The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-06


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renowned in favor of the United States
all their rights and claims over and in
respect to that portion Of the group
lying to the east of the Hist degree of
west longitude, embracing the islands
of Tutuila, Ofoo, Olsenga and Manua.
l transmit to the Senate, for its cOnsti-
tutional action thereon, a convention
which, besides the provisions above
mentioned also guarantees us the same
privileges and conditnons in respect to
commerce and. commercial vessels in all
the islands of Samoa as those possess
sed by Germany. Claims have been pre-
ferred by white residents of Samoa on
account of injuries alleged to have been
suffered through the acts Of the treaty
governments in putting down the late
disturbances. A convention has been
made between the three powers for the
investigation and settlement of these
claims by a neutral arbitrator to which
the attention of the Senate will be in
vited
CUBA TO BE FREE.
My annual message of last year was
necessarily devoted in great part to
consideration of the Spanish war and
of the results it wrought and the con-
ditions it imposed for the future. 1
am gratified to announce that the treaty
of peace has restored friendly relations
between the two powers. Effect has
been given to it's most important pro-
visions. The evacuation OF Porto Rico
having already been accomplished on
the 18th of October 1898, nothing re-
manned necessary there but to continue
the provisional, military control of the
island until the congress should enact
a suitable government for the ceded ter
ritory. OF the character and scope OF
the measures to that end, l shall treat
in another part of this message. Inc
withdrawal of the authority OF SPAN
from the island of Cuba was effected
by the 1st of January. so that the full
establishment of peace found the re-
lnduished territory held by us in trust
for the Inhabitants maintaining, undef
the direction of the executive, such
government and control therein as
should conserve public order, restore
the productive conditions of peace so
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 domestic state whereby alone
can be realized the high purpose as
proclaimed in the Joint resolution
adopted by the congress on the l9th OF
April 1898, by which the United states
disclaimed any disposition or intention
to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction
thereof, and asserted its determination
when that was accomplished, to leave
the government and control of the ISL
and to it's people. The pledge contained
in this resolution is of the highest non
orabie obligation and must be sacredly
kept. / believe that substantial prog
ress has been made in this dlrectlon
All the administrative measures ADOPT
ed in Cuba have aimed to fit 1t Tor q
reEeneratedr existence by enforcing the
supremacy of law and justice; by plac-
ing wherever practicable, the machine
cry Of administration in the hands of
the inhabitants; by instituting needed
sanitary reforms by spreading educa-
ton: by fostering industry and trade;
by intoxicating 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 fits an enlightened
community for government within
its own sphere, while enabling it to full
fl! all outward obligations.
CUBAS FUTURE LINKED WITH
OURS.
This nation has assumed before the
world a grave responsibility for the fu-
have accepted trust the fulf1llment OF
which calls for the sternest integrity
OF nurpose and the exercise of the high
est wisdom. The new Cuba yet to arise
from the ashes of the past must needs
ne bound to us by ties of singular IN
tlmacy and strength if it's enduring wei
fare is to be assured Whether those
ties shall be organic or conventional,
me destinies of Cuba are in SINE right
ful form and manner irreVocably linked
4 Will, 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 1t that free
Cuba will be a reality, not a name,
perfect entity, not a hasty experiment
bearing within itself the elements Of fall
ure. Our mission to accomplish which
We took UP the wager of battle, is not
to be fulfilled by turning adrift any
! loosely framed commonwealth to face
i the vicissitudes which too OFTEN attend
! weaker states. whose natural Wealth
4 and abundant resources are onset by
Il the incongruities of their political or
ganizatfon and the recurring occasions
for internal rivalries to sap their
: strength and dissipate their energies.
The greatest blessing which can come
to Cuba is the restoration OF her agrl-
cultural and industrial prosperity,
which will give employment to IDLE men
and re-establish 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
7 In the island. to be completed on the
Goth of November. BY the treaty or
peace, the Spanish people on the island
have until April II, 1900, to elect wheth-
er they will remain citizens OF Spain or
q become citizens of Cuba. Until then
It cannot be definitely ascertained who
Fhall be entitled to participate in the