OCR Text |
Show ( THE PRESIDENT'SIESSAG E; Our Relations with Foreign Governments Frankly Discussed. for the of SPAIN MUST CONQUER CUBA Turkey.security jV Or the United Btate'i Must Interpose. Tk Perth ikf rrail.al K.ll and I'alTa. .ariarl. i. I Torh-Mi- ,h B ebotlloa ar IXafca-Tr..- r feUWafal aa i'.rrnr) er.r Asphaltam llpp.all l.raaur Tariff- - rwltr Rallr.ad.. Kir of the United Sates As representative of it r rrof,i In the legislative branch of the G.orinriirni you hare assembled at a timr hen tlic strength and excellence of our free In atitutlons and the fitness of our citizens to enjoy popular rule have been again made manife.t. A political contest In. consequences, solving momentou. fcaaght with feverish apprehension, o Intense and creating aegresslvenes and bltterne.a to passion ai approach tin been waged throughout the land, and determined by the decree of free . and Independent auffrage, without disturbance of ouc tranquillity or the leat algn of weakness In our national atruc The Congress -- turn. 'When w consider these IncMen i the peaceful obedience contemplate ,nd and aaanly submission which have a heated clash of political .opinion, we dlacorer abundant evidence sofa determination on the part of our countrymen to abide by every verdict the popular will and to be controlled at edl time by an abiding faith In the direction agencies established for the I the affair of their government Thu. Oar people eahlblt a patriotic dlsposl tion which entitle them to demand of ' those who undertake to make and cvecute their law auch faithful and un aelflsh service In their behalf at can only he prompted by a aerloua appreciation of the trust and confidence which acceptance of public duty Invites. Ia obedience to a conetutlonal requirement, I hereby submit to the Con-gcertain Information concerning Vtdmilillilrisrtthtna suggestion of ch legislation a. In my judgment U 4 expedient To eecwra seoceeaat? brevity and avoid ilreaome . narration, I hall omit many detail concerning mat tera within Federal control , which, by mean unimportant, are more profit, ably discussed In departmental report. 1 shall also further curtail this commu olcatlon by omitting a minute recital of ahy minor Incident connected with our foreign relation which hava heretofore found a place In executive message, but are now contained In a report of the Secretary of State, which I herewith aubmltted. d d TiaacY. At the outset ol a yefeye nee to the snore Important matter affecting our relations with foreign power, It would afford me satisfaction If 1 could assure the Congress that the disturbed condt tlon In Asiatic Turkey had, during the fvastyear, assumed a lets hideout and bloody aspect, and that cither as a con aequnce of the awakening of the Turks Ish Government to the demand of humane civilisation or at the result of a decisive action on the part of the great nations having the right by treats to interfere for the protection of those ex posed to the rage of mad bigotry and Cruel fanaticism, the shocking feature of tne situation had been mitigated. Instead, however of welcoming I softened disposition or protectlre Inter entlon, we have been affilcted by continued and not Infrequent reports of the xre-'o- n destruction of home and the of men, women and btilchery bloody children, made martyr to their prole oibnkd Christian faith. While none of spur citizen In Turkey have thus far been tilled or wounded, though often In the mldat of dreadful scene of danger, their safety In the future I by no assured. Our Gorernment at Onean bonne and our minister at Constant! etople have left nothing undone to pro. tect our missionaries In Ottoman territory, who constitute nearly all the Ind! wlduals residing there who have a right Co claim our protection on the score of - American cltiaenahlp, Our effort In this direction will not be relaxed, but the deep feeling and yunpathy that have been raised among swr 'people ought not to to far blind their . reason and judgment as to lead them to demand Impossible things. The ?tbreaks of blind fury whlqh lead to murder and pillage In Turkey occur ouddealy and without notice, aud an at Cempt on our part to force such a hostile presence there a might be effective for grventlon or protection would not only be resisted by the Ottoman government but would be regarded aa an Interruption of tneir plans by the great nation who assert their exclusive right to In tervtne In their own time and method -- life and property In Several naval vessels are stationed x measure- In the Mediterranean and all caution to furnish posilblere lief and refuge In case of emergency. We have made claims aga'nst the Turkish government for the pillage and destruction of missionary property at Karput and Marash during uprWngs at the-- e place. Thu far the validity of these demand ha not been admlted, though our minister, prior to such out rages and In anticipation ol danger, demand' protection for the persons and pioj erty ofour missionary citizens In the localities mentioned and, notwithstanding that strong evIJence eKt of t. actual complicity of Turkish soldiers In the work of destruction and nTbbery, the (acts a they now appear do rot permit us to doubt the ju.tioe of thes- - claims, and nothing will he omttted lo bring about their prompt settlement. A number of Armenian refugees hav. Ing arrived at our ports, an'orer ha lately been obtainrd from the Turkish government permitting the wives and children of such refugee to join them here. It Is hoped that hereafter no ob stacle will be InterposeJ to prevent the escape ol all those who seek to avoid the perils whlct threaten them In Turkish dominion. Our recently appointed Consul to Er, serount Is at hi post and discharging the duties of hi office, though for some unacountaMe reason hi formal exequatur from the sullin hat not been taaued. 1 do not believe that the present aomber prospect In Turkey will be long permitted to offend the eight of Christendom. It ao mar the humane and enlightened clvllliatlon that belongs to the close of the nineteenth cen tury that It seems hardly possible that the earnest demanj of good people tdroughou the Christian world for tta corrective treatment will remain unanswered. rt'BA. The Insurrection In Cuba still continue with ail Its perplexltiea. It la difficult to perceive that any progress has thu far been made toward the pacification of the Island, or that the altua tlon of affairs a depicted In my last annual message hat In the least Improved. If Spain still holds Havana and the seaport and ail tha considerable towns, th. Insurgents still roans at wilt over at d lane ot site Inland sosstry, If the determination of Spain 1 to put down 'the Insurrection seems f but to strengthen with the lapse of time, and It evinced by her unhesitating 'devotion of largely Increased military and naval forcee to the task, thefe Is mnch reason to believe that the Insurgents have gained In point of numbers and character and resources, and are none the less Inflexible In their resolved not to succumb without practically recurring the great object for which they took up aims. II Spain has notyet her authority, neither have the Insurgent yet made good their title to be re- arded as an Independent Stale. Indeed the contest hat. gone on, the pretense that civil government exists on the Island, except so far as Spain la able to maintain It, ha been practically abandoned, Spain doe not keep on foot auch a government, more or let Imperfectly, In the large towns and their immediate suburbs. But, that exception being made the entire country Is either given over to anarchy or Is subject to the military occupation of one or the other party. It Is reported,' Indeed, on rella-bl- e authorlry that at the demand of th commander.ln-chle- f of the Insur, gent army, the putatlve Cuban Government has now given up all attempt to exercise Its functions, leaving the Government confessedly (what there Is best reason lor supposing it w av to hae beer, the fact! a government merfiv ov RAPE. Sw.-ttilr- Were the Spanish armies able to meet their antagonist In . the open or In pitched battle, prompt and decisive results might be looked for, and the Immense superiority of the Spanish forces in numbers, discipline and equipment could hardly fall to tell greatly to their advantage; "But they are r allied upon to face a foe that shun general engagements, that cah choose and doe choote It own ground, that from the nature of the country I visible or Invisible at pleat-urand that fight only from ambus-ekd- e and when all the advantage of position and nqpiber are on ft side. Ia a country where all that 1 Indispensable to life In the way of food, clothing and shelter I so easily obtainable, especially by those born and bred on the soil. It la obvious that there 1 hardly a limit to the time during which hostilities of this sort ' may be prolonged. 'Meanwhile In all case of protracted civil strife, the passion of the combatants grow more and more Inflamed and excesses ton both sides become more and more deplorable. They are also participated In by band of marauder who now In the name of one party e. tre-bue- and now lr the name of th other, a Cuba should be terr nated by our Inter, war be. may best suit the occasion, harrass the ventlon even at the ost of. country at will and plunder It wretebeg! tween the United States and Spain inhabitants for their own advantage. war which it advocates 'confidently Such a condition of affaire would toerifr prophesy ctuld neither e lrge fit It ably entail much destruction of property proportion or doubtful In Its Issue. The correctness of this forecast need eren If it were the policy of both parties But be neither affirmed nor denied. The to prey ent It at far a practicable. while such teemed to be the original United State ha nevertheless a char acter to maintain at a nation, which policy of the Spanish government, It ha I abandoned and it, acting plainly diktat that right and not might apparently upon the same theory a the Insurgent-- , should he the rule of Its conduct. Further, though the United States is namely, that the exigencies of the contest require the wholesale annihilation not a nation, to which peace la a necessity, It I In truth the moat pacific of property that It may not prove of an of powers, and desire nothing so mnch to aod.aiisAatage the use enemy. ' SUtoW in. imTfySHtVW tKeWorid. It Is to the same end that ance of genet al orders, Spanish garri It own ample bad diversified domains sons are now being withdrawn front satisfy all poallble longing for territory all dreams of conquest, and plantations and the rural population re preclude f prevent any casting of cove'ou eyes in lown concentrate the qulredto upon neighboring regions, however atThe ure result would seem to be th' tractive. That- - our conduct toward the industrial value of the Island It fast r dominions has constltut .Spalnwnd-hediminishing, and that unless there - a no ed to this national dispoexception speedy and raJical change in existing sition,- la made manifest bv the course soon It will alto disappear conditions, ol our government, not only thu far gether. That value consists largely In i's capacity to produce during the present Jnsurrectien, but durof course, ing the ten year that followed the a capacity already much redneed sugir, at Yara In 1868. by the Interruptions to tillage which No other great power, It may be safe-I- t two the taken have past place during under circumstances of similar said, years. I l reliably asserted that those would have manifested the cur-n- t perplexity, continue the dprlrg Interruptions it same restraint and the urar patient envear and practically extend now threaten'd to the entire sugar pro durance It may also be aaid that this persistent ducing territory-e- f the Island, ao much toward re attitude of the United State time and so much money 'wlll-b- e In with connection Cuba unquesSpain to normal land ijt qulred to restore the evinces no slight respect and proeuctlveness that It is extremely tionably for Spain on the part of the doubtful It capital can be induced even regard American people. They in truth do not to make the attempt. The spectacle of the utter ruin of an forget her connection with the discovof the western hemisphere, nor do adjoining country, by nature one of the ery most fertile and charming on the whole they underestimate the great qualities ol the Spanish people, nor fall to fully globe, would engage the serious atten and and of Government the the tlon people recognize their splendid patriotism of the United State in any dreum their chivalrous devotion to the Nastance. In point of fact, they have a tional honor. Thev view with wonder concern wlttj It which Is by no means ol and admiration the cheeiful resolution a wholly sentimental or philanthropic witn which vast bodies of men are sent character. U Ilea to near to ua at to be across thousands of miles of ocean and hardly separated from our territory. Our an enormous debt accumulated that actual pecuniary Interest In It 'I second the costly possession of the Gem of the In the only to that of the people and Govern- Antilles may still hold its place neither the crown. And estiSpanish yet ment of S sfn. It la reasonably mated that at least from $30,000,000 to Government nor the people of the $50,000,000 of American capital are in- United States have shut their eyes to vested In plantation and In railroad, the course of events In Cuba, or have other business enterprises failed to realize the ex'atence of conmining-an- d on the Island. The volume of trade be- ceded grievances which have led to the and 'Cuba, present revolt from the authority of tween the United State Spain grievances recognized by the which In 1889 amounted to about rose in 1893 to about $103,000,-000- , Queen Regent and by the Cortes, vqlced and In 1894, the year before the by the most patriotic and enlightened present Insurrection broke out, amount- of Spanish statesmen without regard to ed to nearly $96,000,000. Betides this party, and demonstrated by reforms large pecuniary stake In the fortunes of roposed by the executive and approved Cuba, the United State finds Itself In- pby the legislative branch of the Span ah It Is tn the assumed extricably Involved in the present con. Government. At In other wav both vexatious and temper and disposition of the Spanish costly Many Cuban reside In this Government to remedy these grievcountry, and Indirectly promote the In- ances, fortified by indications of influsurrection through the presr by public ential public opinion in Spain, that this meeting, by th purchase and ship- Government hat hoped to discover the ment ot arms, by the raising of funds, most promising and effective mean of and by other nxUtna. srfcich the spirit of the present strife with honor composing qur tnittlmsT'n the tenor of our and to Spain and with the advantage bo law do not permit'll made the sub- achievement of all the reasonable-object- s n of ject of ciimnal prosecu&fa, Sp of the Insurrection. 4d In all at heart Cubans' them, though would It seem that if Spain would their feelings and Intereats, have taken offer to Cuba genuine autonomy a out papers a naturalised citizens of the of home rule which, while premeeture United States, a proceeding resorted to the sovereignty of Spain, would with a view to possible protection by serving all rational requirement of her satisfy this Government, and not unnecessarily Spanish subjects Uhere should be no regarded with much Indignation by the reason why the pacification of the just country of their origin. The Insurgent Island might not be effected on that are undoubtedly encouraged and basis, Such a result would appear to be by the widespread sympathy for In the true iutereat of. all concerned. It freedom which the people of this counwould at once atop the conflict which is try always and Instinctively feel for now consuming the resources of the every struggle for better and freer govand making It worthless for which ernment, and which In the case ot the Island may ultimately prevail. It eveapatfy more adventurous and restless elewould keep Intact the possenslona of of leads in ment our population only without touching her honor, too pinny Instances to active and per- Spain .which will be consulted rather than imsonal participation tn the contest. the adequate redress of The result It that this Government la pugned by It would put the grievances. constantly called upon to protect Amerof the island and the fortunes prosperity ican citizen, to claim damages for Inconof Its Inhabitants within their juries to person and property now esti- trol without severing natural and ancient mated at many million of dollars, and ties which bind thdm to the mother to ask explanations and apologies lor oountry,and would yet enable them to the act of Spanish officials whoso zeal test their capacity for tor the repression of rebellion bind under th most favorable condition. them to the Immunities belonging It has been ob;ected on the one side to the offending 'citizens of a friendly that Spain would not promise antonomy follows from the srme It causes power. until bar Insurgent subject laydown that the United States Is compiled to their arms; on the other side, that promactively police a long line of socoast ised autonomy, however liberal, Is In unlawful expedition, 'the against sufficient, because without assurance of escape ol which the utmost vigilance the promise being fulfilled. But the suffice to will not alway prevent. These Inevitable entanglement, of the reasonableness of the requirement of unconditional surrender on United State with' tha rebellion In Cuba of the Insurgent Cubans before the part American the large property Interest their autonomy Is conceded, It uot altoy affected, and considerations of apparent. It Ignores Important gether and humanity In general, bsve features of the situation the stability led to a vehement demard tn various of It Indefinite prolongation In the na quarter tor some tort ot posltlie ot things and1 as shown by past on the part of the United Stale, ture the utter and Imminent It w at first proposed that beliger experience; ot the Island, unless the present ruin ent rights should be accorded the Inanr. strife la speedily composed; above all, gents a proposition no longer weighed the rank abuses which all parties tn because untimely and In practical opera, all branches of her government, tlon dearly perilous and injuries to our Spain, her leading public men concede all and own Interest. It has since been and and profess a desire to remove. exist to now sometimes contended that the InFacing such circumstances, to with, dependence of tha Insurgents should be the proffer of needed reforms until hold and But restrictImperfect recognised. the parties demanding them put themed at .the Spanish government of the selves at msrey by throsring down their Island day be, no other exist there unless the trill of the military officer In armi ha the appearance of neglecting and Inviting suspitemporary .command of a particular the gravest of .peril district can be dignified at a species of cion aa to the sincerity of any proto grant reform. government: It Is now alto suggested fessed willingness that th United States should buy the Th objection on behalf of the InsurIslabd a suggestion possibly worthy of gents that promised reform cannot be consideration If there were any evidence retied upon must, of course, be considof a destre or willingness on the part of ered, though ere have no righrto assume It and no reason for asuming, that AnySpain to entertain auch a proposal. la urged, finally, that, all other methods thing that Spain undertakes to do for falling, the existing Internecine strife In the relief of Cuba will not te done ac y ltw-l- ris-lr- g tup-port- o-- phllin-throph- Inter-ventlo- n cording to both the spirit and the letter of the undertaking. Nevertheless, realizing that suspicions an! precaution .on the part of "the weaker of -- the two combatant jre at. way natural and not always unjustifiable being sincerely desirous rin the Interests of both as well at on tta own account that the Cuban problem should be solved with the least possible- - delay It was Intimated by this Government to the Government of Spain some month ago that if satisfactory measure of home rule were tendered the Cuban Insurgent, and would be accepted y them upon a guarantee of It execution, the U ntted State wotritl to find a way not objectionable to 'Spain of furnishing such guaranty. While no definite response to this Inbeen received from timation the Spanish Government, It Is believed to be not altogether unwelcome, while, aa already suggested, no reason is perceived why It should not be approved fait by the Insurgent ; neither party-ca- n to see the Importance of early action, and both mutt realize that to prolong the present state of things for even a short period will add enormously to the time and labor and expenditure necessary to bring about the industrial recuperation of the Island. It Is, therefore, fervently hoped on all grounds that earnest efforts for healing the breach between Strain and the Insurgent Cubans upon the lines above Indicated may be at once Inaugurated and pushed to an Immediate andsuccessful issue. The friendly offices of the United States, either In the manner above outlined or In any other way consistent with our Constitution and laws, will always be at the disposal of either party. Whatever circumstances may arise, our policy and our Interest would constrain us to object to the acquisition of the island or an Interference with Its control by any other power. It should be added that It cannot be reasonably assumed that the hitherto exoectant attitude of the United State will be Indefinitely maintained. While we are anxious to accord all due respect to the sovereignty of Spain, we cannot view the pending conflict In all its features, and properly apprehend our inevitably close relations to it and It possible results without considering that by the course of events we may be drawn Into such an unusal and unprecedented condition as will fix a limit to our patient waiting for Spain to end the contest, either alone or In her own way, or with our friendly When the Inability of Spain to deal successfully with the Insurgents has become manifest, and it is'demonstrated that her sovereignty la extinct In Cuba for all purpose of It rightful existence, and when a hopeless struggle for Its re establishment has degenerated Into a strife which means nothing more than he useless sacrifice of human life and hq uter destruction of the very subject matter of the conflict, a altuation will be presented In which our obligations to the sovereignty of Spain will be superseded by higher obligations, which we can hardly hesitate to recognise and dis. charge. T)eferrlng the choice of way and method until the tlnfb-- for action arrive, we should make them depend upon the precise conditions then existing; and (hey should not be determined upon without giving careful heed to every consideration involving our honor and interest or the International duty we owe t- - Spain. Until we face the contingency suggested, dr the situation Is by other Incident Imperatively changed we should continue in the line of conduct pursued, thus In all dr cumstance exhibiting our obedlence( to the requirements of public law and our regard for the duty enjoined upon us by the position we occupy In the galaxy of nations. A contemplation of emergencies tha may arise should plainly lead u to avoid their creation, either through a careless disregard of present duty or even an undue stimulation and But I have expression of feeling. deemed It not amiss to remind the congress that a time may arrive when a correct policy and care for our Interests as well as a rpgard lor the interests of other nations and their citizens, joined by considerations of humanity and a desire to see a rich and fertile country Intimately related to us saved from com plete devastation, will constrain our goverment to such action as will subserve the Interests involved, and at the same time promise to Cuba and its inhabitants an opportunity to enjoy the blessings of peace. -- VEMXZCaLAX BOUNOABT. und executive order issued on the .zoth of September, r895, has fully demonstrated the usefulness of this Innovation.-. In' connection with this plan of examination, promotion and tranfer of deserving- - Incumbents havebeen quite extensively msde with excellent results. I desire to zepeat the recommendation contained In my last annual message In favor of providing at public expense official residence for our embaasador and ministers at foreign capital. The reason supporting this recommends-ar- e strongly stated In the report of the tecretary of state, and the subject seem el such. Importance that. I h'SpttJ'U . may .l-- .. receive the early attention of congress. BERING SEA SEALS. We have, during the last year, labored faithfully and against unfavorable conditions to secure the better preservation of teal life In the Bering ser. Both the United States and Great Britain have lately dispatched commissioners to these waters to study theTiablts and condition of the seal herd, and the causes of their1 rapid decrease. Upon the reports of these commissioners, soon to be submitted, and with the exercise ot patience and good sense on the part of all interested parties, It is earnestly hoped that hearty may be secured for the protection against threatened extinction of seal life In the northern Pacific and Bering sea- BLIC I- LANDS. Our public lands originally amount- Ing to 1,840)00,000 acres, have been so reduced that only about 600,000,000 acaes still remain in government control, excluding Alaska. The balance, being by far the most valuable portion, hat been given away to settlers to new states and to railroads or sold at a comparatively nominal sum. The patenting of land in execution of railroad grants has progressed rapidly during the year, and since the 4th day of March, 1893, about 25,000,000 acres, have thus been conveyed to these corporations, I agree with the secretary tvat the remainder of our puhlic lands should be more carefully dealt with and their alienation guarded by better economy and greater prudence. The commission appointed from the membership of the National Academy of Sciences, provided for by an act of congress to formulate plant for a national forestry system will, It is hoped, soon be prepared to present the result of thorough and Intelligent examination of this Important subject. I Indorse the recommendation made by the present secretary of the interlot as well at his predecessor that a permanent commission, consisting of three members, one of whom shall be an army officer, be created to perform the duties now devolving upon the commissioner and assistant commissioner of Indian affairs. The management of the bureau Involves such numerous end diverse details and the advantages of an uninterrupted policy are so apparent that I hope the change suggested will meet the approval of the congress. THE ASPHALTlM It appesrs that ' BEDS. a very valuable de- posit of gllsonlte or asphattum has been found on the reservation In Utah, occuIndians. pied by the Uncompahgre Every consideration of care for the public Interest and every sensible business reason dictate such management or disposal of this Important source of public revenue as will except It from the general rules and incidents attending the ordinary disposition of public lands and secure to the government a fair share at least of Its advantages in place of its transfer for a nominal sum io Interested Individuals. THE TREASURY. The secretary of the treasury reports that during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1896, the receipts of the government from all sources amounted to $409,475,-4087During the same period its were $434,67865448, the excess of expenditures over receipts thus The amounting to $25,203,24570. expenditures during the year were $4,015,852 21 less than during the preceding fiscal year. Of the receipts mentioned, there was derived from customs the sum of 67, and from Internal revenue, $146,830,615.66. The receipts from custom show an increase of $7,863,134 22 over these from the same source for the fiscalyear ending June 30, 1895, and the receipts from Internal revenue an $iSo,-021,75- 1 of $3,5s4.S3i.9i- - ' The value of our Imported dutiable merchandise during the last fiscal year was $369,757,770 the value of free goods imported $409,967,470, being an Increase of $6,523,675 in the value of du- ttable goods and $41,231,034 in the value of free goods over the preceding year. Our exports 'of merchandise, foreign and domestic, amounted in value to $882,606,938, being an increase over the preceding year of $75,068,775. The average ad valorem duty paid on dutiable goods Imported during the year was 39 94 per cent and on free and dutiable goods, taken together, 20.50 per ' ' ' ' cent . The coat of collecting our internal revenue wa 2.78 per cent a against 2.8j per eent for. the ficeal year ending The Venezuelan boundary question ha ceased to be a matter of difference between Great Britain and the United States, their .respective governments having agreed upon the substantial provisions of a treaty between Great Brit, aid and Veneauela, aubmlttlng the whole controversy to arbitration. The provisions of the reaty-ara'aaeminently just and fair that tha assent of Venezuela thereto may confidently be antici. pated. Negotiation for a treaty of general arbitration for all difference between Great Britain and th. United States are Jone 30,1885. . far advanced, aad promise to reach a The total production of distilled spisuccessful consummation at an early rit. exclusive ot fruit brandies; was ' date- 88,588,703 taxable gallons, being an , . of 6,639,108 gallons over the pre- consular APronrTMayrs. The scheme of examining applicants ceding year. There ,wai alto an of 1,443,676 gallons ol spirit for certain consular- - positions, to test their competency' and. fitness, adopted produced from fruit a compared with -t- V . -- 1 -- . 4 w |