The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-12-05

not 20 Into operation until AUG. 4, the
United States being. hOweyer, graateA
up 70 that date all the privileges and
rights accorded to French citizens
under the old French. treaty. By this
notable convention reform Japan's po-
sition as fully Independent sover-
eign power is assured.
Without repeating the observations
Of my special message Of Feb 10. 1899.
concerning the necessity Of cable to
Manila. I respectfully invite attention
TO It. I recommend that, in case the
congress should not take measures to
bring about this result by direct action
of the government, the postmaster
general be authorized to invite COM
petitive bids for the establishment OF
cable.
A chapter on our relations with
Mexico is followed by reference to the
claims growing out of the seizure of
American sealing vessels In Boring
sea by Russia, with the recent happy
result OF an agreement to submit them
to the decision Of a single arbitrator"
Then comes reference to Samoa. AZ
ter referring to the abolition of the
\ kingship and the appointment Of the
joint commission and the new partition
Of the Samoan Islands the president
! proceeds:
Claims have been preferred by white
| residents OF Samoa on account OF in
jurfes alleged to have been suffered
through the acts OF the treaty govern
ments In putting down the late dis
turbances. A convention has been
made between the three powers for the
investigation and settlement Of these
claims by neutral arbitrator, to
which the attention Of the senate will
be invited.
Must Keep Faith with Cuba.
The withdrawal of the authority Of
Spain from the Island OF Cuba was
effected by the first of January, 80
that the full re-establishment Of peace
found the relinquished territory held
by us in trust for the inhabitants,
maintaining, under the direction Of the
executive, such government and con-
troll therein as should conserve public
order, restore the productive condi-
tions Of peace so long disturbed and
build up that tranquil development Of
the domestic state whereby alone can
be realized the high purpose, as pro-
claimed In the joint resolution adopted
by congress, by which the United
States disclaimed any disposition OF
Intention to exercise sovereignty,
jurisdiction or control over Cuba, ex-
cept for the pacification thereof, and
asserted its determination when that
was accomplished to leave the govern
ment and control Of the island to its
people. The pledge contained In this
resolution is of the highest honorable
obligation and must be sacredly kept.
believe that substantial progress has
been made in this direction.
This nation has assumed before the
world grave responsibility for the fu-
ture good government Of Cuba. We
have accepted a trust the fulflllment
of which calls for the sternest integ-
rity 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 sim
gular intimacy and strength II its ell
during welfare iG to be assured.
Whether 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 reality, not
name, perfect entity not a hasty
experiment bearing within itself the
elements Of failure. 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 the vicissitudes
which too often attend weaker states
whose natural wealth and abundant
resources are Offset by the incon-
gruities of their political organization
and the recurring occasions for in |
ternal riyalries to sap their strength
and dissipate their energies. The |
greatest blessing which can come to
Cuba is the restoration Of her agri-
cultural and industrial prosperity, |
which will give employment to Idle |
men and re-establish the pursuits Of |
peace. This is her chief and immedi- |
ate need.
Urging AN Appropriation.
A reference to the treaty of peace
with Spain. the resumption of diplo-
matte relations is followed by recon-
mendatiOn for an appropriation to pro-
vide for the payment of certain claims
Of our citizens against Spain which
our government guaranteed in the
treaty of peace.
Then follows chapter on the ar
bitrary treatment of American pro-
ductions in Turkey, the Anglo-Vene-
zuelan arbitration controversy, the re-
assured maintenance for ten years to
come Of the bureau Of American re-
publcs Another international con-
ference of the republics interested Is
recommended.
Then comes reference to Bulfalo's
Pan-American exposition and Phila-
delphia's recent export exposition,
both of which are heartily commended.
The Hague peace conference is dwe!t
upon at length, and a permanent ar
btration tribunal is urged.
The increase in our army and the
reduction Of our forces in Cuba and
Porto Rice, together with the extern
sion Of our postal facilities to those
islands is dealt with at length
The president unites In Secretary
Longs recommendation that the act
of congress limiting the price of armor
plate for the warships to $500 ton
be rescinded, and joins the commits
sioner of pensions in urging congress
to amend the pension laws as to permit
the pension Office to grant pensionable
status to widows whose income aside
from the proceeds of daily labor Is not
in excess of $3.50 per annum.
On Dec 10. 1898, the treaty of peace
between the United States and Spain
was signed. 1t provided, among other
things, that Spain should cede to the
United States the archipelago known
as the Philippine Islands, that the
United States should pay to Spain the
sum of $20,000.000, and that the civil
rights and political status of the ma
tive inhabitants of the territories thus
ceded to the United States should be
determined by congress.
From the earliest moment no oppor-
tunity was lost OF assuring the people
of the Islands of our ardent desire for
their welfare and of the intention of
this government to do everything pos
sible to advance their interests That