The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-12-06

Tress on the Ipth Of April, 1893. By which the
United States disclaimed any intention 70
exercise sovereignty over Cuba, except tor
the pacihcation thereof. and asserted It's de-
termination when that was accomplished 20
leave the government Of the island 70 itself.
The pledge contained In this resolution must
believe that substantial progress has been
made In this direction. All the administrative |
measures adopted In Cuba have aimed 70 ht 10 /
for a regenerated existence BY enforcing the |
supremacy OF law and tusticei BY placing wher- |
ever practicable the machinery OF admlnistra- |
tiOn In the hands Of the inhabitants; by inso- |
tuting needed sanitary reforms: BY spreading |
education; by fostering industry and trade; BY |
inculcatinR public morality, and in short, by |
taking every rational step 70 AID the Cuban |
people TO attain that plane OF self-reliant unity
which fits an enlightened community for self
government within its own sphere. while ena-
bling It to fulfill all outward obligations
This nation has assumed before the world a
grave responsibility for the future good gov
ernment OF Cuba we have accepted trust.
integrity OF purpose and the exercise Of the
highest wisdom. The new Cuba yet 10 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 en-
sured Whether those ties shall be organic or
conventional the destinies Of Cuba are In some
rightful form and manner irreyocaoly linked
| future TO determine In the ripeness OF events.
Whatever be the outcome we must see TO 1t
that free Cuba be reality, not o name. per-
| feet entity, not q hasty experiment bearing
within Itself the elements OF failure
On the 9th OF August last an order was made
for the taking OF the census in the island, 70 be
completed on the goth OF November BY the
| treaty Of peace the Spanish people on the
island have until April H. 1870, 10 elect whether
| they will remain citizens Of Spain or become
| citizens of Cuba. Until then II cannot be def
nltely ascertainod who shall be entitled to par
ticipate in the formation Of the government 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 islands 10 the
| officers elected by the people. The experience
| thus acquired will prove OF great value in the
| formation OF representative convention OF the
people TO draft constitution and establish q
| general system Of independent government for
| the island. In the meantime, and SO long as we
| exercise control over the island. the products
| OF Cuba should have market in the United
| States on 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.
The Peace Conference.
In response 70 the invitation OF the emperor
| OF Russia delegates from 20 countries as
| sembled at The Hague on May ~, as members
Of q conference in the interest OF peace. The
commission from the United States consisted
| OF Hon Andrew d. White Hon. Seth Low,
Hon. Stanford Newell, Capt Crosier, of the
| United Safes army, Capt Alfred n Mahan OF
the United States navy, and Hon. Frederick w.
Hollis, secretary. The occasion seemed TO be
opportune for the serious consideration Of
plan for the pacific adjustment OF International
| differences.
The final act of the conference includes con-
ventions upon the ame Iteration Of the laws and
customs OF war on land, the adaptation to
maritime warfare OF the principles OF the
Geneva convention Of 1854, and the extension
OF judicial methods TO international cases.
The convention for the pacific settlement OF
international conflicts embodies the leading
features OF the American plan, with such
notifications as were rendered necessary by
the great diversity OF interests represented by
the delegates. The four titles OF the conven-
tion provide for the maintenance Of general
peace the exercise Of good ofnces and media
tion. the formation Of commissions Of inquiry,
and international arbitration.
The Army.
Since my last annual message and in obedi-
ence 10 the acts OF congress Of April % and 20,
| 1898. the remaining volunteer force enlisted Tor
the Spanish war consisting OF 1881 regulars
and ITO. 202 volunteers, wttn over 1900 volun-
teer officers, has been discharged from the
military service OF the volunteers e67 officers
and Il 1891 men were serving in the Philippines,
! and $50 OF the regulars, who were entitled 10
be mustered out after the ratification OF the
treaty Of peace They voluntarily remained at
! the front until their places could be filled by
I 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 citizenship. / recommend that con-
gress provide special medal OF honor for the
regulars. sailors and marines on dnty in the
Phil ppines who voluntarily remained In the
, service after their terms OF enlistment had ex-
, , pired
BY the act OF March 2. 1899, congress gave
authority to increase the regular army 10 q
maximum not exceeding $1,000 enlisted men.
and to enlist force Of IS 100 volunteers, TO be
recruited from the country at large. By virtue
OF this authority the regular army has been
increased to the number OF 81 $40 enlisted men
! and 2.24S officers. and new volunteer regiments
nj tin9 tafQ
, men and ,52i officers Two OF these volunteer
regiments are made up Of colOred men, with
! colored line officers The new troops to take
the places OF those returning from the Philip
5 pines have been transported to Manila to the
! number Of 5sl efhcers and 1882 enlisted men
OF the regular army and 59i officers and 10, 3ee
, enlisted men Of the new volunteer force. while
jOi officers and LIE men OF the volunteer
7 force are on the ocean en- route TO Manila.
The force now in Manila consists OF yOJ ON
! GERS and 3J.57S regulars, and 594 officers and
, 1888 of the volunteers, making an aggregate
l OF l,i99 officers and I5,g66 men. When the
troops now under orders shall reach Manila
the force in the archipelago will comprise
7 2,05l officers and 63, 4SJ men. The muster out
1 of the great volunteer army organized for the
I Spanish war and the creation OF new army
| the transportation from Manila to San Fran
, | cisco of'those entitled TO dicharge. and the
| transportation OF the new troops TO take their
l places. have been a work OF great magnitude
well and ably done, for which too much credit
0 cannot be given the war department
During the past year we have reduced ouI
0 force in Cuba and Porto Rico In Cuba We
now have 33i officers and l0,7s6 enlisted men
= in Porto Rico 81 officers aud 2,Sj5 elisted meI
d and battalion OF 400 men. composed Of native
: Porto Ricans while stationed throughout the
{ United Statestare 80 officers and l7.3l7 men
: and in Hawaii l2 officers and 453 enlisted men,
! The Postal Service.
The domestic postal service continues Il
q grow with extraordinary rapidity. The ex
: penditures and the revenues Will each exceed
4 800. .0OO,0,0 during the current year Fortu
: nately. since the revival OF prosperous time
: the revenues have grown much faster than tht
: | expenditures, and there is every indication
: that a short period will witness the oblitera
: tion Of the annual deficit. In this connection
4 the report Of the postmaster general embodie
A | q statement OF some evils which have growl
up outside of contemplation OF law in tn
n treatment Of some classes OF mail mattel
: pound rate. and shows that II this matter ha'
3 be6n properly classified and had paid the rat
e which it should have paid, instead OF posta
n deficit for the last fiscal year OF t6.6lO,N
there would have been on one basis surplu
= OF eli. .6S7, $40, and on another OF ID. 73J,s3d
v The Navy.
1t The navy has maintained the spirit an
: high efficiency which have always character
Il lied that service and has lost none OF the gal
= lantry in heroic action which has signaliZe
n its brilliant and glorious past The nation ha!
= equal pride In its early and later achieve
ments Its habltual readiness for every emer
IS gency has won the confidence and admiration
d of the country. The people are interested II
A the continued preparation and prestige OF tn
; navy and will justify liberal appropriation
d for its maintenance and Improvement Tn
d officers have shown peculiar adaptation TO
,r the performance OF new and delicate dutie
,r which our recent war has imposed.
4 II cannot be doubted that congress will q
II once make necessary provision for the armo
n plate for the vessels now under contract an
ID building Its attention Is respectfully calle
IN to the report Of the secretary Of the navy, 1
, which the subject is fully presented unit
10 in his recommendation that congress enac
II such special legislation as may be necessary I
" enable the department to make contracts earl