The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-12-13
WHOLE NO. 1924.

ton and the recurring occasions for In |
ternal rivalries TO sap their strength |
and dissipate their energies. The great
est blessing which esa come to Cubs Is
the restoration Of her agricultural and
industrial prosperity, which will give
employment to idle men and reestst-
lish the pursuits Of peace. This is her
chief and immediate need.
On the 10Th Of August last an order
was made for the taking Of the census
in the island, to be completed on the
10th Of November. BY the treaty Of
peace the Spanish people on the island
have until April IL, 1900, to elect wheth-
er they will remain citizens Of Spain or
become citizens of Cuba. Until then It
can not be definitely ascertained 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 tabalated, and we shall
proceed to provide for elections which
will commit the municipal govern
ments of the island to the officers elect
ed by the people. The experience thus
acquired will prove OF great value in
the formation OF a representative con-
ventiOn Of the people to draft eonsti-
tuition and establish a general system of
independent government for the island.
In the meantime, and so long as we ex-
ereise control over the island, the prod
ucts of Cuba should have a market in
the United States on as gcod terms and
With as favorable rates of duty as are
given to the West India islands under |
treaties Of reciprocity which shall e
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. .4aS, coo nations, at |
a cost of Sl,4l7, ,554O7.
To promote the disarmament of the
Cuban volunteer army, and in the in
terest Of public peace and the welfare /
Of the people, the sum of ST5 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 Uuited
States. The sum thus disbursed aggre-
gated s., 547, $50, which was paid from
the emergency fund provided by the
act Of January, 1899, for that purpose.
Out Of the Cuban island revenues du-
ring the six months ending June 30,
1890, 81, ,7l2. Ola 20 was expended for san
itation; s293, ,sSl.TO for charities and
hospitals, and SIS. 944 Os for aid to the
destitute.
\ MEDAL FOR THE VOLUNTEERS
Since my last annual message, and
in obedience to the acts Of the Congress
of April - and 26, 1898, the remaining
volunteer force enlisted for the Spanish
war, consisting Of "a ,S34 regulars and
10 2O2 volunteers, with over 5000 vol
unteer officers, has been discharged
from the military service. OF the vol
un:eers, 667 officers and 1881 men
were serving in the Philippines, and
$50 Of the regulars, who were entitled
TO be mustered out after the ratification
Of the treaty OF peace. They volunta-
rily remained st the front until their
places could be filed by new troops.
They were returned home in the order
in which they went to Manila, and are
row all of them out Of the service and
in the ranks of citizenship. l recon-
mend that the Congress provide q
special medal of honor for the voIun-
teers, regulars, sailors, and marines on
duty in the Philippines who volunta-
rily remained in the service after their
terms Of enlistment bad expired.
The message reviews the work Of the
departments, and specially eommends
the work done by the postofiice depart
nent in organizing mail service in
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines.
THE PHILIPPINES.
On the 10th Of December, 1898, the
treaty of peace between Spain and the
United States was signed. IL provided,
among other things, that Spain should
eede to the United States the srchipel-
ago known as the Philippine Islands,
and that the United States should pay
to Spain the sum of $4,000. 900, and
that the civil rights and political status
Of the native inhabitants Of the terri
tories thus ceded to the United States
should be determined by 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 ratifications
were exchanged on the llth of April,
and the treaty publicly proclaimed
On the I'd Of March the Congress voted
the sum contemplated by the treaty,
and the amount was paid over to the
Spanish government on the lst of
May.
In this manner the Philippines came
to the United States. The islands were
eeded by the government Of Spain,
which had been in undisputed posses
sion of them for centuries. They were
accepted not merely by our authorized
commissioners in Paris, under the di-
rectiOn Of the executive, but by the
constitutional and well-considered ac-
ton Of the representatives Of the peo-
pie Of the United States in both houses
Of Congress / had every reason to be-
lieve, and still believe, that this trans
fer OF sovereignty was in accordance
with the wishes aud the aspirations of
the great mass of the Filipino people.
From the earliest moment no oppor-
tunity was lost OF assuring the people
of the islands Of our ardent desire for
their welfare aud of the intention Of
this government to do everything pos
sible to advance their interest. In my
order Of the 10th Of May, 1898, the COM
mandeF Of the military expedition dis
patched to the Philippines was instruct
ed 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 fhara sbouid he NJ, Sf,.,t,f a. - fha I