The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-12-15
serred to the senate for its constitutional

Inc preelOent reviews CUBAN ana1fS
since the close of the Spanish war. He
declares that our pledges to restore or
der and establish a stable government In
the island must be sacredly kept. He
says the greatest blessing which can
come to Cuba Is the restoration Of her
agricultural and Industrial prosperity.
which will give employment to idle men
This is her chief and immediate need.
The resumption Of diplomatic relations
with the government of Spain Is referred
to with satisfaction.
The United States minister to Turkey
continues. under Instructions. to press
Tor q money payment in satisfaction Of
tho just claims for injuries suffered by
American citizens in the disorders of sew
eral years past and for wrongs done to
them by the Ottoman authorities. Some
OF 4hese claims are Of many years stand
ing. This government is hopeful Of q gen.
eral agreement in this regard.
The dispute between Great Britain and
Venezuela regarding the boundary line
between Venezuela and British Guiana
has been adjusted. thus endig contro-
versy which has existed for the greater
part of the century.
Conventions of reciprocity have been
signed during the congressional recess
with Great Britain for the respective
colonies of British Guiana. Barbados,
Bermuda. Jamaica and Turks and Caicos
islands, and with the republic of Mica
ragua. Important reciprocal conventions
have also been concluded with France
and with the Argentine republic.
OF the work of the peace conference
the president says:
The final act of the conference includes
conventions upon the amelioration of the
laws and customs of war on land. the
adaptation to maritime warfare Of the
principles of the Geneva convention Of
Of i111i oio
DDS to international cases. The conven-
ton for the pacific settlement of interna-
tional conflicts embodies the leading
features of the American plan with such
notifications as We're rendered necessary
by the great diversity of views and inter-
ests represented by the delegates. The
four titles of the convention provide for
the maintenance of general peace; the
exercise of good offices and mediation:
the formation of committees of inquiry
and international arbitration.
The mediation provided for by the con-
vention is purely voluntary and advisory
and is intended to avoid any invasion or
limitation of the sovereign rights Of the
adhering states. The commissions of in
quiry proposed consist of delegations to
be specifically constituted for particular
purposes by means of conventions be-
tween the contesting parties, having for
their object the clear understanding Of
international differences before resorting
to the use of force. Theprovson for ar
bitration contemplates the formation of
permanent tribunal before which dis
puted cases may be brought for settle
ment by the mutual consent of the liti-
giants in each case.
The president speaks in terms of the
highest praises of the work of the volun-
teers and regulars engaTed in war in the
Philippines and recommends that con-
gress grant a medal of honor to those
nn NyrC, rSN<n vS1x,
Tho operations of the army are fully
presented in the report of the secretary of
war cannot withhold from officers and
men, the highest commentator for their
soldierly conduct in trying situations.
their willing sacrifices for their country
and the integrity and ability with which
they have performed unusual and difficult
duties in our island possessions.
The president says the navy has MAIN
tanned the spirit and high efficiency which
have always characterized that service.
and has lost none of the gallantry in
heroic action which has signalized its
brilliant and glorious past. The nation
has equal pride in its early and later
achievements. Its habtual readiness for
every emergency has Won the confidence
and admiration of the country. The peo-
pie are interested in the preparation and
prestige of the navy and will justify lib
eral appropriations for its maintenance
and Improvement
Pension affairs are considered briefly by
the president. and some changes in the
laws and regulations are recommended.
The situation in the Philippines is dealt
with at considerable length by the presi-
dent He says:
On the 10th of December 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
soo,ooo,ooo, and that the civil rights and
the population Of the native inhabitants
of the territories thus coded to the United
States should be determined by the con-
Sress. The treaty was ratified by the
senate on the 9th of February. 1899. and
by the government of Spain on the 10Th
of March following. The notifications
were exchanged on the 18th 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 gov
eminent on the first 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 the. undisputed possession of
them for centuries
They We're accepted. not merely by our
authorized commissioners in Paris under
constitutional and we'll considered action
of the representatives of the people of
the United States in both houses of con-
gress.
had 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 mo-
ment no opportunity was lost of assuring
the people of the island of our ardent de-
sire for their welfare and of the intention
of this government to do everything pos
sible to advance their interests. In my
order Of tho 10th of May. 1893. the COM
mander of the military expedition dis
patched to the Philippines was instructed
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 employ-1ents and in their personal
and religious rights" That there should
be no doubt as to the paramount authority
there. on the 18th of August. it was di-
rected that there must be no joint oc-
cupation with the insurgents that the
United States must preserve the peace
and protect persons and property within
the territory occupied by their military
and naval forces; that the insurgents
and all othe~- must recognize the military
occupation and authority of the United
States. AS early as Dec. 4. before the