The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-12-09

Colonial and Territorial Government.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.-The Pres
ident's message was given to Con-
gress promptly on Monday last.
The general opinion is that the
message is a wise and patriotic
state paper, at once forcible, posi-
tive and conservative. The Re
publicans are especially pleased
with it. They recognize, as do
the wiser Democrats, that all
questions relating to the future
control and government OF such
new possessions as may fall to us
by the ratification OF a treaty OF
peace with Spain must go over
until time has been given to en-
able Congress to ascertain for
itself the actual condition of those
possessions and the fitness of their
respective populations for self
government. The time of the
present session is limited to three
months, expiring at noon on the
fourth of March next. It is among
the possibilities that the treaty
of peace may not be ratified
at this session of Congress,
but be compelled to go over to q
special session of the Senate, and
perhaps of the ffty-sixth Con-
gress, to be held next spring.
While there is no reason to doubt
that the treaty of peace will be
ratified by the Senate as at pres
ent constituted, if it reaches a
vote, it is within the power Of the
minority to prolong the discus
sion beyond the date of the expi-
ration of this Congress.
In the meantime, Porto Rico
and the Philippines are to remain
under military form Of govern
ment, which, being more elastic
than any other form, is better
suited to the present emergency.
Merely partisan Democrats pro-
fess to be Disappointed over the
omission from the message Of a
plan for the government of our
new possessions. But the Presi-
dent very wisely decided that the
proper time at which this matter
should be considered was after
the ratification of the treaty of
peace, not before that document
had been signed.
nv
The Presidents position in re-
gard to Cuba, that the disclaimer
by this government of any inten-
tion TO annex or otherwise con-
troll Cuba after Spain had yielded
her sovereignty and had with
drawn her troops, beyond the
pacifcation of the island and the
Inauguration of a stable govern
ment, ahould be strictly observed,
meets with well-nigh-uniyersal ap-
probation. There is AMI element
in and out of Congress that would
be glad to see this government
continue its occupation of Cuba,
as great Britain has with Egypt,
with the intention ultimately of
annexing it to the United States.
But in view of the disclaimer en-
tered by Congress and approved
by the President in the resolu-
tions which precipitated the war
such a course would be dis
creditable and dishonorable to the
United States. There is no ques-
tion but the future relations be-
tween the UnitedsStates and Cuba
will be intimate and friendly.
Leading Cubans themselves real
ize that the ultimate destiny of
Cuba is to become a part of the
United States, but they justly
observe that there would be last
ing dissatis faction and Ill feel
ing among the people Of Cuba if
they were denied the realization
of their aspiration for the free
and independent government
which has Ianimated them in all
their struggles against Spanish
despotism.