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J (> THE LEDGER: GAFFNEY, S. C., DECEMBER 10, 1896 PISIMNT'S ISSSCifi Cleveland’s Last Regular Com munication to Congress. 50HOPE FOE STRUGGLING CUBANS Interference by <~*nr Government Not Ileeointasndtfd —Settlemont of the Von- tmueluu lJl.t|tiite llr.lerred to—TurkinU Afftlra Stiil In u Very Ihtil Condition. 1‘rojrew Made In <'l\ll Service Uefonu. To tlio ConureRs of the United States: Am representatives of t !>'‘ people in tho legitUative branch of this government you 'ju.-w.o’ofe-i -fit .. tU J- ’'strengt h and excellence of our free institu tions and tho titness of our citizens to en joy popular rule have been a^aia niado manifest. A political contest involving momen tous consef|uenees frauglit with feverish apprenheiision.and creating aggressiveitess at) intense as to nppronch bitterness and jmsMon has-been waged through our land, and determined !>y the decree of free and independent suffrage, without dwturbanco of our tranquility or the least sign of weakness in our national structure. Ot’It RELATIONS WITH TTKKKY. At the outset of a reference to tlimors Important matten offending our rel -.tiona witn foreign powers, it would afford me satisfaction if I could assure the congress that tiie disturbed condition in Asiatic Turkey tmd during the past year assumed » Icmm tddeouH and bloody aspect, and t hat either ns a consequence of the awakening of the Turkish government to the demands of human civilization as is the result of decisive action on the part of the great na tions having the right by treaty to inter fere for the pro tec. ion of thus-, oxnnsed t.j the rag<-of mad bigotry and cruel fnaati- eism, the shocking features of tho situa tion had been mitigated. Instead of wel coming, a aoftei.e-l disposition or pro tective intervention, we hav.< been afflicted by continued and not infrequent reports of the wanton destruction of h dlie and the butchery of men. women and children, inode martyr i to their professj.-.n of Chris tian faith. While none of our cit z. 'ns in Turkey have tiius lar be mi killed ( , r wounded, though often in tin* midst of dreadful scenes of danger, tluir u'oty in the future is by no means assur d. Our /'overnnn tit at home and our minister at . ConstMiitinople have left nothing undone : to protect our missionaries in Ottoman territory, who constitute nearly all the in- i dividuals residing there who have a right ! to claim our protection on the score of i Am-rienn citi/.enslilp. Our efforts in this i diieclion will not i»e relax 'd: but ttie deep leeling and sympithy that have been moused anioung our people ought not to po far blind tiieir reason and judgment as ] to lend them to demand imposibl thiti/'s. ( Tlie cutlireaks of blit.d fury which lead to murder and pillage in Turkey occur sud- j «i>*i)ly and without notice, and an attempt on our part to force such a hostile preseuec there»H might Ik* effective for prevention or protection would not only la* resisted by the Ottoman government, but would lie regarded .ut mi interruption of their ( plans bv the great nations whoasM rt th-ir fxemsive right to intervene in their own time and met hod for the security of life* a id property in Turkey. Several naval ves-els arcsd.ntinned intlK* Jleiii'er.inean as a measure; of caution and to furnish all possible relief and refuge in case of emergency. iVe have made claims against the Turk ish government for tho pill ige and de- M met ion of missionary property at llar- p M t and .Marash during uprisings at tiio.-o piacs. Thus far the validity of these demands lias net iieen admitt> d tliougii our inin- ister prior to Much outrages and in antiri- 1 pat inn of danger, (lemanded protection lor the persons and property of our mission- ; jtrv citizens in the localities mentioned, mid not withstanding Mint strong evidence « xists of actual complicity of Turkish sol- j i.icrs in the work of destruction and rob- bi ry. The facts as they now appear do j not uermit us to doubt the just ice of these cl.tims and nothing will In* omitted to bring about their prompt settlement. A number of Armenian refugees having rrrived at our ports, an order has lately been obtained from the Turkish govern ment permitting tin* wives and children of Midi refugees to join them here. It is ho ied hereafter no obstacle will be inter posed to prevent the esc ape of all those who seek to avoid t he perils which threaten them iii Turkish dominion. Otir recently appointed consul to Esze- ! mm is at. his nest and discharging the ; duties of his oflicii, t hough for some un- ree.'ir.itab'c reason his formal exequatcr Jr<'Ui the suit.1 has not bean issued. Ido j Hot b lievi* that tin* present somber pros . I'O't I'' Turkey will In* long permitted to | Hffeiul the sight of Christendom. It so mars tin* humane and enlightened civili- j Z-Jtlmi that belongs to the close of the nineteenth century that it seems hardly 1 (•o-sdile that th • cartc st demand of good people throughout the Christian world for its (orrective treatment will remain un- lllSWtT'*d. NO HELP rou THE CUBAN'S. ff he insurrection in Cuba still continnos 1 with all its perplexities. If is difficult to perceive that any pro- i press lias thus far b en made towards the p-icilicat ion of the island or that the situa tion 1 I uffnirs as depicted in my last an nual message has in tin* least improved. it Spain still holds Havana and the sea- ! ports ami all the considerable towns, the invurgenlH st ill roam at will over at least t-vo thirdsr.f the inland country. if tin* det'-riniiiatiou of Spain to put <hmn the insurrection seems but to *0 r ngMien with the lapse of time, and is **v need bv I er uiiliesitaling devotion of largely increased military and naval forces 1o tlie task there is much reason to be lieve that lh<* insurgents have gained in point o) numbers and character and re- *oiiro***. and are untie the less inflexible in their resolve not to succumb, without practically securing the great objects for which they took up arms. If Spain lias not yet re established her authority, nei ther have the insurgents yet made good their title to be regarded as tin independ- «*nt state. Indeed, as the contest has gone r*n. the j>r< t-iiH** that civil government exists on the island, except so far as Spain ts able to maintain it, Ii.id been practically Vllnuid) ned. ♦Spain dees keep on foot such a govern- pv-nt. more or less imperfectly, in the Targe towns and their Immediate suburbs. Um that exception being made, the entire country is either given over to an j mciiy, or is subject to the mili- imy occupation of one or the other party. It is reported, indeed on reliable fltiiliorifv, that at the demand of tliecom- niander m chief of the insurgent army thu putative ('ubnu government has now given tip all attempt to exercise its futicMbus. leaving t hat government confessedly (what there is tne I st reasnii for supposing it always to have been in fact), a government merely <*ii paper. Were the Spanish armies abb* 1 me< t their nutHgouislH in the open, or in littehe I Imttle. prompt and d<*ciiiive results might be l<i<iki"i for anil the im- ineiis.* siijii r.< rity of the Spanish foree; In iiiiinls'rs (liseiii'ine, and ''.jiiipment,could f<; 1.*.tail t<ilcii gi'. ally to (hcii odviiat fy are called 11 non to face * I'eiiend eng igeinents, that td d ies chons ' its own ground, kc iistun* of I lie cimtit ry is vi de at pi r.siire Mid 1 bat lu lit 1111 Inise tde, and when all the K’f p* fftinn md numliers are lu a euuutry wueru all that is indispensalHs to life in tho way of food, clothing and shelter is so es .’ily oiitatn- t>ble, especially by those liorn and bred ou the soil, it is obvious that there is hardly » limit, to th" time during which hostilities j m this sort may, h* prolonged. Meanl I Tilih*, as in all cases of protracted civi- Mrife, the passions of the com- Kifants grow more and more in flamed and excesses on both sides become more frequent and more deplora ble. They are also participated in by i bands of marauders who, now in the name J of one party and now in tfi * name of the I other, may best suit the occasion, roam tiie country at will and plunder its wretched inhabitants for their own ad vantage. Such a condition of things ! would inevitably entail immense destruc- j tion of property, even if it were tho policy of both parties to prevent it ns far as prac ticable. Hut a bile such seemed to be the original policy of the Spanish govern in nt, ] it lu* now apparently abandon* ' it and is acting upon the same theory us the insur gent-, vgu’ncly,that.11.< cxigc.ie sot theeon- j test require the wholesale aniilhiliatiou ! of property, that it may not prove of use and advantage to the enemy. it is to the same end tnat in pursuance of general order. Spanish garrisons are now 1 eing withdrawn fr >m plantations and the rural population require*! to concen trate itself in the towns. The sure re sult would seem to b** that the industrial value of t ha island is fast diminishing and that unlesn there is a speedy and radical change in ixisting conditions it will soon (Isappear altogeilier—that value consists very largely, of course, in its capacity to produce sugar—a capacity already much reduced by the interruptions to tillage which have taken place during the last two years. It is reliably asserted that should thee i interruptions con tinue during the current year and practically extend. «s is now threat ened, to t lie entire* sugar producing terri tory of the island, so much time and so mu,-li money wili be required to restore the land to its normal productiveness that it is extremely doubtful if capital can Ije induced to ( ven make M10 attempt. The spec tael e of the utter ruin of an od- joining country, by nature one of the most lertile and charming on th** globe, would engag** the serious attention of th** govern ment sud people of the United States in any circumstances In point of fact, they have a concern with it which is by no means of a wholly sentimental or philan thropic character. it ii*'s s > near to us ns to be hardly sepa rated ir-m our territory. Our « dual pe cuniary interest in it is second only to Mint of the people and government of tsj> iiii. It s reasonably estimated that at least s';li),<M)n.ii nt to ?.Yi,u> i.OmO of American capit! 1 are invested in plantations and in rntlroiid, mining and oilier business enter prises on tne island. The volume of trade t’o&ween the I'nited States and Cuba, which in Iks!) amounted to about *ffi,0)0,- •k) 1, iMse in 18f)d to about ^lOd.OtM.lXK). and In H.'t, tlie year before the present insur- rection liroffe out, amounted to nearly iOii,M>H,iM:). HeHid*.-i this large n-enniary stake in the fortunes of Cuba, tne United States tinds iis.*lf inextricably involved In the present contest in other ways both vexatious and costly. Many Cubans reside in this country and indirectly promote the insurrection through the press by public meetings, by the purchase and shipment of arms, by tiio raising of fund, and by other means which tin* spirit of our institutions and the tenor of o'tr laws do not permit to he made the subject of criminal prosecutions. Some of them, th mgh Cubans at heart mid in 'll their feelings and interests, have taken out papers as naturalized citizens of the United States, a proceeding re.Girted to w ith a view to possible protection by this guvi-i .iment, and not unnaturally re garded with much indignation by the country of tin ir origin. The insurgents arc* utidoub*. e dy encouraged an 1 supported b? the v.'iiiesure-ad sympathy the people of this com.try always and instinctirely feel for every struggle for better and freer govem- ;ii"!it. aud which, in the case of tiie more x ;v nturousaud restless elements of our i opuiatiou, leads in only too many in- 1 aiiees : 1 active participation in the con- V'-.t. Tin* result is that this government t- constantly called upon to prot-ct Amer- iciii citizen*, to claim damages forinjurius to (n*rs ns anil property, now estimated at many millions of dollars, and to ask ex planations .uni apologies for the acts of .-•p nisli officials whose zeal for t-ho r nression of reliellion sometimes l.bmls them to immunities bc- lo'ging to the umiffeiiding citizens ( i'a : rlendly pn’.ver. It follows from tho mu* causes t ii.at t he United States is ( om- pelled tohctiiady notice a long line of sea- C' .-st against unlawful expeditions, tho •scape 01 which the utmost vigilance will not always suffice to prevent. These in evitable entanglements of the United States with tho rebellion in Cuba, tho i ’.r /e American property interests affected and considerations of philanthropy and hiiMiniiy in general, have led to a vehe ment deni uni in various quarters for some sort iff positive interruption on the part of tiie Uniied States. It was at first pro- priwd that belligerent rights should be accorded to tie.* insurgents—a proposition no 1 ng'-r urged be .ause untimely, aud in practical oper tion clearly perilous and in jurious to our own interests. it has since been, and is now sometimes contended.that the independence of the in surgents should be recognized. Hut itn- periect and restricted ns the Spanish government of the isl.uul may be, no other exists there—unlesstlie will of the military officer in temporary command of a partic ular district can lie dignified as a speices of government. It is now also suggested that the United States should buy the island, a suggestion possibly worthy of consideration if there were any evidence of a desire or w illingness on tiie part of Spain to entertain Hii<*ii a proposal. Ir, is urged, finally, that nil other methods failing the existing internecin ■ strife hi Cuba should he terminated by our intervention, even at the cost of w ir oetween the Uniied States ami Spain—a war which its advocates con fidently prophecy could b** neither large in its proportions nor doubtful in its issue. The correctness of this forecast need In neither affirmed nor deiiio.l. Tne Unh-d States has, nevertheless, a character to maintain as a nation, which plainly dic tates that rights and not might should he the rule of its conduct. Further, though the United St if.es is not ti nation to which peace is a necessity, it is in truth the incst pacific, of powers, and there is nothing s i much as to live in amity with all tiie win Id. Its own ample and diversified domains satisfy till possible longings for territory, preclude all dreams of conquest, and pre vent any casting of covetous eyes upon neighboring regions, however attractive. That our conduct towards Spain and her dominions has constituted no exception to this national disposition is made manifest by tin* course of our government, not only thus far during the present insurrection, but during th*' ten years that followed tbs rising nt Yarn in IHfls. \o other great power.it may sifely be said, undercircum- Ktiincea of oimilar perplexity, would have man i fee tad the same rest' dnt and tlio t line patient endurance, it may also ha «aid that thin persistent nttitudo of the United States towards Spain lu connection with Cuba unque f loimbly evinces no slight respect for Spahi on the part of tbo American people. They in truth do not forget her connection with the discovery of the western hemisphere;, nor do they underestimate the great qual ities of the Spanish , **oj>|e,nor fail totally recogiiizn their splendid patriotism and their chivalrous devotion to thu national honor. They view with wonder and admiration the cheerful resolution with which vast bodies of men are sent across thousands of miles of ocean, and an euotyaoua 'h*bt ac cumulated, tnat the costlyx pOK-esaiou of the gem of the Autil i s ma/vdlU kold Its place in tho Spanish crowtv And yet neither the government nor tlit\ people if the united {junta have shut Ikoir eye 1 to f thn four so of events in Cuba or have failed to realize the existenco of conceded griev ances which have led to the present revolt from the authority of Spun—grievances recognized by the queen regent and by the COrtes,voiced hy the most patriotic and en- tyghtoned of Spanish statesmen without wegard to party and demotistrated hv ro- fiorms proposed by the executive an 1 ap proved by tho legislative branch of the Spanish government I Is in M10 assume t temper and disposition of tho Spanish gov- emm n nt to remedy th. *c|^ri vine'**, forti fied Sy indications of influential public opinion in Spain, that this government has hoped to discover the most promising and effective means of eompciing the pres ent strife with honor and advantage to ypain, and wit h the achievement of all the reasonable objects of the insurrection. It would seem timt, If Spain should offer to Cuba genuine autonomy, a muasu.-s of home rule which, while preserving the sovendKiity of Spain, would satisfy all rational requirements of her Spanish sub jects, there should lie no Just reason why th** pacification of the Island might not be effected on that basis. Such a result would appear to lie in the true interest of all concerned. It would at once stop the conflict which Is now consuming the re sources of the island and making It worth less for whichever party may ultimately prevail. It would keep intact the possessions of Spain without touching her honor, which will be consulted rather than impugned by the adequate redress of admitteu griev ances; it would psit the prosperity of the Island and the forennes of its inhabitants within tiieir own control withont severi g the natural and ancient ties which bind them to the mother country, and would yet enable them to test their capacity for self government under tho most favorable conditions. It has been objected ou the one side that Spain should not promise autonomy until her insurgent subjects lay down their arms; on the other side, that promised autonomy, however liberal, is insufficient without assurance of tho promise being fulfliled. Hut the reasonableness of a requirement by Spain of unconditional surrender on tiie part of the insurgent Cubans before tiicdr autonomy is conceded, is not alto gether apparent. It ignores important features of the situation—the stability two years’ duration has given tho insur rection, tho feasibility of its Indefinite pro longation in the nature of things, amt, as shown hy past experience, the utter and imminent ruin of the island unless the present strife is sjieedily composed; above nil, the rank abuses which all parties in ijpHiti. all branches of her government and nil her leading public men, concede to exist and prefer a desire to remove. Facing such circumstances to withhold the proffer of needed reforms until the parti"* demanding them put themselves at, merey by throwing down their arms has the appearance of neglecting the gravest of perils and inviting suspicion as. to tiie sincerity of any professed willingness to grant reforms. The objection on behalf of the insurgents—that promised reforms cannot be relied upon—must of course be considered, though we have no right to as sume and no reason for assuming that anything Spsin undertakes to do for the relief of Cubs will not be done according to both the spirit and the letter of the un dertaking. PLAN OF PACIFICATION. Nevertheless, realizing that suspicions and precautions on the part of the weaker of two combatants are always natural and not always unjustifiable—being sincerely desirous in the .merest of both as well as 011 its own account thatthe Cuban problem should lie solved with the least possible delay, it wae intimated by this govern ment to the government of Bpain some months ago that. If a satisfactory measure of home rule were tendered the Cuban in- Mrgents, and would he accepted by them upon a guaranty of its execution, the United States would endeavor to find a way not objectionable to Bpain of furnish| ing such guaranty. While no definite re- sponse to this intimation has yet hoen re ceived from the Spanish government, it is believed to bs not altogether unwelcome, while a* already suggested no reason is •received why it should not be approved by the insurgents. Neither party can fail to see rtie importance of early action and both must realizs that to prolong the present state of things for oven a short period will add enormously to the time and labor and expenditure necessary to bring about the industral recuperation of tho island. Tt is therefore fervently hoped on nil grounds that earnest efforts for healing the braach between Spain and the uisurg-nt Cubans upon tbo lines above in dicated may be at once inaugurated and pushed to an immediate and successful is sue. The friendly ofiicesof the UnitedStates either in manner above outlined or in any other way consistent with our constitution and laws, will always bo at the disposal of either party. Whatever clrcnmstances may arise onr policy and our interests would constrain us to object to tiie asuulsitlon of the island or an interference with its control by any ot her power. It should be added that it cannot lie rea sonably assumed that the hitherto expect- titude • the i’nited States will lie nut attitude indefinitely mnim.smeu. wnne wo are anxious to accord all due respect to tbo sovereignty < f Apsis we cannot view the pending conflict in all its features and properly apprehend onr inevitably close relations to it and its possible result with out considering that by the course of events we may os drawn into such an un usual and unprecedented condition as will fix a limit to ur patient waiting for Spain to end the contest, either alone and in l;cr own way, or with our friendly co opera tion. When the inability of Spain to deal suc- cevfully wit the insurrection has become manifest, and it is demonstrated that her sovereignty i extinct in Cuba for all pur poses of its rightful existence, and when a hopeless struggle for its re establishment has degenerated into a strife which means nothing more than tho useless sacrifice of human life nnd the utter destruction of the very subj-ct-matter of the conflict, a situation will lie pres»ntod in which our obligations to the sovereignty of Spain will bo superseded by higher obligations which v.e can li irdly hesitate to recognize and ifisclisrge. Deferring the choice of ways and meth ods until the time for action arrives, wo should make them depend upon the pre cise conditions then existing, and they should not bo determined upon without giving careful heed to every consideration involving our honor nnd Interest or the international duty we owe to Spain, until we face tho contingencies suggested or the situation is by other incidents impera tively changed, ws sbould continue in the Uni of conduct heretofore pursued, thus in all circumstances exhibiting our obedi ence to the require men is of public law and ourlregard for tho duty enioinod upon us by the position wo occupy In tho family of nations. A contemplation of emergencies that may arise should plainly lead us to avoid their creation, either through a careless disregard of present duty or even an un due stimulation or lit timed expression of feeling. Hut I have deemed It not amiss to remind tbo congress that a time mav arrive when a correct policy and earn for our interests, us well as a regard tor the Interests of other nations and their citi zens. Joined by considerations of bnmaiii'y and u desire to see a rich and fertile coun try intimately related to us saved fro 1 complete (levs station, will constru 1 our government to such action ns will subvert tho interests thus involved and at |liu same time promise to Cuba a l Its inhabitants an opportunity to enjoy Mie blessings of peace. THE VKNKZL'KLAN DISPUTE SETTLED. The Vcnezulttu b iundry question it is censed to b.* a matter of difference between Great Mrlt iin and the Uijjtcd Htgtos, their reupvetiva governm uU having agreed upon tho substantial provisions of a treaty between Great Britain nnd Venezuela snt> mitting tho whole controversy to arbitra tion. The provision.'-, of tiie treaty are so emi nently just .and fair, tlist the n**»nt ol Venezuela thereto may confidently ha an- hiripated. Negotiations for a treaty ol general arbitration for all differences be tween Great Britain and tho United States ore far a Ivanced and promises to rench ouccessful consummation at an early date. our. coast defenses. The report of the secretary of war exhibits satisfactory conditions in tho s**v«ral branch"* of tho public service entrusted tc his eharge. The limit of our military foree, as flxod hy law, Is constantly ami readily maintained. The present discipline and morale of our army aro exc* Jffmt, and marked progress and etfl d**noy are apparent throughout the entire organization. With the «*\(xii>tlon of delicate duties in Up* stipprreslon of slight Indian disturbances along our southwMteru bound ary. in which the Mexican troop* eo-aper- atod, aipl the compulsory but pcweful re turn, with th-* consent <ff (treat Britain, of s band of Gr<»* Indians from Montana to the British possessions, no active operations have b<*en required of the army during thu yonr past. Changes in methods of administration, tha nbandonm -nt of posts and con- sequent eoueentrntion of troops and exercise of care; nnd vigilance by tin: various officer* charged with the responsibility In the ex penditures of the appropriations have re*. Mijt--d in re-ducing to a minimum tiie cost of maintenance of military establishments. During the post year the work of oonffmet ing permanent infantry and cavalry posts has been continued at the plaees heretofore designated. The secretary of war repeats tiff recommendation that appropriations for barracks and quarters should more strictly conform to the needs tff the servlos as judged by tho department rather than respond to the wishes and importiiul- ties of loenlitI-*s. It i* imperative that much of tho money provided for such construction should now b • allotted to the (“roction of nec-s-nry quarter,- for th** garrisons acstgn- ed to the const defense*, \vh**re many men will Is.* needed to properly care for and ope crate modern guns. It is essential, too, that early (irovlslon Is* iiind'.* to supply the neces sary force of artillery to meet the demand.*; of this service. The entire army has now ts)«;i >‘(|n1ppe<l with the new magazine arms, and wi-e- policy d'-mamls that ail available public and private resources should Isi so employed as to provide, within a reasonable time, a sufficient number to supply the state militia with t’e-.s" modern weapon* and pro. vide att ample reserve for any emergency, During tin* past yea.* rapid preterc** ha* been m ule lo-.varet the completion of the r.-homo adopt-1 f ir tin* erection and arena, moot of fortlih-ation.s along onr s"a-oiw» , l while e:jual progress has been ma le In pro. t iding mat**ri:'.l for submarine ib-f**n*e In connection with these work*. Itl* peculiar, ly gratifying .V this time to note the great advance that b,-i< been made In thi* Impore taut undertaking sl'ic’c tin* date of my an. total message p, tp*. HffUy-thlrd eongre***. a* the opening of its second session, li l)»(v*m- bor, 1 >.W. At that time I informed the cor. pre s* of the approa-hlng completion of nine 13-iti<-!i, twenty 10 !n<*!| aud thirty-four ft-Inch high-nowr steel gun*, and seven ty-fl vo 12-ineh rifled mortars, At that date, however, there were practically no carriages upon which to mount thesa guns an i only til emplacements for guns and (il for mortars. Nor were all th-**.-* empl-V’cmenta In eondl. tion t*> receiv * their annrpiier.t*. Only one high pa yer gun was nt tha* time In position for the defense of the entire coast. Since that tl-ri" th >nnmbor of gun* actual ly completed ha* beuri Increased to a total of 2t twelve-inch, flfl ten-inch, fit eight-lneh high power brecch-loadlng steel gun*, ten r tpld-llro guns and sO twelve-ln-h rifled mortar*. « In addition there tire In process of enn« stmetion one sixtei-n-liieli type gun, SO tw.dvo-ineh, 5 f '< ten-ln-di. 27 clght-ineH nigh tower guns and 00 tr.-elv--ln**n rifled mor tars; in nil 12s gum* and [porter*. Since Ik:m the number of gun enrrlag*** ► instruct -<1 „r Imlld'.ug ha* born raised to a total of 12'>, if which 90 are on the disap pearing priii'-i ( de, an I t!i»* number of mortar curriag-'s to 1V2. while the 95 einpl.vemenrs v.l-.le.h were provided for i>rlor to that time, have ff-eii Im-ft a*"d to biifit and building. Tuff l.npror-'. .*ltii , dio;i ir. largely due to tho recent generous resnon*-* of congress to tin recoin n -nil.vi nis of tiie war department, Thu.- w- rihail soon have complete about one. f.fth of th-'* comprehensive *y >fm, the firs* .-'*p of whl-di was noted |*i mr tne**age to the congress of Doeeiiibrr 4. 1^9.1. When it 1* understood that a masonry eni:dv'*n'*nt not only fii«-nlslies a pbt'forrn for the heavy r.io ierti Isigh-jiower guti, but a!« > in every particular, s rves the purpos-* nnd take* tho pia -e of tho for'of former days, tin impor- t im-e of tho work a *eompltehed 1* better couiprchmided. In the hope that th<* work will be prose, cut -d with no h-ss vigor in the future, the s -r tary of war line submitted an es*lmati' by whie.h, if ,-illowod. there- will be provided r.-nl either built or building by tho en*! of tbo tn*xt ils -il y ar, sit**!i adift'lonal guns, 1 lorlars. gun oarriag -.« and cniplareraente »vs will repr --o-tit not far fro-n one-tbird of the tolal work t*> be done under the plan adopt, i d for our coast d *f -!ise. thus affording a prospect that the entire* work *7(11 p* *ijh. stanti ill, completed within e|x yens*. In I *s.*» time tiian that, ho-rever. w A siiall liavo altnluiul a marked degree of s-mirity, ATTOKNEY OENF.R U,’* Rf.PANT. The attorney gi*ncrnl pre'sent* a detailed nnd interesting statement of the l.-nportant work dom* iin-ter hi. supervision during the i.nt llseal year. Th'* ownership and innnagement l>y the govoriun<*nt of peiii*cntiarl' , s fortho confine, nient of those eotr.-lct-id |fi I'Mli'd State* e;uicl of violations of federal law*, which fo*- many years has been a subject of exceu* live rcconiinondutio’i, ha* at la«t. to * *light extent, hei'ti realized by the utilisation ol the abandoned military orison nt Fort Leav enworth iis a United State* peiffemtInry. This is eertainly a movement In Hie right direction, but it oiighl to be at once sup plemented by the rebuilding or »<xtcn«l\e cnlarg* merit of this inir>Mvt***d prison, and the construction of at least one niorc, to be lo*itcd In tiie .*< nit hern state*. It 1* most gratifyi'ig to note tli" satisfacto ry results that have followed the Innugura- liori of the A'W system provided for by the a- of May 24, 189C, under wlib*h eertaln frel- erri otliclais are eomjH’nsated hy salaries In stead of fees. Th** new plan wo* nut In op eration on the !lr*t day of .Julv, H%, and al- x -ady the great o<**.-no*i,r I. en fores*, the pro- ven'ion of *!>-'*■*>: and It* tsudensy to a ml. ter ••uforenmeut of tiie las-.* are strikingly appar.-n*. Detailed evidence of the useful- :i*--«. <ff tlil* long delay d but now hapfdly »•coinplisliod reform will be found clearly ret f-irtii in the attorney general's report. Onr poffolfle,- dei>iirti<i>*nt I* in good con dition, nnd the exhibit nude of it* Opera tion.- during * he fi.eml year ended .Dine 80, Isisi, if all'*wanee I- made for Imperfections In the laws applicable to It, it Is very sntls- fa-'t iry. The total receipts during tiie yeaj *82,499.201.40. The total exp ’tidltitre-* were if90,026.290.84. cxidu-lve ol 894.27, which wn* earn -d bv th* I , a**lrte rail road fur tran-portntlon ami -re llted on their i-d.t to the g .verntiient. There wa* an In- •-re-.-i-*; **f r'-e- ipt * (» vt tlie previous year ol * .Vi 10,040.21, or 7.1 percent, and nn Increas-i of evjien-litnr-v of r*8,H2 i S,l24.U2 or 4,44 per ciint. The ib-it was 'j , l t 070,9V>. 19 I*",* tboo tliat of the pr -eding y*-ar. Ibi y-iirs r*-j«o.-t -liovv'i large extension* of i-tlh tar Mil** -i-rvlee and railway mail siTvi ••*. Wltll llier* ll**cd |i(l-tal facilities. Mu -!i 'n :'- -t ..e.-ura -y In liH'idilng uidil* Ini- ll-o )• a r -i Me l. a * appeal's bj tie- de-rcii-.: ff i-rr. r- in Me* r iff \ iv mall -**rvlce nnd tli<; r<* lu -> i m of -iiall matter returned to tlex dead lett.-i iilll--:*. Tin* d -il'.-ll f-.r Mu- hit y -'it, d'.ii-iugti nim !i less th;m Hint of preceding y •niv. emphasizing Ui* ticec *.*lty f *r legffiatlnu at.d «or- tt-C( th) ffi'OWltlg Kuum of beeoud-cliis* nt*-*, 4o wtifch tho defleloacy Is motnly attrihutabls. The transmission at tho rate of on«> cent a pound of serial llhraidos, ad vertising sheet*, ••house organs,” (porlodl- en<s advertising some partl-nlar ■‘limiso” or Instttntion), sample copl^si and the like, onght ccrtatnlv U, be dlseonflnflefl. A glance at the revenues for the work done last year will *how more pintnly than any other utato- mont the grevs abuse of the postal sorvico and Hie growing waste of iff* enmlngs. Our mail service should, of course, he such ns to mer>t tho want* and even the con venience of our people, at a direct charge ttpon them so light a* perhaps to exclude the Idea of onr j.ostoffice department being a money-making concern, but in the f a ae uf a oonstnntly recurring deficiency In tts r*rre- nnre, and In v|e w of the f,v-t that we supply the best mall service In the world, k sewms to me it Is quite time to correct the abuses that swell enormously our onnuol deflelt. I recommend that legislation »*• id one* en acted U» correct three almsea. and tntrodu-’o bet.U-r business idea* lu the regulatleu of otir postal rates. Fx|*«*#1t**w** and olwerva- tiou have deinonstraUd that certain Improve ments In the orgardiuUVsn of Oh* posbfflW deparlninut must be secured txefore we ean gain the full benefit of the ffntnemx; ■urns e.xi»cnd(.*d In its administration. OCR NEW KAYT. Tho work of the narv department and Ks pr**s**nt condition are* fully exhibited In tho report of tho secretary. Tho construction of vessels for onr new navy has b**cn energetically prosecuted by the present administration upon the general lines previously adopted, Ine department having seen no necessity for radical changes In prior methods under whleh the work was found to 1m> progressing in a manner highly satisfactory. It has been decided, however, to provide In every shipbuilding contract that tho builder should pay all trial cx|em.*es. And It has also been determined to pay no speed premiums in future contracts. The premiums recently earned, and some yet to be decided, are featurre of tho con- 1 tracts made before this conclusion wua j reached. It is gratifying to state tint onr ships and their outfits are* believed to Is* equal to tho best that can he manufactured elsewhere and that streh notable reductions have been made in their cost aa to Justify the statement that quite a number of vessels are now being constructed at rates as low as those that prevail In European shipyards. Our manu facturing facilities are* at this time smplo for all possible naval contingencies, Tli<* war college has developed into an Institution which H Is tmll«ved will be of gre*ai value to the navy In teaching the science of war a* well as Jn stimulating professional real |n the unvy; and It will Im especially useful In the devising of plans for the utilization In ease of necessity of ail the nazal re •source* of the United states. The discipline among officers and men of the navv has been maintained to a high standard, and the percentage of American cltlreiis enlisted have been very much in- ore-os-d, The report ef the secretary of the interior presents a comprehensive and inter esting exhibit of numerous and Important affairs committed to his supervision. It Is Impossible Jn this communication to do more than briefly refer to a f«w of the sub jects, concerning which th** secretary gives full and Instructive information, Money ap propriation on account of this department and for its disbursement for the fiscal v-car ended June .10, IffiKi, amounted to more than ♦157,<Wfl.iW, ora greater sum than was appropriated for the entire main- tainanee of the government for the two fis cal Tears ended June 10, Iflfli. Our nubile lands originally amounted to 1,840,000,000 aeres have been so reduced that only about 000.000,000 acre* remain In government con trol, excluding Alaska The holaueo, being by for the most valuable portion, has been given away to ssnlers to new states nnd to rnllronil* or sold at 4 comparatively nor mal sum. I ogreo with the socrctary that the re mainder of our public lands should be more oarefnllv dealt with and their alienation guarded by better economy and greater pru dence. THfc PESMOX ROLL The dtmunltton of our enormous pension soli nnd the decrease of pension expenditure which ha* iven so often confidently foretold still fall In mr erlal realisation. The num ber of pensioners on the rolls at the close of the fiscal year ended June 10th, HWi, was 970,971, Thi* I* the largest number ever re ported, Tim amount paid excluslrely for pensions during the rear was #111,114,Till.*4, r. slight decrease from that of fhe preeedlng ysr. while the *otal expenditures an ac count of pensions. Including the cost of maintaining the deiiartrnent and expgnsss attendingj'"n*«lon distribution ameuntsd to 1142.209,m.W, or within a very email frac tion of one-third of the enttre expense of supporting the government during the same year. The numticr of persons receiving pensions from the United States, but residing In for eign countries nt the elosa of the last fl*cnl year was 1,711, and the amonnt paid them during Hie year was *512,715.18. The sum appropriated for the payment of pensions for th'* current fiscal year ending June 10, H97.1* *140.O'M).000, and for the succeeding year It |* estimated that same amount will lie necessary, In my opinion, based upon such •tateivents a* three and much other Informa tion anil observation, the atmse* which have been allow'd to ereep Into our pension system have done Incalcu lable harm In demoralizing our peopln ami undermining good eltluenshlp. I have endeavored w*thin my opbere of official duty ♦o protect our pension roll and make it what |t should ho, a roll of honor, c-mtalnlng Hie name* of those disabl'd fn th'lr country's service and worthy of their country's affoo- tlonut* remembrance. AORICm.TURAL DEPARTMENT. The department of agriculture Is so In timately related to the welfare of onr peo*, pie and the prosperity of onr nation that ft should constantly receive the care and encouragement of the government. From small beginnings I*, has grown to he the center of agricultural Intelligence and the source of aid and encouragement to agri cultural effi rts. Large sums of motley are annually appropriated for the main tenance of tnia department, and It must be confessed that the legislation relating to it has not always been directly In the Interest of practical farming, or pwperly g uarded agaff 1st waste and extravagance. o far, however, as pnblle money bat been appropriated fairly and aenalhly to help those who actually till the soil, net bgpeii- diture has been more profitably mad* and more generally approved by tbs people. The secretary reports that the value of our exports of farm products during the last fiscal year amounted to #570,000,Orth, an Increase of ♦iT.OOO.Otn over those of the year Immediately preceding. The gratuitous distribution of seeds by the department as at present conducted ought to he discontinued. No one can read the statement of the secretary on this subject and doubt the extravagance and questionable results of this practice. The progress made In civil service re form furnishes a cause for the utmost congratulation. It has survived the doubts of Its friends as well me the rancor of ils enemies, and has gained a perma nent place among the agencies destined to cleanse onr politics and to improve, econo mize an 1 elevate the pnblle aervioe. There arc now in the competitive elaassfled ser vice upward of eighty-four tbausnnd lace*. More than half of these have been Deluded from time to time since March 4 ISV.I. TREASURY REPORT. The secretary of the treasury report» Mint during the fiscal year ended June »», IKqti the receipts of the government from all sources amounted to #400.475.408.78, during the same period its expenditures were #43l,t)78,&>4 48. The excess of expeu- diturcsover receipts thus amounting to #25.H 2,'14Y70. Th# ordinary expenditures during the year were #4,015 #52.2i less than during the preceding fiscal year.. Of the ‘ receipts meaflonM) there ft J - ®* «$p*Jjrad from customs the sum of tlflO,03],711.97 and from Internal rfvenuo #149,130,615.9*. The r c Ipts from customs show an increase of #7.M3 121 23 over thos# from the name sonrre for the fiscal year ended .tune 30, lfifl> ahd the recipts Irom I mal revenue an Increase of J3,584,537.91. CITII. SERVICE. The civil service mb s ns amended dur ing the last year proved for a sensible nnd uniform method <ff promotion, basing eli gibility to better positions upon demon strated efflekmey and faith fulness. The absence of fixed rules on th s su'.>j?ct has been nn infirmity In the nyst-m mors and more appearant as it* other b-*neflt» hare t>e*gn better apy>r«etat»d. The advantxim of eiwfl aerHre m*<b<*i* hi thrtt buslnm* aspect* or* too well ruj- (lerrtood to reqtrhw argnmenv. Their op- plUwvHoti hm heo^Tis a necessity rt> rti* exccoilvo work of the government. ixtewtate commerce. TU# hiterstAte commerce comnilwdon haa, duffing Uie Last year, supplied.abund- ont evklensA of lt« usefnines* end the im- portanoe of tbe work committed 4o its charge. Public traw*port.**loti Is a unirersal n«- vessily, and the question of Just mid rea sonable charges therefore has become of vital important* Dot only to shippers and carriers, but al-s to the vast multitude of producers and F*n*umer*. VlX TARIFF. I desire to recur to the statemenfs else where made concerning the government’s receipt* and expenditurea for the purpose of venturing upon some suggest! -nstouch- Ing our pres-ut tariff Uw and its operation. 1 his statute took effect on the 2Sth day of August, 1M)4. y hatever may be Its shortcoming as a complete measure of tariff reform, it must be conceded that it has opened the wav to a freer and greater exchange of rnniinodi- ties between us and other countries, and thus furnished a wider market for our products and manufacturers The only entire fiscal year during which this Jaw has been in force ended on the noth day of June. 199(5. In that rear our imports increased over those of the previ ous year more than *9 SOO.rtOti, while the value of the domestic products we ex ported which found market abroad was Dearly #70,000 Ot/j more than during fhe preceding year. Considered os to its sufficiency of this aspect, the present law can by no means fall under Just condemnation. During tho only complete fiscal year of its operation It has yielded nearly *8,non,000 more rev enue than was received from tariff duti-*s in the preceding rear. There was, never theless, a deficit between receipts anil ex penditurea of a little more than #25,000,. 000. This, however, was not unexpected, if left to its operation the law will in tha near future yield a revenue which, with reasonable economical expenditures will overcome all deficiencies. FINANCE. This reference to thecondltlon and prvs- pectsof our revenues naturally suggests aa allusion to the weakness and rice* of our financial methods. They hare been frequently pressed upon t e attention of congress in previou* executive communi- eattons and the inevitable danger of their continued toleration pointed out without now repeating these details I can not refrain from agsin earnestly present ing the necessity of the prompt reform of a system opposed to every rule of sound finance and *hn*m by experience to in fraught with the gravest peril /md per plexity. I am more convinced Mian ever that we can have no assured financial peace and safety until the government currency ob ligations upon which gold may he de manded from the treasury are withdrawn from eircnlation and canceled. This might be done as lias been heretofore recommended hy their exchange far lon,q term bonda bearing a low rate of interest, or by their redemption with the pro-eed* of auch bonds. Kven if only the United States notes known as greenbacks were thus retired ills probable that the treasury notes issned in payment of silver pur chases under the act of July 14, 1895 now paid In gold when demanded would not create much disturbance ns they might from time to time when recorded in tha treasury hy redemption In gold or other wise b« gradually and prudently replaced by silver coin. This plan of issuing bond* for tke purpose of reiriemptien certainlv ap pears H be the most effeetive and direct path to the aeeded re/orm. la default d< fkdshewsvee ft weald be a *>*• fn fb» Fight fipetton, If entovaey dVfftwtiezrs pe- AmwfbU Hi fold whenever so redeemed rtonM ba caxssnad fnstoarf of bzffng reb»- sned. Thi* operation wo'nld ha a slow remedy, but it wo a Id Improve present con ditions. National banks should redeem theirown notes. They should be allowed to Issuo circulation to the par value of bonds de posited ns security for its redemption, nn l the tax on their circulation should bo re duced. IN COXCM'SION. In concluding this communication Its last words shall be an appeal to the con gress for the most rigid economy in tho expenditure of the money It hold* iu trust for tha people. The way to perplexing ex travagance is easy, but a return to fru gality is difficult. When, however, ii jji considered that those who hear the buP- den* of t«x*llon have no guaranty of hon- •et care save in the fidelity of Mieir public seruonts, the dnty of all possible ret ranch- ment ia plainly manifest. When onr dif ference* are forgotten and mir contest* of political opinion are no longer remem bered, nothing In tbe retrospect of on/ pablic service will be *s fortunate and eomforting aa the recollection of official duty well performed and the memory of a constant devotion to the interests of opr confiding fallow countrymen. Grover Cleveland. I tioaphorcacrnt Paint. Some Gorman haw patented nnd is preparing to put on tho market in this country a new kind of phosphorescent paiut for use in lettering all kir.'is of advertisements on boardings aud coun try fences. Tho letters show In common black, white or other colors during tho day, but at night they shine with a smoky, lurid and altogether weird bril liancy. Odd Maatlon. North Carolina reports that tho first bale of cotton has been market 'd iu that ■late earlier than ever known. Tho cotton planters have wisely di- versified their crops. They now produce farm crops which they formerly bought from the north and west Southern butter makers should seri ously consider tho value of parchment paper. For warm weather it is almost indispensable. This paper is rapidly growing in favor all over Europe, and copecially iu Australia and New Zea land. Tho cotton crop has deteriorated gen erally throughout the cottou belt The intense heat and lack of moisture caused premature opening of bolls aud abed- ding. The production of pure sirup from the rjbbou (or Louisian 1) sugar cane U attracting tho attention of experta. The beef of the future will be on the farm, fed on the farm directly off tbo farm, uecovfl Texas Farm am} Ham h.