Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-12-10

over US and his safe guidance, for
which the nation makes reverent ac-
acknowledgement and offers humble pray
er for the continuance OF his favor
The message continues by detailing
the steps taken in the formation OF the
protocol the issuance Of the proclama-
ton suspsnding hostlities and the mus
tering out Of the volunteers, the forma-
ton Of the evacuation commissions In
Porto Rico and Cuba and the appoint
ment of the peace commission. The
president then says.
do not discuss at this time the gov
eminent or the future Of the new pos
Eessions which win come to us as the
result Of the war with spain. Such
discussions win be appropriate after the
treaty q pe2ce shall be ratified. In
the meantime and until the congress
has legislatsd otherwise il win be my
duty to continue the military govern
ments which have existed since our oc-
cupation and give to the people security
In life and property and encouragement
under a just and beneficent rule.
AS soon as we are in possession Of Gu
ba and have pacified the island it viii
be necessary to give aid and direction
to It's people to form government for
themselves This should be undertaken
at the earliest moment consistent with
safety and assured success. 1t is I'M
portant that our relations with this
people shall be of the most friendly
character and our commercial relations
close and reciprocal. 1t should be 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 a government
til, IL, H.. .a..v.f
thus realizing the best aspirations of
the Cuban people
Must Be just Government.
Spanish rule must be replaced by
just, benevolent and humane govern
ment created by the people Of Cuba. ca
pabe of performing all international
obligations and which shall encourage
thrift. industry and prosperity and
promote peace and good will among all
of the inhabitants, whatever may have
| been their relations in the past. Mel
Their revenge nor passion should have a
place in the new government. Until
there is complete tranquility in the is
land and a stable government inaugu-
rated military occupation will be con-
tinued.
With the one exception of the rup-
United States with the great family OF
nations has been marked with cordial
ity, and the close of the eventful year
finds most Of the issues that necessarily
arise in the complex relations of sover-
eign states adjusted or presenting no
serious obstacle to a just and honorable
solution by amicable agreement.
The message, after touching on the
Argentine Chile boundary question and
the subject of an international cable
agreement, speaks of tire Lattimer shoot
ing on Sept. 10, 1897. and expresses the
hope that Austria Hnngary's claim for
Indemnity for its subjects then slain
will be satisfactorily adjusted The
success of American exhibits at the
Brussels fair of 1897 is mentioned. The
history of the formation of the United
| States of Central America is detailed.
After stating the work of the Nicaragua
canal commission, the president says:
| AS the scope Cd the recent inquiry
embraced the whole subject with the
aim of making plans and surveys for a
canal by the most convenient route, ii
necessarily included a review of the re-
suit Of previous surveys and plans and
| In particular these adopted by the Mar
| thine Canal company under its existing
concessions from Nicaragua and Costa
Rica, SO that TO fhs extent those grants
necessarily hold as essential a part 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 congress. Under
these circumstances and in view OF
overtures made to the governments of
| Nicaragua and Costa Rica by other
II Ae-in
icated on the assumed approaching
lapse of the contracts of the Maritime
Canal company with those states,
have not hesitated to express my con-
viction that considerations of expedi-
ency and international policy as be-
tween the several governments inter-
ested in the construction and control of
an interoceanic canal by this route re-
quire the maintenance of the status quo
until the canal commission shall have
reported and the United States congress
shall have had the opportunity to pass
finally upon the whole matter during
J the present session without prejudice
/ by reason of any change in the exist
ing conditions.
An Optional Concession.
Nevertheless it appears that the gov
eminent or NlcaIaBu d, as one OF us
last sovereign acts before merging its
powers in those of the newly formed
United States of Central America, has
granted an optional concession to an
other association, to become effective
on the expiration of the present grant.
1t does not appear what surveys have
teen made or what route is proposed
under this contingent grant, so that an
examination of the feasibility of its
plans is necessarily not embraced in the
report of the canal commission. All
these circumstances suggest the urgen-
cy Of some definite action by the con-
gress at this session If the labors OF the
past are to be utilized and the linking
Of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by
practical waterway is To be realized.
That the construction OF such a mari
time highway is now moDe than eyer in
dispensable to that intimate and ready
intercommunication between our east
ern and western seaboards demanded
by the annexation Of the Hawaiian Is
lands and the prospective expansion OF