Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-06

aimed To replace amounted To what has
been styled Il tridominium. being the eX-
ercise of the functions of sovereignty by
an unanimous agreement of three pow
crS. The situation had become far more
intricate and embarrassing from every
point of view than it was when my pre-
decessor, in 1884, summed up its perplexi-
ties and condemned the participation in
il of the United States.
The arrangement under which Samoa
was administered had proved impractical
bic and unacceptable to all the powers
concerned. To withdraw from the agree
ment ana abandon the islands to Germany
and Great Britain would not be com
patible with our interests in the archi-
pelago. To relinquish our rights in the
harbor Of Page Page. the best anchorage
in the Pacific the occupancy of which
had been leased to the United States in
1873 by the first foreign treaty ever con-
clnded by Samoa was not to be thought
navy or the interest of our growing COM
mcrce with the east We could not have
considered any proposition for the abro-
CATION of the tripartitc control which did
not confirm us in all our rights and safe
guard all our national interests in the
islands.
our views commended themselves to
the other powers. \ satisfactory ar
rangemcnt was concluded between the
governments of Germany and of England
by virtue of which England retired from
Samoa in view of cCmpensltionS in other
directions. and both powers renowned in
favor of the United States all their rights
portion of the group lying to the east of
the Hist degree of west longitude, en-
hr;tcing the islands of Tutuila, Ofoo,
oloScng.i. and Manua. | transmit to the
Senate, for its constitutional action
thereon II convention. which besides the
provisions above mentioned also guar
antecs us the same privileges and condi-
tiuns in respect to commerce and COM
mcrcial vessels in all of the islands of
Samoa as those possessed by Germany.
Claims have been preferred by white
of ca ana
alleged to have been suffered through the
acts of the treaty governments in putting
down the late disturbances. conNen-
tion has been made between the three
powers for the Investigation and settle
1uent of these claims by neutral arb
traitor to which the attention of the Sell
ate will he invited.
CUBA
NV annual message of last year was
necessarily devoted in great part /" =
consideration Of the Spanish war ana oi
the results it wrought and the conditions
it imposed for the future. ] am Gratiil"d
to announce that the treaty of peace mas
restored friendly relations between III
two powers. Effect has been given l" liz
most important provisions. me INacuH-
tiou of Porto Rico having already D.tn
accomplished ON the 18th of October lNfS.
nothing remained necessary there nut ',,
continue The provisional military c2httiHi
of thu. island until the Congress should
enact 4 suitable government f"f III
coded territory. of the character am,
SCOPE of the measures to that chd Sn""
treat in another part OF TINS message
The withdrawal of the authority OF
Spain from the island of Cuba WIS
effected by the LIST of january. 50 tiiti
the. full establishment Of pcar" i"uii''
the rcliuGlishcd territory held by US III
trust FOR the inhabitants. maintaining
under tn" direction OF the executive SuTi,
government and control therein as Sho.i"
conserve. public order. restore me pro
,Iuctiv,. conditions Of peace 50 long diS-
.tirhed ny the instability ana diS"iuti
which prevailed for tn" greater part "i
th. preceding three decades and bulid III
thai tranquil development OF the d"inVS-
tie. state Whcrob by alone can he rcttlZS'I
th,. high l,uruuSc as proclaimed III the
iuiut resolution adopted by the Congress
ON In. l.uh of April. 1S'N. by Whlch ih'
United States diSclaimed any disposition
or intention 1" exercise S"V.relslitH J"' r. -
lictiulI or control over Cuba, except Tor
tn. pariticsltint thereof and asserted as
determination when That was accom-,
IIiShrd 10 leave, the government ana
,,,,T,I,i If me island to its people Til
ltl,dc,. contained in this resolution Is Oh
he highest honorable obligation and
must he -tcr"dly Kept.
believe that SubStanUa! progress h'LS
been made in this direction All the t"-
mtutstrativc measures adopted IN SuD
have aimed to tit il for reSenefateu ca,
law and Justice; by placing Wherever
practicable the machinery OF aarnllllsu,a
ton i'm thu hands of the inhabitants; D!
inStituting needed sanitary reforms; pH
spreading education; by fostering indus
try and trade: BY intoxicating pubic NOR
aIitv and in short by taking every rl-
tiunal step 20 aid the Cuban people 10 az
tain to that plane OF Relationships isi IT. i an
cnIfghtrncd community for SeIf-SoNern-
mont within its own sphere. while cnao-
ling it to fulfil all outward 9phgatlons; h.
This nation has assumed before th'
world Il grave responsibility Tor the
future good government OF Cupa. W :
h;rvt. accepted Il trust The fuliillment OF
far he
purpos,. and the exercise of the hiintst
Wisdom Tn" MY Js va En mu 30 'r needs De-
bound 10 Us by ties of singular ntimac ;
and strength if its end1rns Weifar h1 IS h bo
organic or conventional. the destinies OF
cuba arr, in some rghtful form and man
ucr irr,'N ocHbly linked with our own. but
how and how far is for the future 70 de-
tcrminc in tn" rip"ncss of events. w nai
ever he tn" outcome we must see 10 II
that free cuba he Il reality. not IA name
u perfect entity. not Il hasty tNperime! /
bearing; within itself the clements "f IAN
urr our mission To accomplish when
W., took no the wager of battle is not to
bc fulfilled by turning adrift any loosely
framed commonwealth to face the Vlclssl-
ludrS which too often attend weaker
states whose natural wealth and album
,Iuut resources are offset by the incon-
.:ruiticS of their political organization
and the recurring occasions for lnterhal
riValricS to sap their strength ana 'tiSSi-
pate their energies The greatest bless
ing which can come to Cuba is TN"
restoration of her agricultural and IN
duStridl pr"sprrity which will give en-
plONmcnt to idle men and rc-rStabllSh
the pursuits of peace. This * her chitI
and immediate need.
on the 18th of August last an order WAS
made for the taking of the census il th''
island. Ia b. completed ON the Goth or
November. by the treaty of peace tht.
Spanish people ON the island have until
Anril H. 1870 To elect whether they VIII
remain citizens of Spain or become clli-
zcuS ul cuba. Until then ii Garnet T.
definitely :iSCcrtained who shall he en-
titled to participate in the forinI ion ct
the government of Cuba. Hy that TIM"
the results Of the census Will have been
tabulated ana shall proceed to pro
vide for elections which Will commit th''
municipal governments of the island I"
In, officers elected 10y tho people. Tn.
experience thus ;cpuirrd Will prove nj
great value in the formation of Il repre-
sentative. convention of the pe"pl" ''
draft u cnu9lituj ION and establish Il gem
trai system of indeucndrnt governments
for The island. IN the meantime and ="
long .S We exercise coHtrol over the is
land the products of cuba should hay" Il
market in the United States ON as good
terms ana with HS favorable rates of duty
are given To the West India islands
under treaties Of reciprocity which sh"l
h" made.
M.