Middletown transcript., 1898-12-10


the divine Master for his watchful care
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 suspending hostilities and the mus
tering out of the volunteers. the forma-
tion 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
ernment or the future of the new pos
sessions which will come to US as the
result of the war with Spain. Such
discussion will be appropriate after the
treaty of peace shall be ratified. In
the meantime and until the congress
has legislated otherwise it will 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 just and benehcent rule.
AS soon as we are in possession of Gu
ba and have pacified the island it will
be necessary to give aid and direction
to its people to form government for
themselves This should be undertaken
Mt 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
which shall be free and independent,
thus realizing the best aspirations of
the Cuban people.
Must BE just Government.
Spanish rule must be replaced by a
just, benevolent and humane govern
ment created by the people Of Cuba, ca
pable 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. Nei-
ther revenge nor passion should have
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-
ture with Spain the intercourse of the
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 just and honorable
solution by amicable agreement.
The message, after touching on the
ArgentineC Chile boundary question and
the subject of an international cable
agreement, speaks of the Lattimer shoot
Ing on Sept. 10, 1897, and expresses the
hope that Austria -Hungary'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 of the recent inquiry
embraced the whole subject with the
aim Of making plans and surveys for a
canal by the most convenient route, it
necessarily included review Of the re-
suit of previous surveys and plans and
In particular those adopted by the Mar
itime Canal company under its existing
concessions from Nicaragua and Costa
Rica, so that to this extent those grants
necessarily hold as essential 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
and Costa Rica by other
parties for new canal concession pred
lcated. ON the assumed approaching
lapse Of the contracts Of the Maritime
Canal company with those states, I
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
the present session without prejudice
by reason of any change in the exist
Ing conditions.
An Optional Concession.
Nevertheless it appears that the gov
of q of ifd
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.
It does not appear what surveys have
been 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 a
practical waterway is to be realized.
That the construction Of such a mari
time highway is now more than ever 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
our influence and commerce in the Pa
cific and that our national policy now
more imperatively than ever calls for
its control by this government are
propositions which doubt not the con-
gress will duly appreciate and wisely
act upon.
The United States has not been an in
different spectator of the extraordinary
events transpiring in the Chinese em-
pire, whereby portions of its maritime
provinces are passing under the con-
troll of various European powers, but
the prospect OF that vast commerce
which the energy of our citizens
and the necessity Of our staple produc-
tions for Chinese uses has built up in
those regions may not be prejudiced
through any exclusive treatment by the
new occupants has obviated the need
of our country becoming an actor in
the scene.
An Equitable Claim.
Our position among nations, having q
large Pacific coast and a constantly ex-
panding trade with the farther orient,
gives us the equitable claim to consfd-
Grafton and friendly treatment In this