Injury resulting from an indeil-
mite continuance OF this state OF things 1t was
stated that ut this iuncturc our government
was constrained to seriously inquire II the
time not ripe when Spain. of her own
volition, moved By her own interests
and every sentiment OF hum anliy. should put
stop to this destructive war and make proposals
Of settlement honorable TO herself and Just to
her Cuban colony. 1t was urged that as u
neighborins nation, with large interests in
Cuba, we could be required to wait only n rea-
Sonable time for the mother country to establish
it's authority and restore pace and order
within the borders OF the island; that we could
not contemplate au indehnits period for the
accomplishment o: this result. No solution
was proposed to which the slightest idea OF
humiliation to Spain could attach. and indeed
precise proposals were wi hheld to avoid en-
Darrassment to that government All that was
asked or expected was that some safe way
might be speedily provided and permanent
peace restored
Reply TO Oar Snte.
The reply to our note was received on the
sJd day OF October. 1t Is in the direction OF u
better undcrstandin. ltappreciates the friend
Is purposes of this government II admits
that our country is deeply affected by the war
in Cuba and that its desires for peac. are just
1t declares that the present Spanish govern
ment is bound by every consideration to q
change OF policy that should satisfy the United
States and pacty Cuba within a reasonable
time. To this end Spain has decided to put Into
effect the political reforms heretofore advocat-
ed by the present premier. without halt!ng for
any consideration in the path which in It's judg-
ment leads to peace The military operations.
1t is said will continue. but will be humane and
conducted with all regards for private rights,
being accompanied by political action leading
to the autonomy OF Cuba while guarding Span
ish Sovereignty. This, II Is claimed. will result
in investing Cuba with distinct personality:
the island to be governed by an executive and
by local council or chamber. reserving TO
Spain the control OF the foreign relations the
army and navy and judicial administration To
accomplish this the present government pro-
poses TO modify legislation by decree. leaving
the Spanish cortcs. with the aid OF Cuban sem
ators and deputies to solve the economic
problem and properly distribute the existing
debt.
In the absence of q declaration of the meas
ures that the government proposes to take In
carrying out its profier OF good offices 1t sug-
gests that Spain be left free TO conduct militia
ry operations and grant political reforms
while the United States for its part shan en-
force its neutral obligations and cut on the as
sistance which II Is asserted the Insurgents re-
ceive from this country. The supposition OF
an Indefinite prolongation OF the war is denied