Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-12-09

Der LIST and to proceed to the negotiations and
conclusions OF treaty OF peace, subject to rati-
| hcotion according TO the respective coIstitu-
| tional forms OF the two countries.
The sixth and last article provided that upon
the signing OF tho protocol, no, tilties between
| the two countries should be suspended and
that notice to that cffec, should be given as
| soon as possible by each government to the
commanders OF its military and naval forces
| The appointment OF peace commissions to
| Paris and military commissions to Cuba and
| Porto Rico to arrange for evacuation are ro-
| fcrred to.
| The Porto Rican joint commission speedily
accomplished it, task O,toDc: 10. and the
| American flag was raised over the island at
| noon that day. Owing to the difficulties in the
| way o! removing the large numbers OF Spanish
| troops still In Cuba, the evacuation cannot be
completed before the LIST OF January next.
OF the Pari, peice negotiations the message
! saws:
The negotiations have made hopeful pro-
| grcss, so that / trust soon to be able to lay q
| deli mite treaty OF peace before the Senate with
| a review OF the steps leading to its signature
| do not discuss ut this timo the government
| or the future OF the new possessions which will
come to us as the result Of the war with SIP ,in
| Such discussion will be appropriate after the
treaty OF peace shall be ratified In the mean
| tlilc 1Il uusil ouHBTcos Ht' lcSlSlNVtu
otherwise, 1t will be my duty to con-
tinuc the military governments which
have existed sincs our occupation and
give its people security in life AMI property and
encouragement under u just ami benetccnt
| rule.
CUBAN GOVERNMENT
As soon us we are II possession OF Cu,a and
have pa filed the island, it will be necessary to
give aid and direction to this people t. form a
! Ton how, OH ha
undertaken at the earliest moment consistent
with safety and assured success. It's important
that our relations with those people shall DO
OF the most friendly character and our COM
mercial relations close and reciprocal 1t
should bs our duty to assist in every proper
way to build up the waste places OF the island,
encourage the industry OF the people and as list
them to form government which Shall BIO
free and Independent, thus realizing the best
aspirations OF the Cuban people
Spanish rule must be replaced by Just, be-
nevolont and humane government created by
the people OF Cuba capable OF performing all
international obligations and which shall en-
courage thrift industry and prosperity and
promote peace and good will among all OF the
inhabit ints, whatever may have been their re-
lations in the pas. Neither revenge nor pas
81 n should have place in the nav govern
ment Until there Is complete tranquility In
the island and stable government inaugur-
ted, military occupation will be continued.
With the exception Of the rupture with Spain
the intercourse OF the United States VITA the
great family OF nations has been marked with
cordially. an the close OF the eventful year
finds most of the issues that necessarily arise
il the complex relations Of sovereign states
adjusted or presenting no serious obst lcles to
u Just and honorable solution by aElicable
agreement.
NICARAGUA CANAL.
The Nicaragua canal commlssi IN, under the
chGmpionshi of Rear Admiral John G.
Walker appointed July - 1891 under the au-
thority OF a provision in the sundry civil act OF
juno OF that year. has eiry completed It's
labors, and the results of its exhaustive inquiry
int the proper route. the feasibility and the
cost OF construction OF an inter-oceaHic canal
by Mica -aguan route will be laid b fore you
In tho performance Of Its task the commission
received all possible courtesy and assistance
from the governments OF Nicaragui and Costa
kica. which thus testified their appreciation
Of the importance Of giving speedy and proc
teal on come TO the g eat project thtt has Tor
so many years engrossed the s.teation or the
respective countries.
AS the scope OF recent inquiry embraced tho
whole subject with the dim OF making plans
and surveys for canal by the most convenient
route, 1t necessarily included review OF the re-
suits OF previous surveys and plans, and in par
LlCulhT tuOSc huOptcu W tuc S"hoA
company under its existing concessions from
Nicaragua and Costa Rica, so that to this extent
those grants necessarily held an essential port
in the deliberations and conclusions OF the canal
commission, as they have held, and must needs
hold, in the discussion OF the matter by the Con-
gress. Under these circumstances and in view
OF overtures made to the governments OF Mic
aragua and Costa RIGA by other parties for q
new canal concession predcated on the assumed
approaching lapse of the contracts OF the Mari
time Canal company, with those states have
not hestated to express my conviction that con-
sidera.ions OF expedicncy and International pol
icy as between the several governments inter-
ested in the construction and control Of an inter
oceanic canal by this route require the mainten
ance OF the status quo, until the canal commits
sion shall have reported and the United States
Congress shall have had the opportunity to
pass finally upon the whole matter during the
present session, without prejudice by reason Of
any change in the existing conditions
Nevertheless 1t appears that the gov
ernmcnt of Nicaragua as one OF its
last sovereign acts before merging its
powers in those OF the newly-formed United
States of Central America ha; granted an op-
tional concession to another association u be-
come effective on the expiration OF the present
grant. 1t does not appear what surveys have
been nude or what route Is proposed under this
contingent granted so tn u an examination of
the ltNNlDillty OL us piNils - necessarily NOV
embraced in the report Of the canal commits
sion. Ali these circumstances suggest the
urgency OF some definite action by tie Congress
at this session If the labcrs Of the past are to be
utilized and the linking Of the Atlantic and Pa
citic oceans By. practical waterway is to be
realized. That the construction of such a mari
time highway is now more than ever indispens-
able to that lntimat and ready iHter-commun-
ication between our eastern and western sea-
boards dem nded by the annexation of the
Hawaiian islands and the respective eXpan-
sion OF cur influence and commerce to Pacific
and that our national policy now more impera-
lively THAI ever calls Tor its control OF this
government are p op 'aitloai which l doubt
not the Congress will duly apprc slate aad wisely
act upon.
SITUATION IN CHINA.
The United States has not be IN On indifferent
spectator of the cxtrlor lila:y eveats transpir-
ing in the Chinese empire whereby portions of
its maritime q. ovinc2s ars paSsny under the
control of various European pow r.; bu5 the
prospect that thu vas. comm rec whicl the
en- 'rgy OF our citizens and the cossity OF our
staple productions for Chinese uses has built
up in those regions may not Cc prejudiced
through any exclusive treatment by the new
occupants has obviatHi ths need Of our country