Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-12-11

instability and disorder which pre-
vailed for the greater part OF the pre-
ceding 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 con-
gress on the 18th of April, 1898, by
which the United States disclaimed
any disposition or intention to exercise
sovereignty, Jurisdiction, or control
over Cuba, except for the pacification
thereof, and asserted it's determination
when that was accomplished to leave
the government and control of the
island to its people. The pledge con-
tanned in this resolution is of the high
est honorable obligation and must be
sacredly kept. The president believes
that substantial progress mas been
made in this direction. All the admin
istrative measures adopted in Cuba
have aimed to fit it for regenerated
existence by enforcing the supremacy
OF law and justice; by placing wher-
ever practicable the machinery of ad-
ministration in the hands or the inhab-
itants; by instituting needed sanitary
reforms; by spreading education; by
fostering industry and trade; by in
culcating public morality, and, in
short, by taking every rational step to
aid the Cuban people to attain to that
plane of self-conscious respect and
self-reliant unity which hts an en-
lightened community for self-govern-
ment within it's own sphere, while en-
abling it to fulfill all outward obliga-
tions.
This nation has assumed before the
world a grave responsibility for the
future good government of Cuba. We
have accepted trust, the fulfllment
of which calls for the sternest in
tegrity of purpose and the exercise Ct
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 if it's
enduring welfare is to be assured
Whether those ties shall be organic or
conventional, the destinies of Cuba are
in some rightful form and manner ir-
revOcably 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 it that free Cuba be reality,
not a name, a perfect entity, not a
hasty experiment bearing within itself
the elements 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 re-
sources are offset by the incongruities
of their political organization and the
recurring occasions for internal rival
ries to sap their strength and dissi-
pate their energies. The greatest
blessing which can come to Cuba is
the restoration of her agricultural and
industrial prosperity, which will give
employment to idle men and re-estab
lish the pursuits of peace. This is her
chief and immediate need.
On the 18th of August last an order
was made for the taking of the census
in the island, to be completed on the
30th of November. BY the treaty of
peace the Spanish people on the island
have until April II, 1900, to elect
whether they will remain citizens of
Spain or become citizens of Cuba. I'm
til then it cannot be definitely ascer-
tanned who shall be entitled to partici-
pate in the formation of the govern
ment of Cuba. By that time the re-
suits of the census will have been
'tabulated and we shall proceed to pro-
vide for elections which will commit
the municipal governments of the is
land to the officers elected by the peo-
pie. The experience thus acquired
will prove of great value in the forma-
ton of representative convention of
the people to draft constitution and
establish a general system of indie
pendent government for the island.
In the meantime and so long as we ex-
ercise control over the island the
products of Cuba should have a 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 For the relief of the
distressed in the island of Cuba the
war department has issued supplies to
destitute persons through the officers
of the army, which have amounted to
5 ,493, 800 rations, at cost of $1,417,
554.O7. To promote the disarmament of
the Cuban volunteer army, and in the
interest of public peace and the well
fare of the people, the sum
of $50 was paid to each
Cuban soldier borne upon the
authenticated rolls, on condition that
he should deposit his arms with the
authorities designated by the United
States. The 500 thus disbursed ag-
gregated $2,54775O which was paid
from the emergency fund provided by
the act of January 5, 1899, for that pur-
pose. Out of the Cuban island revenues