The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-12-09
unber 49

Butler. For POrto Rico Major General
John K. Brooke, Rear Admiral Winfield
soon afterward met the Spanish commits.
sioners ut Havana and San Juan respect
lively. lhe Porto Rican joint commission
speedily accomplished its task and by
Oct. Is the evacuation OF the island was
completed. whe United States flag was
raised over the island 1T noon that day.
The administration of it's affairs has becn
professionally entrusted to u military gov.
ernor until the congress shall otherwise
provide. The Cuban joint high COM
mission has not yet terminated Its labOrS.
Owing TO tne difficulties in the way Of re,
moving the ...rge number OF Spanish
troops still in uba the evacuation can
not be completed before the lst OF Janu-
ary next
tocol appointed William H. Day, lately
secretary Of state; Cushman X. Davis,
William P. Frye and George Gray, sena-
tors of the United States, and Whitelaw
Reid to be tie peace commissioners on the
part of the United States. Proceeding in
uue season to Paris they there met on Oct:
five commissioners similarly appointed
on the part of Spain. The negotiations
have made hopeful progress, SO that l
trust soon to be able to lay definite
treaty of peace before the senate, with ~
review of the steps leading to It's sigma
ture. ,..a ..
! Island Of Cuba to he FREQ.
do not discuss ut This time the govern
ment or the 1uynre of the new possessions
which will come TO us rs the result OF the
war with Spain. Such a discussion Will
be appropriate after the treaty OF peace
Shall be ratified. In tho meantime, and
until congress has legislated otherwise, It
will be my duty to continue the military
governments which have existed since
our occupation and give it's people secur-
ity in lite and property and encourage
ment under u just and benencenJ rule.
AS SOON as We have possession OF Cuba
and have pacilied the island 1t will DO
necessary to give aid and direction to this
people to form u governmenJ for them
selves This should he undertaken ut The
earliest moment consistent with safety
and assured success: 1t Is lmportant that
our relations with these people shall be of
the most friendly charac er and our COM
lnerci;ll relations close and reciprocal 1t
should be our duty to assist in every
proper way To bald up the waste places OF
the islanu, encourage The industry OF tho
inent which SHALL be free and independent,
thus realizing the best aspirations of tho
Cuban people. Spanish rule must be re-
placed by Il just. benevolent and humane
government, created by the people OF
CnDn, capable of performing all internn-
tionai obligations, and which shall en-
Courage lhrlit, industry and prosperity,
ana promote peace and good will among
all of ,he lnh,.bltslnts, whatever may have
been heir relations in the past. Neither
revenge nor passion should have = place IN
the now gov ernment. UnGil there Is
complete tranquility in the island and d
stable governmenJ inaugurlted military
occupation Will be continued.
~ Acl,On on N caragua Canal.
> The Nicaragua canal commission, under
the chairnulShip of Rear Admiral John
+ g. Walker, appointed July "a, 1897, under
the authority of Il provision OF the sundry
; civil act of June of that year, has nearly
/. compluted it's !abors and he results of it's
exhaustive inquiry into the proper route,
the feasibility and the cost Of construction
e of an interoccanic canal by u Nicaraguan
! route will be laid before you. In the per
| formnnce of is task the commission re.
J. ccived all possible courtesy and assistance
from tie governments OF Nicaragua and
Costa Ricii, which thus testified their ap
probation o che Importance OF giving a
= speedy and practical ouscome to the great
=. project that has for SO many years en-
;, inquiry embraced the whole subjcc,
Il with the aim of making plans and
:, surveys for u canal by the most con
u u yenicnt route, it necessarily included
i review of the results Of previous surveys
-, -, and plans, ard in particular those adoptet
. by the Maritime Canal company under it,
existing concessions from Nicaragua ant
- Costa Ricu, 80 to this extent these grant
y necessarily held an essential part IN tn
>. - deliberations and cDhr:lusiOns OF the cara
:! commission. and they lave so held all.
: needs must hold in the discussion Of uh
;, matter Dy congress. Under these clrcu:ii
r. r. st, noes. and in view OF the overture
tn made to the governments of Nicaragua an
r.. Costs. Rica by other parties for q nes
=, canal concession predicated on the as
"a "a sume, approaching lapse Of the contrac
~ .. of the Maritime Canal company VIII
o those states, have not hes'raned to .ea
~ press my conviction that consideration
a. 's us between the several governments il
w w terestcd in the construction and control {
an interoce.,nic canal by this route r
of 'quires the maintenance Of the status qut
to until the canal commission shall have n
he ported and the United States congre.
Shall have had the opportunity to pa:
at finally upon the whole matter during Ut
IL present session, without prejudice
Ill reason Of any change In the existing col
cf- ditiDns.
ils ment Of Nicaragua, us one OF Its last SO
ereign ucus BEFORE merging Its powers
he t.,.,s, OF the newly formed United Stat
lg. OF entr;ll America, has granted an o
Ut tiOnal concession to another association
,rs become effective on the expiration of tt
le present grant. 1t does not appeair VIII
ba surveys have been made or what route
Ike proposed under this contingent grant.
that an examination of the feasibility
its plan is necessarily not embraced in t
NM 'elHrt of the canal commission.
wv i.e.e circumstances suggest the urgen
"a 10 q some definite action by the congress
Gu; Gu; VI session if the labors of the past are
., aa u..iiHc,t and the linking of the Allan
.'.a Di, 20. .lcillc ooe;.ns by practical wat
20. s..: is 10 be realized. The constructl
md nc, .s..hia :" lint intim,
ply .>,..,r i"1.r>c nmnnnnication hetYe