Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-06
KEEPING FAITH WITH CUBA
Sacred Duty TO Give Them Free
Government of Their own
Choice.

My annual message of last year was
necessarily devoted in great part to con-
sideration of the Spanish war and OF the
results 1t wrought and the conditions 1t
imposed for the future l am gratifed to
announce that the treaty of peace has re-
stored friendly relations between the two
powers. Effect has been given to it's most
important provisions. The evacuation of
Porto Rico having already been accom-
plished on the 18th of October, 1898, nothing
remained necessary there but to continue
, the provisional military control of the
island until the congress should enact a
suitable government for the ceded territory.
OF the character and scope of the measures
to that end l shall treat in another part of
this message.
The withdrawal of the authority of Spain
from the island of Cuba was effected by
January 1, so that the full re-establishment
of peace found the relnquished territory
held by US in trust for the inhabitants
maintaining, under the direction of the ex-
ecutive, such government and control
therein as should conserve public order, re-
store the productive conditions of peace SO
long disturbed by the instability and dis
order which prevailed for the greater part
Of the three preceding decades, and build up
that tranquil development of the domestic
state whereby alone can be realized the high
purpose, as proclaimed in the joint resolu-
tion adopted by the congress on April 49,
1898, by which the United States disclaimed
any disposition or intention to exercise SOW
ereignty, jurisdiction or control over Cuba,
except for the paciflcation thereof, and de-
clared it's intention when that was accom-
plished to leave the government and control
of the island to its people. The pledge con-
tanned in this resolution is of the highest
honorable obligation and must be sacredly
kept.
] believe that substantial progress has
been made in this direction. All the ad-
ministratve measures adopted In Cuba have
aimed to fit 1t for a regenerated existence
by enforcing the supremacy OF law and
JUSTICE; by placing wherever practicable
the machinery Of administration in the
hands of the inhabitants by instituting
sanitary reforms; by spreading education;
by fostering industry and trade; by incul-
eating public morality and, in short, by
taking every rational step to aid the Cuban
people to attain to that plane of self-con-
scious respect and self-reliant unity which
fits an enlightened community for selfgov-
ernment within it's own sphere, while en-
abling it to fulfill all outward obligations.
Assume IA Grave Responsibilities.
This nation has assumed before the world
grave responsibility for the future good
government 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 If its en-
NJ, thoa
those ties shall be organic or conventional,
the destinies of Cuba are in some rightful
form and manner irrevocably 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 a reality, not a name
a perfect entity, not a hasty experiment
bearing within itself the elements of fall
ure 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
Offset by the incongruities of their political
organization and the recurring occasions for
international rivalries to sap their strength
and dissipate their energies. The greatest
blessing which can come to Cuba is the res
toration of her agricultural and Industrial
prosperity which will give employment to
idle men and re-establish the pursuits o,
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 SOth of No
vember BY the treaty of peace the Spanish
people on the island have until April II.
10 oIa yUh will
zens OF Spain or become citizens of Cuba.
Until then it cannot be definitely ascer-
tained who shall be entitled to participate 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 island 10
the officers elected by the people The eX-
perence thus acquired will prove OF great
value in the formation OF representative
convention OF the people to draft a eonsti-
tuition and establish a general system Of in
dependent government for the island In
the meantime and so long as we exercise
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 5.49S 900 ratons. at cost OF
81 All 554,97
To promote the disarmament of the Cuban
volunteer army and in the interest of pub
lie peace and the welfare of the people, the
sum OF $75 was paid TO each Cuban soldier
borne upon the authenticated rolls. on con-