Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-12-14

! the treaty OF peace has restored friendly re-
ati0ns between the two powers. Eject has
been given TO It's most important provis-
| ions.
Home Rule for Cuba.
The withdrawal OF the authority OF Spain
| from the Island OF Cuba was effected by the
1st OF January, so that the full re-establish-
ment of peace found the relinquished terri
tory held by us In trust for the Inhabitants,
| maintaining. under the direction OF the ex-
| ecutlve, such government and control therein
as should conserve public order, restore the
| productive conditions of peace SO long dis
turbed by the instability and disorder which
prevailed for the greater part OF the preced-
Ing three decades. and build up that tranquil
development OF the domestic state whereby
| alone can be realized the high purpose as
proclaimed In the joint resolution adopted
by the Congress the 18th Of April. 1898, by
which the United States disclamed any dis
position or intention 10 exercise sovereignty.
Jurisdiction ar control over Cuba except for
the pacifcation thereof, and asserted its de
termination when that was accomplished TO
leave the government ana control of the ISL
and To Its people. The pledge contained In
this resolution is of the highest honora BILE
obligation and must he sacredly kept.
Americas Great Responsibility.
This nation has assumed before the world
a grave responsibility for the future good
government of Cuba. We have accepted "A
trust, the fulhllment OF which calls for the
else OF the highest wisdom The new Cuba
yet TO arise from the ashes OF the past must
neds be bound to us by ties of singular in
tinacy and strength IL Its enduring welfare
Is to be assured. Whether those ties shall
he organic or conventional, the destnies OF
cuba are In some rightful form and manner
! lrrevocably linked with our own. but how
and how far Is for the future to determine
In the ripeness OF events. Whatever be the
outcome, we must see TO 1t that free Cuba
he reality, not name; "a perfect entity,
not hasty experiment bearing within IT.
self the elements of failure
BY the treaty OF peace the Spanish people
aVsfi nv 20
elect whether they Will remain citizens of
Spain or become citizens of Cuba. Until
then II cannot be definitely ascertained who
shall be entitled 10 participate In the for
nation OF the government of Cuba. By that
time the results of the census will have
been tabulated and we shall proceed to pro-
vide for elections which will commit the
municipal governments OF the island 10 the
officers elected by the people. Meantime
ana so long as We exercise control over the
island the products OF Cuba should have a
market In the United States Oh as good
terms and with as favorable rates of duty
as are given to the West India Islands under
treaties OF reciprocity which shall be made
Diplomatic Relations Resumed.
Following the exchange of ratifcations OF
the treaty OF pence the two governments
accredited ministers to each other. Spain
sending to Washington the Duke of ARGOS
an eminent diplomatist. previously stationed
In Mexico. while the United States trans
ter at Brussels. This was followed by the
respective appointment of consuls. thereby
fully resuming the relations interrupted by
the war.
Judicial intercourse between the courts of
Cuba and Porto Rico and of Spain has been
established, as provided by the treaty of
peace The Cuban political prisoners I'm
Spanish penal stations have been and are
being released and returned to their homes
In accordance with article of the treaty.
Negotiations are about to be had for defining
the conventional relations between the two
countries, which fell into abeyance by rea.
son OF the war. | trust that those will in
| n fAVOrahlQ "A m o. fn m n,ar
cial reciprocity under the terms OF sections 3
and 4 OF the current taRiff act
Venezuela boundary Award.
The international commission of arbitra-
tion- appointed under the Anglo Venezuelan
treaty OF 1897. rendered an award. Oct 3
last. whereby the boundary line between
Venezuela and British Guiana Is determined
thus ending controversy which has ex-
| lsted for the greater part OF the century.
The award, as to which the arbitrators were
unanimous, while not meeting the extreme
contention of either party, gives TO Great
Britain a large share of the Interior terri
tory In dispute and to Venezuela the entire
Point and the Caribbean llttoral for some
distance TO the eastward. The decision ap
pears TO he equally satisfactory to both
| parties
Treaties Under Tariff Act.
The fourth section Of the tariff act, ap-
| proved July "a. 1897, appears to provide only
for commercial treaties which should be
entered into by the President and also rati-
|
| Its passage. Owing to delays, Inevitable in
| negotiations of this nature. none of the
treaties initiated under that section could
| be concluded In time for ratification by the
| Senate prior TO Its adjournment the 4th OF
| March last. Some of the pending negotia-
| tions, however, were near conclusion at that
| time. and the resulting conventions have
| since been signed by the plenipotentiaries.
Conventions of reciprocity have been
| signed during the congressional recess with
Great Britain for the respective colonies of
| British Guiana. Barbados, Bermuda, Ja-
maica and Turks and Caicos Islands. and
! with the Republic of Nicaragua.
Important reciprocal conventions have
also been concluded with France and with
the Argentine Republic.
The interest taken by the various States
forming the international Jni IN of Amer. eau
! Republics In the work Of It's organic bureau
| Is evidenced by the fact that for the trst
time since Its creation in 1890 all the repub-
| lies of South and Central America are now
represented In It. Its maintenance is there
fore assured for the next ten years
Peace Congress at The Hague.
In response TO the invitation of his mai
| esty the Emperor of Russia. delegates from
| txeaty six countries were assembled at The
| Hague May 1S as members OF IA conference
in the interest OF peace. The hnal act OF
| the conference includes conventions upon
! the amelioration OF the laws aud customs OF
| war on land. the adaptation to maritime
| warfare OF the principles OF the Geneva con
| vention OF 1864 and the extension Of judi
| clal methods to international cases. The
convention for the pacific settlement OF In
| ternational conflicts embodies the leading
| features OF the American plan. with such
notifications as were rendered necessary by
| the great diversity of views and interests
| represented by the delegates. While ear
| nestly promoting the idea of establishing a
permanent international tribunal, the dele.
| CATION of the United States was not unmind-
| full of the lnconveniences which might arise
from an obtrusive exercise or mediation.
and In signing the convention carefully
guarded the historic position of the United
States.
Increase in Army.
Since my last annual message and In obc
dience TO the acts Of the Congress of April
90 and 26 1893. the remaining volunteer
force enlisted for the Spanish war, consist.
ing of "a S34 regulars and 11O,202 volunteers,
with over 5000 volunteer officers, has been
discharged from the military service. BY
the act OF March q 1899, Congress gave au-
ma ximum not exceeding 5000 enlisted men
and to enlist a force OF $4,000 volunteers,
to be recruited from the country at large.
BY virtue OF this authority the regular army
has been increased to the number Of 61 900
enlisted men and 2,24S officers and new vol
unteer regiments have been organized aggre
eating 33050 enlisted men and 1.524 officers. |
up OF colorcd men, with colored line officers. |
The new troops to take the places OF those
returning from the Philippines have been |
transported to Manila to the number OF 5S1 |
officers and 26, 322 enlisted men OF the regu- |
lar army, and 594 officers and 15,3S6 enlisted |
men of the new volunteer force, while 5O4 |
officers and IA, 119 men Of the volunteer force |
are on the ocean en- route to Manila.
The force now In Manila consists OF 9OJ |
officers and 30.57S regulars and J9i officers |
and 1883 Of the volunteers, making an ag- |
gregate OF 1,499 officers and 1896 men. |