Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1898-12-09

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N publication in limited space ut disposal
The president begins his annual report
i by reference to improved conditions, Jail
. ure of autonomy in Cuba, destruction Of
the Maine, the failure of negotiations Will
Spain and the final recourse to arms. Ht
7 then tells the story Of the war practically
as 1t is known Then he says:
independent Government for Cuba.
"As soon as we are in possession Of
q Cuba and have pacified the island, 1t will
be necessary to give aid and direction tc
4 Its people to form a 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 these PEG.
pie shall be of the most friendly charac.
ter. and our commercial relations close
and reciprocal. It 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 government which, shall be free
and Independent, thus realizing the best
aspirations Of the, Cuban people.
Spanish rule must be replaced by just,
benevolent and humane government, Gre
ated by the people of Cuba. capable of
performing all international obligations
and which shall encourage thrift, indus
try and prosperity and promote peace and
good will among all Of the inhabitants,
whatever may have been their relations
in the past. Neither revenge nor passion
should have a place in the new govern
/ ment. Until there Is complete tranquility
In the island and stable government in
augurated military occupation will be
continued 81
q He then refers to our pleasant relations
with foreign countries. Referring to the
Nicaraguan canal, he says:
Report of NIcaragua Canal Comm sslou.
"The Nicaragua canal commission, un-
der the championship OF Rear Admiral
John G. Walker, appointed July "a. 1897,
under the authority of a provision in the
| sundry civil act of June 4 of that year,
has nearly completed Its labors, and the
results of Its exhaustive inquiry into the
proper route, the feasibility and the cost
Of construction of an interoceanic canal
by Nicaraguan route will be laid before
you. In the performance of its task the
commission received all possible courtesy
and assistance from the governments of
Nicaragua and Costa RIGA, which thus
testified their appreciation of the import
ance of giving a speedy and practical out
come to the great project that has for so
many years engrossed the attention of
The respective countries. AS the scope of
recent inquiry embraced the whole SUBJ
ject, with the aim of making plans and
surveys for canal by the most conven-
lent route. it necessarily included re-
view of the results of previous surveys
and plans, and in particular those adopt
ed by the Maritime Canal Company I'M
der its existing concessions from Mica
ragua and Costa Rica, so that to this ex-
tent those grants necessarily held an cS-
sential part In the deliberations and con-
illusions of the cana! commission MS 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 by the governments of
Nicaragua and Costa R!ca by other par
ties for a new canal concession predi-
Gated on the assumed approaching lapse
Of the contracts OF the Maritime Canal
Company with those states, / have not
hesitated to express my conviction that
considerations CT expedlency and inter-
national policy as between the several
governments Interested In the construc-
ton and control of an interoceanic canal
by this route require the maintenance of
the status quo until the canal commits
sion shall have reported and tho United
States congress shall have had the OPP
portunity to pass finally upon the whole
matter during the present session, with
out prejudice by reason of any change
in the existing conditions Nevertheless.
It appears that the government OF Mica
ragua as one Of its last sovereign acts be-
fore merging its powers In those OF the
newly formed United States of Central
America has granted an optional coEces-
sion to another association to become ef-
fective on the expiration OF the present
grant. 1t does not appear what surveys
have been made or what route is pro-
posed under this contingent granted, 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 urgency
Of some definite action by the congress at
this session If the labors Of the past are
to be utilized and the linking Of the At
lantic and Pacific oceans by a practical
water way Is to nc realized. That the
! construction Of such a maritime highway
| Is now more than ever indispensable to
| that Intimate and ready intercommunica-
| ton between our eastern and western
seaboards demanded by the annexation of
the Hawaiian islands and the prospective
expansion Of our influence and commerce
| in the Pacific, and that our national pol
| icy now more imperatively than ever calls
! for It's control by this government, are
| propositions which l doubt not the con-
gress will duly appreciate and wisely act
upon. .J
i Gillian Claims. 10
"a convention providing for the revival
OF the late United States and Gillian
4 claims commission and the consideration
| Of claims which were duly presented to
the late commission but not considered
i because of the expiration OF the time linn
/ tied for the duration OF the commission,
i vas signed May "a, 1897, aud has remained
4 ENACTED upon by the senate. The term
therein fixed for effecting the exchange
Of notifications having elapsed, the con.
1 vention fails unless the time be extended
by amendment, which am endeavorine
to bring about, with the friendly con.
currence of the Gillian government.
1 American Interests In the Orient.
..The United States has not been ar
Indifferent spectator of the extraordinar,
j events transpiring In the Chinese Empire
whereby portions Of Its maritime prov
inces are passing under the control o
various European powers: but the pros
meet that the vast commerce which tn
a energy Of our citizens and the necessit!
OF our staple productions for Chimes
uses has built up in those regions ma!
not be prejudiced through any EXCLUSIVE
treatment by the new occupants has OF
waited the need OF our country becominl
an actor in the scene. Our position anon,
nations having large Pacific coast, an.
a constantly expanding direct trade wit!
the farther orient, gives US the. equit
able claim to consideration and friend
treatment in this regard, and 1t will b
my aim to subserve our large interests Il
that quarter by all means appropriate t
the constant policy of our government
The territories Of Kiao-Chow, OF Wei
Hai-Wei and of Port Arthur and Talien
Wan, leased to Germany, Great Britain
and Russia respectively for terms Q
!. years, will, 1t is announced, be open t
international commerce during such allie
occupation, and II no discriminating treat
ment OF American citizens and their trad
/ be found to exist or be hereafter devel
!. oped the desire OF this government woul
appcar to be realized. In this relation, a
showing the volume and value Of our ex