Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-12-15

Of peace 50 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 domestlc
state whereby alone can be realized the high
purpose, as proclaimed in the joint resolution
adopted By the congress on the 18th OF April.
1888. by which the United States disclaimed any
opposition or intention 20 exercise sovereignty,
jurisdiction or control over Cuba. exception the
pacifcatfon thereof, and asserted its determi-
nation when that was accomplished to leavetne
government and control of the island to its PEG
pie. The pledge contained in this resolution Is
OF the highest honorable obligation and must be
sacredly kept.
This nation has assumed before the world a
grave responsibility for the future good gov
eminent OF Cuba We have accepted trust
the fulhllment OF which Cabs 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 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 it that free Cuba
be reality, not name, perfect entity. not a
haSty experiment bearing within itself the eie-
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 Offset by the
incongruities of their political organization and
the recurring occasions for internal rivalTies 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
Ttis is her chief and immediate need.
By the treaty of peace the Spanish people on
the sand have until April II, 1910. to elect
hof f1ar yrYil1 In IF
become citizens of Cuba. Until then it cannot
be definitely ascertained who shall be entitled
to participate in the formation OF the gov
eminent of Cuba. By that time the results OF
the census will have been tabu1ated, 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
a.ue in the formation OF a represen tative con-
vention of the people to draft constitution
and establish a 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 a
market in the United States as good terms
and with as favorable rates OF duty are given
to the w est India islands under treaties of re-
ciprocity which shall be made.
The Question of Pensions.
The Grand Army of the Republic at it's re-
cent national encampment held at PHILADELPHIA
has brought to my attention and to that OF con-
gress the wisdom and justice of 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 are without other means of support
than their daily labor and were remarked to
the soldier sailor marine on account of
whose service they claim pension prior to the
date of the act.
The present holding of the department is that
if the Widows income aside from her daily labor
exceed
would be, to wit: 500 per annum, she would be
deemed to be without other means of support
than her daily labor, and would be entitled to a
pension under this act, while if the widows in
her as the result OF her daily labor exceeds sos.
she would not be pensionable under the act I
am advised by the commissioner OF pensions
that the amount of the income allowed before
title to pension would be barred, has varied
widely under different administrations of the
pension office as well as during different periods
of the same administration, and has been the
cause OF just complaint and criticism. With the
approval OF the secretary OF the interior, the
commissioner Of pensions recommends that, in
order TO make the practice at all times uniform
and to do justice to the dependent widow, the
amount OF income allowed independent of the
proceeds of her daily labor should be not less
than $50 per annum and he urges that congress
shall so amend the act as to permit the pension
office to grant pensionable status to widows
under the text Of the third section of the act of
O.
ceeds Of daily labor is not in excess Of $3.50 per
annum. believe this to be simple act Of JUS
tice and heartily recommend it.
Favors a Larger Navy.
1 heartily concur in the recommendations for
the increase Of the navy, as suggested by the
secretary.
The An-Absorbing Philippine Question.
On the 10th OF December, 1885, the treaty of
peace between the United States and Spain
was signed. 1t provided among other things
"a STQ iT1c 10 TO ha TTpif0
archipe. ago known as the Philippine islands;
that the United States should pay to Spain the
sum of $40. 600 900, and that the civil rights and
political status Of the native inhabitan is of the
territories they coded to the United States
should be determined by the congress. The
treaty was ratified by the senate on the 9th of
February. 1899. and by the government of Spain
on the 18th of March following The ratifica-
lions were exchanged on the 18th of April and
the treaty publicly proclaimed On the I'd of
March the congress- voted the sum contem-
plated by the treaty, and the amount was paid
over to the Spanish government on the 1st of
May.
In this manner the Philippines came to the
United States. The islands were ceded by the
government OF Spain, which had been in undis-
puted possession of them for centuries They
were accepted not merely by our author
lied commissioners in Paris under the
direction OF the executive, but by the constitu-
tional and well considered action of the repre-
sentatives OF the people OF the United States in
ooeu muses. VI congress- l nao every reason to
believe. and still believe. that this transfer of
sovereignty was in accordance with the wishes
and the aspirations of the great mass OF the
Filipino people. From the earliest moment no
opportunity was lost OF assuring the people of
the Islands OF our ardent desire for their well
fare and Of the intention OF this government to
do everything possible to advance their inter-
ests- In my order OF the 18th OF May 1893, the
commander of the military expedition dis
patched to the Philippines was instructed to
declare that we came not to make war unon the
people OF the country, NOR upon any part or
faction among them, but to protect them in
their homes, in their employments an in their
personal and religious rights
On the 2ist of January I announced NV in
tentions of dispatching to Manila a commission
composed OF three gentlemen OF the highest
character and distinction, thoroughly acouaint-
ed with the orient who, in association with Ad-
miral Dewey and Maj Gen. Otis were instruct
ed to facilitate the most humane and effective
extension Of authority thrnuzhous the islands