Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-12-08

| a sailor was taken prisoner.
"On August Ith, forty-slX days from
the date of the landing of General
Shafter's army In Cuba, and twenty
one days from the surrender of San
tiago. the United States troops COM
menccd embarkation for home, and
our entire force wns returned to the
United States as early as August 24th.
| I'hcy were absent from the United
States only two months.
1T is fitting ,hat l should bear testl-
mony to the patriotism and devotion
Of that large portion of our army
which. although eager to be ordered
| to the post of greatest exposure, fortu-
nately was not required outside Of the
United States. They did their whole
duty, and. like their comrades at the
front. have earned the gratitude OF the
nation. In like manner. the officers
and men OF the army and of the navy
| who remained In their departments
nnd stations of the navy, performing
/ most important duties connected with
| the war. and whose requests for as
signment In the fielG and mt sen 1t was
| compelled to refuse because their ser
vices were Indispensable fere. are en-
titled to the highest commendntion. 1t
IL my regret that there seems to be no
provision for their suitable recognition.
.In this connection 1t IL n pleasure
for me to mention In terms of cordial
appreciation the timely and useful
work OF the American National Red
Cross. l>pth In relief measures prepar-
1 ntory TO the campaigns. In sanitary as
sistance nt several of the camps OF as
semblnge. and later. under the able
and experienced leadership Of the
president of the society, Miss Clara
Barton. on the fields Of battle ana In
the hospitals Mt the front In CUBA.
"In tracing these events we are con-
stantly reminded Of our obligations
to the Divine Master for his wntch-
ful care over us and his safe guidance.
for which the nation makes reverent
acknowledgment and offers humble
prayer for the continuance OF his IA
vor"
The President then narrates the cir
| cumstanccs leading to the signing OF
the protocol and says that "the ncso-
tiations have made hopeful progress.
SO that trust soon to he able to lay
u definite treaty OF peace before the
Senate. with u review OF the steps
leading TO Its signature"
or the question OF the future govern.
n:ent o! the new colonies the message
says:
Il do not discuss at this time the gov
crnmcnt or the future Of the new pos
sessions which Will come to us as the
resul, of the war with Spain. Such n
discussion will he appropriate after
the treaty OF peace shall be ratified.
In the meantime. and until Congress
has 1cgislatcd otherwise. II will be my
duty TO continue the military govern
ment which has existed since our Oc-
cupntion. and give Its people security
In life nnd property and encourage
mcnt under Just and bcncticent rule.
4 ''As soon as we are In possession OF
Cuba and have pacificd the island 1t
Will bc necessary to give aid ana d.
rcction TO this people to form n gov
ernmcnt FOR themselves. This should
bc undertaken Mt the earliest moment
consistent with safety and assured
success. II Is important that our re-
lations with these people shall he OF
the most friendly character. and our
commercial relations close and rccip-
rocnl. 1t should he our duty to assist
In every proper way to build up the
waste places OF the island. encourage
the industry OF the people and assist
them to form n government which
shall be free and Independent. thus
realizing the best aspirations of the
Cuban people.
Spanish rule must bc replaced by n
| JuSr. neUeNoitnt anu nullNue eoNeih-
mcnt. created by the people OF Cuba.
capable Of performing all interna-
tionnl obligations. and which shall ell
courage thrift. industry and prosper
ity and promote peace and good Will
among all OF the Inhabitants. whnt-
ever may lave been their relations In
the past. Neither revenge nor pas
sion should have n place In the new
government. Until there IL complete
tranquility in the island and stable
government innugurntcd. military oc-
cupation will be continued.
"with the exception Of the rupture
with Spnin. the intercourse Of the
United Stntcs with the great family
/ of nations has been marked with cor
tlinlity, and the close OF the cvcntful
year finds most Of the issues that
necessarily arise In the complex rcln-
tions OF sovereign states adjusted or
presenting no serious obstacles to n
Just and honorable solution by AMIGA
bic agreement"
The Nicaragua canal receives the
following favorable mentions:
1.-THE Nicaragunn canal commission.
under the championship of Rear Ad-
mIrnl John q. Walker. appointed July
-, 1897. under the authority of n pro.
vision In the stindry civil net Of June
4th OF that yenr. has nearly completed
Its labors. and the results of Its cN-
haustivc inquiry into the proper route.
the feasibility. and the cost OF con
struction of nn intcrocennic canal by n
Nicaragunn route. will he laid before
you. Circumstances suggest the
urgency OF some definite action
by the Congress ut this scs'
sion. II the labors OF the past are
to be utilized. and the linking Of the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans by a prnc-
teal waterway is to be realized. Thni
the construction OF such n maritime
highway is now more than ever in
dispcnsablc to that intimate and ready
inter-communication between our east.
ern and western scabOards demanded