Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-12-14
ferred to the senate for its constitutions,

- plesloent reviews Cuban affairs
since the close OF the Spanish war. He
Sares tnat u pledges TO restore or.
der n establish a stable governnoan, a
the island must be sacredIy kent r.
says the greatest blessing wbIrh -
come 10 Cuba Is the restoration of ba-
AGRICULTURAL and indus trial prosnArItr
which VIII give employment to idIe mnr
and r~e-establish the pursuits of naacs
inls Is ner chief and immediate need
Inc resumption OF diplomatic relations
with the government of Spain fs reFarra5
TO with satisfaction.
Inc United States minister 70 Turkav
continues, under Instructions. to nrass
Ior @ money payment i'm satisfacfIan ~
the Just claims for injuries suffered bv
american citizens in the disorders ~ saJS.
eral years past ana for wrongs done m
them oy the Ottoman authorities. Some
"a lheSe Chains are Il many years stand-
Ing. This government is honsfrrI ~ ; 80
eTal agreement In this regard.
Inc dispute between Great Rrftafr ara
venezuela regarding the boundary Iina
between venezuela and British Guiana
mas been adjusted. thus endig a cnntro-
versy which has existed for the greater
part of the entur
conventions of reciprocity have been
signed during the congressional racasz
with Great Britain for the resnac+fva
colonies OF British Guiana, Barbados
m Jamaica and Turks and Caicos
Island and with the republic of Mica
ragua- Important reciprocal conventions
nave also been concluded with Franco
and with the Argentine republic.
III the work OF the peace conference
the president says:
The final act OF the conreranca t,o,vsou
conventions upon the am~elloration OF the
laws customs Of war on land. thu
adaptation to maritime warfare Of the
principles OF the Geneva convention Of
1864. and the extension Of judicial meth
DDS to international cases. The convan-
ton for the pacific settlement of interna-
tional conflicts embodies the leading
features of the American plan with such
notifications as were rendered nacassa-v
by the great diversity Of views and inter-
ests represented by the delegates. The
TOUR titles OF the convention provide for
the maintenance Of general peace: the
exercise OF good Offices and mediation.
the formation Of committees Of inquiry
and international arbitration.
The mediation provided for by the con-
Vention Is purely voluntary and advisory
and is intended TO avoid any invasion or
limitation Of the sovereign rights of the
adhertng states. The commissions Of in
curry proposed consist OF delegations 70
be specifically constituted for particular
urpose by means Of conventions be-
tween the contesting parties. having for
their object the clear understanding Of
international differences before resorting
to the use of force. T~heprovision for ar
bttration contemplates the formation Of
a permanent tribunal before which dis
puted cases may be brought for settle
ment by the mutual consent Of the Iitf-
giants in each case.
The president speaks in terms OF the
highest praises of the work Of the volun-
fnl~G nnH ranr,Nn-~ -
philippines. n recommends that con-
gress grant a medal Of honor to those
who voluntarily remained in the service.
The operations of the army are fully
presented in the report Of the secretary Of
war. / cannot withhold from officers and
men, the highest commentator for their
soldierly conduct in trying situations,
their willing sacrifices for their country
and the integrity and ability with which
they have performed unusual and difficult
duties In our island possessions.
The president says the navy has main
tanned the spirit and high efficiency which
have always characterized that service.
and has lost none OF the gallantry in
heroic action which has signalized its
brilliant and glorious past. The nation
has equal pride in its early and later
achievements. Its habitual readiness for
every emergency has won the confidence
and admiration OF the country. The peo-
pie are interested in the preparation and
prestige OF h navy and will justify lib
eral appropriations for its maintenance
and Improvement.
Pension affairs are considered briefly by
the president, and some changes in the
laws and regulations are recommended.
The situation in the Philippines is dealt
with at considerable length by the presi-
dent. He V
On the 10th OF December, 1898. the
treaty of peace between the United States
and Spain was signed. II provided, among
other things. that Spain should cede to
the United States the archipelago known
ss the Philippine islands: that the United
States should pay TO Spain the sum OF
$40. zoo, 900, and that the civil rights and
the population OF the native inhabitants
of the territories thus ceded TO the United
States should be determined by the con-
gress. The treaty was ratified by the
senate on the 9th Of February, 1899, and
by the government OF Spain on the 10Th
Of March following. h ratifcations
were exchanged on the 18th OF April and
the treaty publicly proclaimed. On the
I'd of March the & r voted the sum
contemplated by the treaty and the
amount was paid over to the Spanish gov
m on the first OF May.
In this manner the Philippines came to
the United States. The island were coded
pN lit XIV I iliItiil VI cPdAhs AAAN SA@
been in the undisputed possession OF
them for centuries.
They were accepted, not merely by our
authorized commissioner in Paris under
the direction of the executive but by the
constitutional and well considered action
of the representatives Of the people or
the United States in both houses OF con-
gress.
[ had every reason to believe, and I stHl
believe, thar this transfer OF sovereignty
was in accordance with the wishes and
the aspirations Of the great mass or the
Filipino people. From the earliest mo-
inent no opportunity was lost OF assuring
the people of the island Of our ardent de-
sire for their welfare and Of the intention
Of this government to do everything pos
sible to advance their interests. In my
order of the 10th of May, 1895, the COM
mander of the military expedition dis
patched TO the Philippines was instructed
to declare that we came not to make war
upon the people OF that country nor
upon any party or faction among them.
but to protect them in their homes IN
their employments and In their personal
and religious rights" That there should
be no doubt as TO the paramount authority
there, on the nth OF August, IL was Ill
rected that there must be no tetnt oc-
..~14g1 .uglh thn fpSttrprnnfS.' that the