Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-12-13


Of peace SO long disturbed by the instability
and disorder which prevailed for the greater
part OF the preceding 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 on the 18th OF April, !
1898. by which the United States disclaimed any |
opposition or intention to exercise sovereignty
jurisdiction control over Cuba, exception the
pacihcation thereof, and asserted its determi- |
nation when that was accomplished to leave the |
government and control OF the island to its peo-
pie. The pledge contained in this resolution is
of the highest honorable obligation and must be
| sacredly kept
grave responsibility for the future good gov
| ernment OF Cuba We have accepted trust
| the fulfillment OF which calls for the sternest
| integrity OF purpose and the exercise OF the
| highest wisdom. The new Cuba yet to arise
from the ashes Of the past must needs be bound
| to US by ties Of singular intimacy and strength
| II its enduring welfare is to be assured.
| Whether those ties shall be organic or conven-
tional, the destinies OF Cuba are in some right
full form and manner irrevocably linked with
our own, but how or how far is for the future to
| determine in the ripeness Of events. Whatever
| be the outcome. we must see to II that free Cuba
be o reality not name, o perfect entity. not q
| hasty experiment bearing within itself the e.e-
ments OF failure. Our mission, to accomplish
| which we took up the wages Of battle is not to
| be fulfilled by turning adrift any loosely framed
commonwealth to face the vicissitudes which
too often attend weaker states whose natural
| wealth and abundant resources are onset by the
ncongruities OF their political organization and
| the recurring occasions for internal rivalries to
sap their strength and dissipate their energies
The greatest blessing which can come to Cuba
is the restoration OF her agricultural and indus
trial prosperity, which will give employment to
idle men and re-establish the pursuits of peace.
This is her chief and immediate need.
By the treaty of peace the Spanish people on
the island have until April II, 1870, to elect
whether they will remain citizens OF Spain or
| become citizens of Cuba. Until then 1t cannot
be definitely ascertained who shall be entitled
to participate in the formation OF the gov
ernment of Cuba. BY that time the results Of
the census will have been tabulated, and we
shall proceed to provide for elections which
will commit the municipal governments Of the
island to the officers elected by the people. The
experience thus acquired will prove OF great
vaiue in the formation of representative con-
vention of the people to draft constitution
and establish 4 general system of independent
. government for the island. In the meantime
and so long we exercise control over the
! island the products of Cuba should have a
and with as favorable rates Of duty as are given
to the w est India islands under treaties Of re-
) ciprocity which shall be made.
The OcsstiOn of Pensions.
The Grand Army OF the Republic at its re-
cent national encampment held at Philadelphia
, gress the wisdom and justice OF q modification
OF the third section of the act Of June 81, 1890,
. which provides pensions for the widows OF
: officers and enlisted men who served 81 days or
more during the war of the rebellion and were
! honorably discharged. provided that such
| widows without other means of support
J than their daily labor and were remarked to
Z the soldier. sailor or marine on account OF
: whose service they claim pension prior to the
2 date of the act
The present holding of the department is thai
= II the Widows income aside from her daily labor
= does not exceed in amount what her pension
L L would be, to wit: $96 per annum, she would bt
| deemed TO be without other means OF supper
= than her daily labor, and would be entitled to
. pension under this act, while If the widows in
: come independent Of the amount received b.
= her as the result of her daily labor exceeds SOC
- she wou d not be pensionable under the act.
: am advised by the commissioner Of pension
- that the amount of the income allowed befor
title to pension would be barred, has varies
d widely under different administrations Of tn
u pension ONCE. well during different period
" of the same administration, and has been tn
y cause Of just complaint and criticism. With tn
approval Of the secretary Of the interior, tn
~ commissioner Of pensions recommends that.
e order TO make the practice at all times uniforr
y and to do justice to the dependent widow, tn
~ amount of income allowed independent Of tn
proceeds of her daily labor should be not les
s' than $50 per annum, and he urges that congres
., shall so amend the act as to permit the pensio
~ office to grant pensionable status to widow
u under the text of the third section Of the act
VI VI June q, 1890. whose income aside from the pre-
VI ceeds of daily labor is not in excess Of $3.50 pc
Z annum. believe this to be simple act of jus
~ ~ tice and heartily recommend 1t.
=. Favors Larger Navy.
heartily concur in the recommendations II
g. the increase OF the navy, as suggested by Il
no secretary.
nd The AIl-Absorbing Philippine Question
tv On the 10th Of December, 1898, the treaty
g. peace between the United States and Spa
was signed. 1t provided. among other thing
NJ that Spain should cede to the United States IL
os | archipe ago known as the Philippine island
On that the United States should pay to Spain Il
sum OF $50 900 900, and that the civil rights al
political status of the native inhabitau Is Of Il
territories they ceded to the United Stat
should be determined by the congress TT
be treaty was ratified by the senate on the 9th
ON | February, 1899, and by the government OF Spa
&C. on the 10th Of March following The rati6c
m tions we're exchanged on the l1th Of April al
-. the treaty publicly proclaimed On the ID
20 March the congress- voted the sum conten
ma plated by the treaty, and the amount was pa
re over to the Spanish government on the 1st
;se May.
S ,ss In this manner the Philippines came to t
~ United States. The islands were ceded by t
=; government of Spain, which had been in undi
NC puted possession of them for centuries. Tn
VI. were accepted not merely by our autho
ara lied commissioners in Paris under {
direction Of the executive but by the constit
,,s tional and well considered action OF the repr
~ sentatives OF the people Of the United States
~ both houses Of congress / had every reason
- believe, and still believe. that this transfer
op sovereignty was in accordance with the wish
re | and the aspirations of the great mass Of
- | Filipino people. From the earliest moment
- | opportunity was lost of assuring the people
"a the islands of our ardent desire for their vi
,aD fare and of the intention Of this government
81 do everything possible TO advance their int
80 ests- In my order Of the 18th of May. 1898, {
ass commander OF the military expedition d
ect patched to the Philippines was instructed
declare that we came not to make war upon
people Of the country, nor upon any part
faction among them, but to protect them
ION their homes, in their employments and in tn
ucn personal and religious rights
NJ On the 2ist Of January announced my
NIL tentions OF dispatching to Manila q commissi
: Is composed of three gentlemen of the high,
onS character and distinction, thoroughly acQuaiI
una ed with the orient, who in association with
its miral Dewey and Maj. Gen. Otis. were instru
9cs- ed to facilitate the most humane and enect
'm. extension Of authority throughout the islar
seo and to secure with the least possible delay,
nee benefits of wise and generous protection
life and property to the Inhabitants
The prompt accomplishment of this work
ude the American army and navy gave him otl
een ideas and ambitions, and insidious suggesti'
ica. from various quarters perverted the purpo
It Of and intentions with which he had taken
not arms. No sooner had our army captured
sug- Mia than the Filipino forces began to assu
ould an attitude OF suspicion ard hostility which