The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-06


formation of commissions of inquiry and
international arbitration.
The mediation provided for by the con-
vention is purely voluntary and advisory,
and ds intended to avoid any invasion OF
limitation of the sovereign rights Of the
adhering states The commissions of in
quiry proposed consist of delegations to be
specifically constituted for particular pur-
poses by means of conventions between the
contesting parties, having for their object
the clear understanding of international
difficulties before resorting to the use of
force.
The provision for arbitration contem-
plates the formation of a permanent tri-
bunal before disputed cases may be brought
for settlement by the mutual consent %
litigants in each reparte case. The adj
vantages of such permanent tribunal
over impromptu commissions of arbitration
are conceived to be the actual existence OF
a competent court, prepared to administer
Justice the greater economy resulting from
a well devised system and the accumulated
judicial skill and experience such tribunal
would soon possess.
International Tribunal
While earnestly promoting the idea of es-
tabnshing a permanent International tri-
bunal, the delegation of the United States
was not unmindful of the convenience
which might arise from an oiostrusive eXer-
else of mediation, and in signing the con-
vention, carefully guarded the historic po-
sition of the United States by the follow
ing declaration:
Nothing contained in this convention
shall be so construed as to require the
United States of America to depart from
its traditional policy of not intruding upon,
interfering with or entangling itself in the
political questions or policy of internation-
al administration of any foreign state, nor
shall anything contained in the said con-
vention be construed to imply a delnquish-
ment by the United States of America of its
traditional attitude toward purely Ameri-
can questions"
Thus interpreted the convention for the
pacific settlement of international conflicts
may be regarded as realizing the earnest
desire of great numbers of American citi-
zens whose deep sense of Justice, express
ed in numerous resolutions and memorials,
has urged them to labor for this noble
achievement. The general character of the
convention already signed by the delegates
of more than twenty sovereign states fur
Their commends 1t to the favorable action
of the senate of the United States whose
ratification 1t still awaits.
Since my last annual message and in
obedience to the acts of congress of April
% and 26, 1898, the remaining volunteer
force enlisted for the Spanish war, consist
ing of 1884 regulars and 110,202 volunteers
with over 5000 volunteer officers, have been
discharged from the military service OF
the volunteers 667 officers and 1881 mems
were serving in the Philippines, and 1860
of the regulars who were entitled to be
mustered out after the ratification of the
treaty of peace They voluntarily remain
ed at the front until their places could be
filled by new troops. They were returned
home in the order in which they went to
Manila, and are now all of them out of
the service and in the ranks of the citizen
ship, I recommend that congress provide
a special medal of honor for the volunteers,
regulars. sailors and marines on duty in
the Philippines, who voluntarily remained
in the service after their terms of enlist
ment had expired.
The Regular Army
BY the act of March 2, 1898, congress gave
authority to increase the regular army to
maximum not to exceed Ga, 900 enlisted men,
and to enlist a force of 335, 900 volunteers
to be recruited from the country at large.
by virtue of this order the regular army
had been increased to the number of 81, 999
enlisted men and 2,24S officers and new vol
unteer regiments have been organized, ag-
gregating 33,050 enlisted men and 1,524 of
ficers. Two of these volunteer regiments
are made up of colored men, with colored
line officers. The new troops to take the
place OF those returning from the Philip
pines. have been transported to Manila to
the number of 5St officers and 1922 enlist
ed men of the regular army, and 5S officers
and 15SSS enlisted men of the new voun-
teer force; 504 officers and 14,119 men of the
volunteer force are on the coast en- route
to Manila.
The force now in Manila consists of 9O5
officers and S0.57S regulars and 59i officers
and 15,3SS of the volunteers, making an ag-
gregate of 1,499 officers and 1885 men,
When the troops now under orders shall
reach Manila the force in the archipelago
will comprise 2,501 officers and 49, S3 men,
The muster out of the great volunteer
the creation of a new army, the transporta-
ton from Manila to San Francisco of those
entitled to discharge and the transportation
of the new troops to take their places have
been a work of great magnitude, well and
ably done, for which credit cannot be given
the war department.
During the past year We have reduced
our force in Cuba and Porto Rico. In Gu
ba we now have 1874 officers and 1876 en-
listed men, in Porto Rico, 81 officers and
1856 enlisted men, and a battalion of 400
men composed of native Porto Rcans,
while stationed throughout the United
States are $40 officers and 1917 men, and
in Hawaii - offers and 453 enlisted men.
The opera tons of the army are fully pre-
scented in the rerort of the secretary of
war. 7 cannot withhold from officers and
men the highest commentator for their
soldierly conduct in trying situations, their
willing sacrifices for their country and their
integrity and ability with which they have
performed unusual and difficult duties in
our island possessions.
In the organization of the volunteer reg
iments, authorized by the act of March 2,
1899, it was found that no provision had
been made for the chaDlains. This omis-
sion was doubtless from inadvertance. I
recommend the early authorization for the
appointment of one chaplain for each of
the said regiments These regiments are
now in the Philippines and it is important
that immediate action be had.
Rehabita ton OF Postal Service
In the restoration of peaceful conditions,
orderly rule, and civic progress in Cuba,
Porto Rico and so far practicable, in the
Philippines, the rehabilitation of the postal
service has been an essential and important
part of the work. 1t became necessary to
the mail facilities both of our forces of &C.
cupation, and for the native population.
To meet this requirement has involved
substantial reconstruction. The existing
systems were fragmentary, defective and
inadequate, that new and comprehensive
organization had to be created. American
trained officials have been assigned to the
directing and executive positions, while ma
tves have been chiefly employed in maxi
ing I'D the body of the force. In working