Newspapers / The Asheville Times (Asheville, … / Dec. 7, 1897, edition 1 / Page 2
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THE ASHEVIIiLE GAZETTE, DECEMBER " 18897. ,: - - - . . PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE SENT TO THE AMERICAN CONGRESS. HOPE FOR CUBAN I TRIOTS DOOMED. PA- Interference in Name of Humanity Must Await ; Development?. WANfS HAWAII ANNEXED Only the Action of thp Senate is Nee - essary to Complete It. THE FINANCIAL PROBLEM Bouquet of Beautiful Paper Flowers Thrown at Bimetallism Paper Money Redeemed in Gold Should Not'be Reissued Except tor Gold The Indians Alaska-The Pacific Railroad and Other Matters Con sidered. To the Senate and! House of Represen tatives: It gives mi pleasure to extend greet ing: to the Fifty-fifth congress, assem bled in regular session at the seat of -governnnent, with many of whose sena tors I have "been associated in the legis- Jabhre service. Their meeting occurs under fteiMtous conditions, justifying sincere congratulations and calling: for our erafceful acknowledgment to a beneficent Providence, which, has J . . . signally Messed and prospered us as aJ nation. Peace andi good will with all the nations of tine earth continue un broken. A matter of genuine satisfaction, is thle growing feeling of fraternal regard and unification of all sections of our ooujBtry, the incompleteness of which hes too long delayed realization of the highest -blessing of the union. - The etatt otf paWotism 1 unlver and ia ever increasing in fervor. The nubile l questions wthjah now; most engross us t are v lifted far alboye either partian&hlp i prejudice of former ? sectional differ ences. They affect every , part of our : common country alike and permit of no division on ancient lines. Questions of foreign policy, of revenue, the sound ness of the currency, the inviolability of i national obligations, the improvement ' of the public service, appeal to the in- dividual conscience of every earnest . cdttean, to whatever party he belongs or in whatever section, of the country he may reside. - .. .june extra , session or tinis congress, which closed in July last, enacted iiri " port ant legislation, and while its full effect: has not been realized, what it has already accomplished assures us of Its timeliness anid wisdom. To test its permanent value further time, will he required, - and the - people, satisfied with . Its operation! and results thus far, , re in .no uuna .io waiDnmoia irom it a fair trial; ' ,-. v Tariff legislation having been settled b-jr" the extra session of congress, the questman next pressing for considerattai ' lhat of ouweucy. THE FINANCES FIRST, ' . TOaie work of putting pur finances upon a sound basis, difficult as it may seem, will . appear easier when we recall the financial oraratiooa of the government since 1866. On .the thirteenth day of - June of that year had h outstanding demand IJiabSIPttes te sum of $723, 868,447.41. On the first of January, .1879, a !Sa.bIiHtles had fcen redRtoed to $443', 889,88. Of our intenwt bearing obMga tkxn the figures are even'ihore striking;' On July 1, 1866, the principal of the in ewssft' bearing debt of the government was" $2,332,851,208. On the first ct July, 1893, -this sum had been reduced to $58?,03?,100, or an aggregate reduction of $1,74.7, 2H103L The interest bearing debt of yo Unktc4 States on the first" day of xfogniper, . xw, was $847,365,620. The ro-vrwaiont money now outstanding (Ian(ber ,1) consists of $346,681,016 of U.S,; notes, $107,'793,280 of treasury notes iBsued by authority of the law of 1890 $384,858,504, of salver certificates, and $61,280,761 of standard silver dollars. 1 ' With the great resurces of the governU . swept and -with the honorable example oftbe paet.before us, we ought; not to hesitate upon a currency revision which win make our demand ofcHgattanEr lees onerous to the government and relie ve i our financial laws from eihtoiguity and doulbt. - - ; - - The brief revteiw of what was accom plished from; the close of the war to 1893 make; unreasonable and grounxHess any distrust eSther of. our financial ability w saundnees; while the situation from 3893 .o 1897 must admonish congress of the' immiedaate necessity ; of, so legisla ting, as to' make the return of the coii dJticns thm -prevailllng impossdibie. i - .There are many plans proposed as a v remedy for the evUl. Before we 'can find , the ''true- remedy"' we must aparreciate the reafl evil, i ltris not bat our currency of every kind is not gooxi; good because : the government's pledge is out to" keep It so, and that-piedge wlll be best shown by adK-anclng toward Its .fulfillment.'.' - The evH of the present system i found In the great cost to the govern ment cf roalntaialng partly of our dif . ferent forms of money, that is, keeping all of them at par .wtttgoli tiTe cannot be longer heedless of the burden this imposes upon the people, even under ; fairly prosperous conditions, while the pasx rour years nave oemonsirateu j It Is not only an expensive charge upon' the government .but; a dangerous men ace to the national credit." - It is manlfes that we must devise some plan to protect the government against bond issues for - repeated re demptions: We must either curtail the opportunity for speculation, made easy by j the multiplied redemptions of our demand obligations, or increase the gold reserve for- their redemption. : "We . have $900,000,000 of currency,, which the bov ernment by solemn enactment has un dertaken to keep at par wih gold. No-' body "is obliged to redeem in gold but the government. The banks - are . not required to redeem In gold. The govern ment is obliged : to keep even with gold all its outstanding 'Currency and coin obligations, while its receipts are not required to.be paid in gold. ' They are paid in every kind of money bult gold, and the only means by which the governmenlt can, with certainty, get gold is by borrowing. : It can get it in no other way; when it most needs it. The government wtithout -any- fixed gold revenue, is pledged to maintain gold redemption, wMch it has steadily and faithfully done, and which, under the authority now' given it, Will continue to do.- The law which requires the gov ernment, , after having redeemed! its Unlit ed States notes to pay them but again as current funds, demands a con stant replenishment of the gold reserve. This is equally so in times of business panic and when the revenues are ifisuf- ficent to meet the expenses of the gov ernment. At suoh times the govern- ment has - no other way to supply its deficit and maintain' redemption' but through the increase of its bonded debt, as during the administration of my. pre decessor, when $262,315,400 of four and a half per cent "bonds were issued and sold and the proceeds used to pay the L expenses of the governimen't in excess of the revenues and-sustain the gold re serve. While it is true that the greater part of the proceeds of these bonds were used to supply deficient revenues, a considerable portion was required to maintain the gold reserve. With our revenues equal to our expenditures, there would be no deficit requiring the issuance of bonds. But if the gold re serve fails below $100,000,000, how will it be replenished except by selling, more bonds? Is there any other way practi cable under existing law? The serious questions then-, is, shall we continue the policy that has been pursued in the past; that, when the gold reserve reach es the point of danger, issue more bonds and supply the needed gold, or shall we provide other-means to prevent these recurring drains upon the gold reserve? If no further legislation is had, and the policy of selling bonds is to. be con tinued1, then congress ;should give the secretary of the treasury authority to sell bonds at long or short periods, bearing a less rate of interest than is now authorized by law. The Go'd Orain. I earnestly recommend as soon as the receipts of the governmerit are quite Buffidient to pay a(Il the expenses of ; the government, that when , any of the United States notes are presented for redemption in goQft and are redeemed in gold, such notes shaiH be kept and set apart and only paid put in, exchange for gold. This is an obvious duty.1 If the holder of the United States note prefers the gold and gets -it from the ., govern menlt,. he should not receive back from the government a United Stat eSx note without paying gold in exchange for it The reason for this is made all the more apparent -when the government issues an interest-hearing debt to provide gold for the redemption of Ignited States notes . non-interest 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 re turn again, to be followed by another bond issue to redeem them-nother un terest-bearing , debt to redeem a, non- Interest bearing debt.. In my view it Is of utmost importance that the govern ment should be relieved from the bur den of providing all the gold required for exchanges and export.1 This respon sibillty is alone borne by ; the .' govern ment 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 resits upon the government and the size of the god reserve in the treasury -has come to be, with or without reason, the signal of danger or of security. This ought to be stopped if we are. to have an era of prosperity' in the country. With Bucffiient receipts for the expenses of tht. government we may feel .noimmediate embarrassment from our present cur rency-but:,.theto will be, ever-Dresent menacing vs so Jong as the existing: system continues. Awd besides, it? is t in -time of adequate -ik cih,,M w.'fAr .thP worst. WTe cannot avoIdV without seH- ou consequences, the wise consideration and prompt: solution of this questiotn-.r1 Endorses1 Gage's. Plan. .;4 ' The secretary of the; treasury hasvotrt llned a plan in great detail for.' the pur pose of removing :the'threatened" recur rence ;of a depleted gold -reserve and save us from future .eniibarrassment on that account. ,Tb this plan I Invite, your careful cohslderatlion. -t il concur with the- seeretary ;of the treasury in his recommendationi .that national banks be allowed to, issue notes to the ; face value of the bonds 'which they, have deposited for circulation and that the.; tax on . circulating notes se cured by . deposit of such vbonds be re duced to one-half of 1 per cent, per an num.;.' I also Join him in recommending that authority be given for the -establishment of national banks wltli a min imum capital of $25,000 This will , en able the smaller villages and agricul tural regions of the country to be sup plied with currency to meet their needs. 2 1 recommend that the " issue ot- na tional bank" notes be- restricted. to the denomination of $10. and ;up wards vvlf the r suggestions I . have . herein y. made shall ''have the approval of congress, then I would : recommend; that national banks be required to' redeem their-notes In gold. , ' . - FOREIGN RELATIONS : : HeRevlewsHhe History if Oown ! ; Trodden Cuba. ; : . , . The - most important problem' with which this government' ia now' called upon to deal pertaining, to-its 'foreign relations concerns its duty toward Spain . x s . - , a - and the Cuban insurrection. ; Problems - :' - -", ' 5 aW-ioc 'i', with those now existing have confront- 4 s ed this - government at. various- times in the pastl; ,'Tlie t story; -of Cuba for many years has been one - of", unrest, growing discontent, and. an effort to ward a larger enjoyment of liberty, and self control; or organized resistance to the mother country; of deep depression after distress and warfare and of Inef fectual settlement to be . followed by renewed revolt. For; no enduring period since the enfranchisement of the cori tinental possessions of Spain in . the western continent has the- condition of Cuba or the policy of Spain toward Cuba not caused concern to the United States. The prospect from.; time. to time that the weakness of Spain's hold upon the island and the political vicissitude and embarrassments .of the home govern ment might lead to the transfer of Cuba to a continental power called forth between 1823 and 1860 various em phatic declarations of the policy of the United States to permit no disturbance of Cuba's connection with Spain unless in the direction of independence or ac quisition by us through purchase; nor has there been any change of this de clared policy since upon the part of fcthe government. The revolution, which began in 1868 lasted for ten years, despite the stren- 1 uous efforts of the successive nenin. sular government to suppress it. Then, as now. the government of the United States testified its grave concern and offered its aid to put an end to th bloodshed in Cuba. The overtures made by Gen. Grant were refused and the war dragged on, entailing great loss of life and treasure and increased in jury to American interests. ' besides throwing enhanced burdens of neutral ity upon this government. In 1878 peace was' brought about br the truce of Zan jon, obtained by negotiations between the bpanlsh commander, Martinez de Campos and the insurgent leaders. The Present Revolution. The present insurrection broke out in February, 1895. It is not my purpose at this time to recall its remarkable in crease or to characterize its tenacious resistance against me enormous forces massed against it by Spain. The revolt and the efforts to subdue it carried ,'deX struction to every quarter of the island; developing wide proportions and defy ing the efforts 'of Spain for its suppres sion. The civilized code of war has hovm disregarded no less so by the Spaniards than by the Cubans. The existing con ditions cannot but fill this government ana tne American people with the grav est apprehension: - There is no desireon the part of our people to profit by the misfortunes of Spain. We have onlv the desire to see the Cubans prosperous and contented,enjoying that measure of self control which is the inalienable right of man, protected in their right to reap, vne oeneflt , of , the exhaustless treasures of their country. . .The offer made by my predecessor in April, 1896, tendering the friendly offices ox nils government, failed.. Any medi ation on our part was not accepted. In bner, the answer read: "There is no ef fecftua! way to pacify Cuba unless it be. gins wth the actual submission of the rebels to the mother country." '.linen onay could Spain s act in the promised f direction of her own . motion and after her own plans. The oru'il policy of concenitraMon' was; .initiated jpeDruary 16, 1896.. Distress and Desolation. The productive disltridts controlled by me wpaman arjraie were , depopulated: The agricurturafl .inhabdtants were herd ed in and afboajpt the; Jgarrison-, towns, their , lands laid waste - and their dwell ings !dh-TncY-a;ai6 late cabinet, of Spain rwas-' justified as a neuessary measure ot war ami as a m Tf T the insurgenlts.' It .has utterly failed as war measure. It-was not civilized war fare. It was extermination.. Against this abuse .of. the. rights of war. I have constrained on repeated oc caislons toenHerithe firm and'; earnesit protest .of this 'governments. -.There was musch. of. public condemnation ? of v the tretmenlt 'of American citizens by al leged , .illegal . arrests and long imprlson jn,entawat.ting trial or '' pending proi traced Judicial-proceedings. J I felt 'it my first dJu(ty.'o.jriake instant demand for the release .'or? speedy trial .'of all American citizens under arrest ' Before theeKange of the Spanish cabinet in 6c tober last,- twenty-two, ,:. prisoners, . ctti zens "of ' the. United States, - had been given their freedom - I ; For the relief of our own citizens, suf-' ferEhigbecause-of the 'conflict -the aid of .congress .'was -sought ' In a ' special message, and under the appropriation of April .4, 1897, effective; aid" has beert'glyen to American caJtlzens In Cubai many of them at their own request' having been returned'to the United. States. ; The; 'strucitions; given to ; our. k, new minister to Spain before his - departure for" h. Is post - directed! him . to : -impress upon that body the, sincere wish of the United States to lend Its aid toward the ending'of the war In, Cuba by; reaching a peaceful and lasting result,' ju-t arid .honorable alike to Spain and to '.the Cu- ban.pKopie.. - ; : MV',;.V V- llVijcpdlQrd V t r ructiori $.V. :,;f i .These taistructions recited the charac-i erT and duration of ;the- contest,' Fthe and restraints" it. imposes upon us, with constant disturbance vof ' national winter ests and the injury -resulting fronv an Indefinite continuance of this" state of things. . It was stated that at this junc ture, our government was constrained to seriously . inquire s if ; the time : was " not ripe when 'pain, ; of her ' own . volition. linoved by her own interests and every sentiment of humanity, should; put a top to this ' destructive wnr and make proposals of a se"ltlement honorable to lierslf and just to her Cuban colony, I It was urged that as a neighbor of the na tion, with large interests in Cuba, we could.be required to wait only a reason able time for the mother country to establish its authority and restore peace and order - within the borders ot the island; that we-could not contemplate an indefinite period for the accomplish ment' of this result. No solution was proposed to which the slightest idea of huanflliaition to Spain could attach, and Inideed precise m-oposals were withneld to avoid embarrassment to chat govern ment. All tht was asked- or expected was that some safe way might bev speed ily provided and , permanent peace re stored. It so ohanced , tb&c consider ation of this offer, addressed . to the same Spanish adnilnttstration which had declined tbe tenders of my predecessor and which for more than two years had hmured men and treasure into Cuba in the fruitless effort to suppress there volt, fell to others. Between the de parture of Gen. Woodford, the new en voy, and his arrival in Spain, the states man Who had shaped the policy of his country fell by the hand of an assassin, and although the cabinet of the premier still held 'office a.nd received from our envoy, the proposals he bore, that caibi- nf'fc gave pitace within a few -days, .there after to a new administration, under the leadership of Sagasta. SpaWs Reply Satisfactory. The reply to our note was received on Oct. 23. It is in the direction of a bet ter understanding. .It appreciates the friendly purposes of this government. It admits that our country is deeply af fected by the war in Cuba and that its desires for peace are just. It declares that the present Spanish government is bound by every consideration to a change of policy that should satisfy the United States and pacify Cuba within a reasonable time. To. this end Spain has decided to put into effect the polit ical reforms heretofore advocated by the present premier without" halting for any consideration in the path which ?n its judgment leads to peace. The mili- tary operations, it is said, will continue, but will be humane and conducted with all regard for private rights, being ac companied by political action leading to the autonomy of Cuba, while guarding Spanish sovereignty. This, it is claimed, will result in investing Cuba with a dis tinct personality; the island to be gov erned by an executive and by a local council or chamber, reserving to Spain the control of the foreign relations, the army and navy and the Judicial admin istration. To accomplish this, the pres ent government proposes to modify ex isting legislation by decree leaving the Spanish cortes. with the aid of Cuban senators and deputies, to solve the eco nomic problem arid properly distribute the existing debt. LET THE WAR GO ON. IN THE ABSENCE OF A DECLAR ATION OF THE MEASURES THAT THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO TAKE IN CARRYING OUT ITS PROFFER OF GOOD OFFICES, IT SUGGESTS THAT SPAIN "BE LEFT Tr-RTntT! tt r,niviTTTrTi tvttt.tt at?v rf. ERATIONS AND GRANT POLITICAL REFORMS, WHILE THE UNITED STATES FOR ITS PART SHALL EN FORCE ITS NEUTRAL OBLIGA TIONS AND CUT OFF THE ASSIST ANCE WHICH IT IS ASSERTED THE INSURGENT'S RECEIVE FROM THIS COUNTRY. THE SUPPOSITION OF AN INDEFINATE PROLONGATION OF WAR IS DENIED. IT IS ASSERT ED THAT THE WESTERN PROV INCES ARE ALREADY WELL NIGH RECIAIMED ; THAT PLANTING OF CANE AND TOBACCO THEREIN HAS BEEN RESUMED AND THAT BY FORCE OF ARMS AND NEW AND AMPLE REFORMS VERY EAR LY AND COMPLETE PACIFICATION IS HOPED FOR. THE IMMEDIATE AMELIORATION OF EXISTING CONDITIONS UNDER THE NEW ADMINISTRATION OF CUBAN AFFAIRS IS PREDICTED AND THEREWITH ALL THE DIS TURBANCE AND ALL OCCASION FOR : ANY CHANGE OF ATTITUDE ON THE PART OF THE. UNITED STATES. .-. 1 Discussion of international duties arid responsibilities of the United' States, as Spain understands them, is present ed -"with an apparent disposition to charge us with failure in this regard. This . charge is without any basis in facts It could not have been made if Spain had 'been cognizant of the 'con stant ' efforts this government has made at the cost of millions and by the em ployment of " the administrative; ma chinery of the nation at command to perform its full duty under the laws of nations.' That it has successfully pre vented the departure of a single mili tary expedition , or armed vessel from our . shores in violation of our laws would seem to be a sufficient answer. But of this aspect of the Spanish - note, it is 'not necessary to -speak. :. further now. Firm, in the conviction of a whol ly performed obligation due response to this charge has been made in diplomat ic course, . . " . :i Throughout all these horrors and dan gers to our own peace, this government has ."never -in any way abrogated its sovereign prerogative of reserving to it self the determination of its policy and course according to its own. high sense of right and in' consonance with; the dearest .interests and' 'convictions' of our own people 'should the prplongation of the strife so demand. '-- ' - Annexation Not Thought OF. - OF THE ".UNTRIED MEASURES THERE REMAINS ONLY ' RECOGNI TIQN OF THE INSURGENTS f A$ BELLIGERENTS; RECOGNITION OF THE " INDEPENDENCE." OF CUBA; NEUTRAL INTERVENTION TO END THE WAR BY IMPOSING A RATION AL COMPROMISE . BETWEEN THE contestants:: and interven. tion . in-favor of ' one or' the other party. j i speak. not. of forcible annexation,, for THAT CANNOT BE THOUGHT OF. THAT BY OUR CODE OF MORALITY f .WOULD . BE ' CRIMINAL . AGGRES- - ! - - . - ; '.v; ; Beh'ggerent. Bights. - Recicitipn of the belligerency' of Ouflban insurgents has often been oan vassed as a possible, if not an inevitable step, both in regard to the previous "ten years struggle and during the present war. I- am' not unmindful that two houses of congress in the spring of 1896 expressed the opinion by concurrent resolution that a condition of, public war existed ' requiring, or justifying, the recognition of a state of belligerency in Cuba and during the extra session, the senate voted a4 joint' resolution of like import, ' wfcich, however was', not brought to a vote in the house.. In the presence of these significant expressions of the sentiment of the legislative .branch, it behooves the ex-, ecutive to soberly consider the, condi tions under which so important a mea sure must needs rest for v justification. It is to be seriously considered whether the Cuban insurrection s possesses de yond dispute the' attributes of state hood, which alone can demand the recognition of belligerency in its favor. Possession, in short;-' is the essential qualifications of sovereignty by the in surgents and the insurgents and the conduct of war by them, according to the received code of war -are no less im portant factors toward the determina tion of the problem of belligerency than the' inflences and consequences of the struggle upon the international pol icy of recognizing state. The wise . ut terances of President Grant in his mem orable message of December 7, 1875, are signally relevant to the present situa tion in Cuba, and it may be wholesome maw to recall them. ' At that time a ruinous conflict had for seven years wasted the neighboring island. During all those years an ut ter disregard of the laws of civilized warfare and of the just demands of hu manity, which called forth expressions of condemnations from the nations of Christendom, continued unabated. Des olation and ruin pervaded that produc tive region, enormously affecting the commerce of all commercdal nations, bult that of the United States more than any other by reason of , promixlty and larger trade and Intercourse. "At that juncture General Grant uttered these words, which now, as then, sum up the elements of the problem.: "A recognition of the independence of Cuba being, in my opinion imprac ticable and indefensible, the question whlich next presents itself is thet of recognition of belligerent rights in the parties of the contest.. In a former mes sage to congress I had occasion to con sider this question, and reached' the conclusion that the conflict In Cuba, dreadful and devastating as were its incidents, did not rise to the fearful dignity of War. "It is possible that the acts of foreign powers and even acts of -Spain herself of this very nature, might be pointed to in def ense of such recognition. "But now, as in its past history, the United States should avoid the. false Tights which might lead it into the mazes of doubtful law and 6f ques tionable propriety, and adhere rigidly and sternly to the rule which has been its guide, of doing that only which is right and honest and of good report. The question of according-or withhold ing rights of belligerency must be judged in every case, in view of the particular attending facts. Unless jus tified by necessity, it is always and just ly regarded as an unfriendly act and a gratuitous demonstration of moral support .to the rebellion. It is necessary and it is required when the Interests and rights of the government or of its c auwieu u tt wuns vu uiuuioL ts. iu. lciiunc a uwuwwu of its relations to the parties thereto, But this conflict must be one which will be recognized in the sense of interna- tlonal law of war. "Belligerency, too, is a fact. The mre existence of contending bodies and their For these reasons I regard the recog occasional conflicts do not -constitute nition of . the belligerency of the Cuban ,war in the sense referred to. Applj-ing Insurgents as now unwise, arid there to the existing condition of affairs in fore InadmissibCe,' Should that, step Cuba the tests recognized by publicists hereafter be deemed wise as a measure and writers of international law and Wbtoh have been observed by nations of dignity, honesty and power, I fail to find in the insurrection the existence of suoh a substantial political organization, real palpable and manifest to the world, having the forms and capable of the or dinary functions of government toward iW y" IVJP ""v-" " , cJhmriM such a ster be nrww taken when courts for the administration of Jus- .r. f'FftJ Tt'TJt .... WAA, . ,tt.. it Is apparent that a hopeful charge baa tice, with a local habitation, poss- IHipeniSd in the policy of Spain to ing such organiz-atlon. forces, such .. A -new government has material, such occupation of territory as taken offi,ce in the mother country. It is to take the contest out of the category bled in advance to the declaration of a mere rebellious insurrection, or oc- m the effoipt m the cannot oasional skirmishes and place it on the suffice to maintain pace in Cufba by the terribls footing of -war, to which a rec ognition of belligerency would elevate it.. Owns no Navy. "The contest, moreover, is solely on land, the insurrection has not possessed itself of a single seaport, whence it may set forth its flag, nor has' it any means of communication with foreign powers, except through the military lines of its adversaries. No apprehension of any of those whose sudden and ..difficult complications, which a war upon the ocean is , apt to precipitate upon the vessels, both commercial and national . v,, 4,,. ' t t,v.in y a Just distribution of powers and upon the consular officers of other powers calls for the definition , of their relations to- the parties of the contest. Considered as a question of experiency, I regard the accordance of belligerent rights still to be as unwise and prema ture, as I regard it to be at present in def enct'Jbile, as , a . measure of right. "Such recognition entails upon the country, according to the " rights which flow- from i't, d!iflicur.t and complicated duties and requires the exaction -from the contending parties of the strict ob--servance of their rights and obliga tions. '""', " " "It confers the right : of search upon the high seas of vessels of both pai'tie;! duictive industries. That past methods it would subject the carrying.? of arms ard futile to force a peaceable peace by and munitions .of war, which now may Str,bjugatkri"is freely admitted and that be transported freely and without inter-' ruTn without conciliation must inevit ruption, In vessels of the United- States abiv fall to win for Spain the fidelity of xovcrerenuon .aiira w vvatuuxe seizure; it wouea gave rise to count'iess vexatious questions, wouild release the parent gov ernment ; from , respensibiiity for J acts done by the Insurgents, and would in vest Spain with the right to exercise the supervision recognized by our treaty of 1795 over our commerce on the h igh seas, a very large part of which,. In ts traffic between the Atlantic and the gulf s tates an! 'between .'all' of them and 'the states on the Pacific. . masses throns-h". thf waters which wash the shores o Cuba: The exercise of this supervision could scarce ran to lead, if not to abuses, cer tainly to collisions perilous to the peace- Iful refatlons of, the two states.-' There can. be little doubt as to what result Royal makes the food pare, i -, " -,- - wbolesome and delicious. PQIVDER Absolutely Pure ROVAL BAKING POWDER CO.. NEW VORK. such supervision would, before long, draw this nation.. It would be unwor thy ;of the United States "to inaugurate the possibilities of such result by meas ures of questionable right or expediency, or by any Indirection.' : "i4L;i. . Practical Aspect. ..Turning to the practical aspect of a recognition of belligerency, and review ing its inconveniences and positive dan gers, still further and. pertinent consid erations appear. In the code of nations there is no such thing as a naked recog nition of belligerency unaccompanied by the assumption of international neutrality. Such recognition, without more will not confer upon either party to a domestic conflict a status not here tofore actually; possessed' or affect the reflation of .either, party: to other states. The act. of recognition usually takes the form V of a solemn proclamation of neutrality which recites the defacto con dition of belligerency as its motives. It announces a domestic law of neutrality In the declaring states. It assumes the International obligation of neutral , in the' presence of a public state of war. It warns all citizens and others within the jurisdiction of the proclaimant that they violate those rigorous obligations at their own .peril and cannot expect to be Melded from, the consequences. The right of visit and search on the seas and seizurejf vessels and cargoes and, con traband of war and good prize undr admiralty law, must under international law, be admitted as a legitimate conse quence of a prpC'umation cf belliger ency. While according equal belliger ent right's defined by public law to each party in our. ports, disfavors would he imposed on both, which, while nomi nally equal, would weigh heavily in be half Of Spain herself. Possessing a navy and controlling the ports of Cuba, her maritime rights could be asserted not only for the military investment -t the island, but up to the margin of our own territorial waters, and a condition cj! things would exist for which the Cubans, within their own domain, could not hope to create a parallel; While its creation, through aid or sympathy with in our domain, woud be even more im possible than now, with the additional obligations of international neutrality we -would, per force, assume.! The enforcement, of tMs enlarged and onerous code of neutrality, rwould rpnly be Influential within our own jurigdl? tion by land and sea and applicable by our own instrumentalities: It could im- part to the United, States no jurisdiction 'beitween &pa.tn ana the insurgents; it ' would give the United States no rtght c-f intervention to enforce the conduct of the strife within the paramount author- ; ity of Spain according to' the interna- tional code of w&r. of right and duty, the executive will take it. For Human iiy's Sake. Intervention upon the- grounds of hu manity has been frequently suggested and has not failed to receive my mcst anxious and earnest consideration. But bayonet; s. tftat vague promises .of re form, after subjugation, affcrds no so lution of the insular problem, that with a substitution of .commanders, , must come a change, of ;the past system of warfaire" .'for pne in hanhony with a new pcClcy whtch shall no longer aim to drCve the Cubans 6 the "horrible atler native of taking to the thicket ' or suc cumbing, in misery''that reforms must be instituted -in accordance , with x the needs and .circumstances of the' tima, and thiese refcrms, ; while des'gned tb give full autonomy " to the colony and to create, a virtuial entltyand self-controlled administration, shall, yet con serve ana amrm tne sovereignty and burdens' liponla'' basis of mutual in terest untainted. by methods of selfish expediency.-- ., ..The first acts of the new government lie ' In these honorable paths. The pol icy of cruel rapine arid extermination that, so long shocked the universal sen timent' of humanity has been re"feTed. Under the new military commander) a broad cletnen'cy.lS' proffered. Measure's have already been set on foot -to relieve the. horrors of starvation. The power of the: Spanish -armdes it is asserted, is to be -used not to spread ruin and desola tloh; but to' protect the resumption- of peaceful agricultural pursuits and pro- j a contented dependency. " J - .Scheme of Aq'pnomy. "decrees r in application of the fore shiaidoWed ref orms i have already been promulgated. , Thefull; text ,of these decrees has not 'been received, but as furnished II to' a 'telegraphic summary from' our -minister are: All k civil and etectoral rights of peninsular1 Spaniards in virtue of existing constitutional au- ; thorltyi forthwith ' extended to colonial SpahlardS. "A scheme of autonpmy nas been'pf Oclalmed byf decree to become efr. fect'lve upon ratification by the cortes. -. (Continued on -Page 7.) , -
The Asheville Times (Asheville, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 7, 1897, edition 1
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