Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-08
ESDENT' 5 MESSAGE
Sthe Story of the War
Up to Date.
Bes Completion of the Nj
caraguan Canal.
Rba Must Have Its Own
[ Government.
BIT Much to Say on the Cur
/ rency Question.
|radual Retirement of the
|Greenbacks Rec
commended.

commended.
The presidents message this year con-
ms some co. 600 words far too much for
lblication in the space at our disposal.
he president begins his annual report
reference to improved conditions, fall
RE of autonomy in Cuba, destruction OF
be Maine, the failure of negotiations with
pain and the final recourse to arms. He
hen tells the story of the war practically
s II is known. Then he says:
Independent Government for Cuba.
LAS soon as we are in possession of
tuba and have pacified the island, IL will
be necessary to give aid and direction to
is 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 peo-
pie shall be Of the most friendly charac-
ter, and our commercial relations close
and reciprocal. II 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
Inspirations 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 viii among all of the inhabitants,
whatever may have been their relations
i'm 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
He then refers to our pleasant relations
with foreign countries Referring to the
Nicaraguan canal, he says:
Report of Nicaragua Canal Commission.
1.-The Nicaragua canal commission. un-
der the championship of Rear Admiral
John @. Walker, appointed July "a, 1897,
under the authority of a provision i'm the
sundry civil act of June 4 of that year,
has nearly completed it's 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 Rica, 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 sub
ject. with the aim of making plans and
surveys for a canal by the most conven-
lent route, il necessarily included a re-
view of the results of previous surveys
and plans. and in particular those adopt
ed by the Maritime Canal Company UNI
der its existing concessions from Mica
Il 10 sInt a..
tent those grants necessarily held an es-
sential part in the deliberations and con-
illusions of the canal commission, as they
have held and must needs hold in the
dSseussion of the matter by the congress.
Under these circumstances and in view Of
overtures made by the governments of
Nicaragua and Costa Rica 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 of eXpediency 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 the United
States congress shall have had the op-
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.
1t appears that the government of Mica
ragua as one of its last sovereign acts be-
fore merging it's powers i'm those of the
newly formed United States of Central
America has granted an optional conces-
sion 10 another association, to become eff
fective on the expiration of the present
grant. IL does not appear what surveys
vl.aN
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 IL the labors of the past are
TO be utilized and the linking of the At
lantc and Pacific oceans by a practical
water way is 10 be 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.
CHILEAN Claims.
"A convention providing for the revival
OF the late United States and CHILEAN
claims commission and the consideration
Of claims, which were duly presented tC
the late commission but not considered
because Of the expiration OF the time linn
tied for the duration of the commission
was signed May "a, 1897. and has remained
Enacted upon by the senate. The tern
therein fixed for effecting the exchange
Of notifications having elapsed. the con
vention fails unless the time be extended
by amendment. which | am endeavornl
to bring about. with the friendly con
currence of the Gillian government.
American Interests in the orient
THE United States has not been al
Indifferent spectator OF the extraordinar,
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
pect that the vast commerce which tn
~ he paQGgCit