The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-12-08
OUR DUTY TOWARD CUBA.
Pledges Of Congress. Should bs Faith.
fully Executed. n

Pledges Of Congress. Should be Faith
fully Executed. t
My annual message of last year was
necessarily devoted in great part to a con-
sideration of the Spanish war and of the
results 1t wrought and the conditions 1t
imposed for the future. l am gratihed to
that the treaty Of peace has re-
stored friendly relations between the two
powers. Effect has been given to Its most
important provisions. The evacuation Of
Porto Rico having already been accom-
plished on the 18th of October, le9s, moth
ing remained necessary there but to con-
tinue the pr ,%visional military control Of
the island until the congress should enact
a suitable government for the coded ter
ritory. or the character and scope of the
measures to that end | shall treat in
another part Of this message.
The withdrawal Of the authority of
Spain from the island of Cuba was ef-
fected by the first Of January, SO that the
full re-establishment Of peace found the
relinquished territory held by Is in trust
for the Inhabitants, maintaining, under
the direction Of the executive, such gov
ernmenta and control therein us should
conserve public order, restore the pro-
ductive conditions Of peace so long dis
turbed by the instability and disorder
which prevailed for the greater part of tho
preceding three decades, II 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
10th Of April, 1898, by which the United
States disclaimed any disposition or in
tention to exercise sovereignty, jurirdic-
ton or control over Cuba, except for the
pncification thereof, and asserted it's de.
termination when that was accomplished
to leave the government and control Of
the island to its people. Tie pledge con-
tanned in this re ,olution Is of the highest
honorable obligation and
Must Be >Acreliy Kept.
This nation has assumed before tho
world a grave responsibility for the future
good government Of Cuba. We have &C.
cepted q trust the fulhllment Of which
Gu Is for the sternest integrity of purposes
and the exercise of the highest wisdom.
On the 7th of August last un order was
made for the taking Of the census Of the
island, to be completed on the Nth of No.
vember. BY the treaty of peace the Span.
ish people on the island have until April
IL, 1907, to elect whether they will remain
citizens of Spain or become citizens Of
Cuba. Until then 1t nnnot be definitely
ascertained who shall be eEtitled to par
ticipate IN the formation OF the govern
ment of Cuba, BY that time the results
of the census will have been tabulated and
we shall proceed to provide ,or elections
which will commit the municipal govern.
ments Of the island to the officers elected
by the people. The experience thus ac-
CURED will prove Of great value in the
formation of a representative convention
of the people to draft u constitution and
establish a general sistem Of independent
government for the island.
Partition OF samoa.
The recent troubles in Samoa are re.
viewed by the president, and the exchange
of views leading up to the partition Of the
islands reviewed. Concluding the presi.
dent says:
Our views commended themselves to
the other powers. A satisfactory ar
rangement was concluded between the
governments of Germany and Of England
by virtue of which England retired from
samon In view of compensations In other
directions, and both powers 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 i7lst degree of wesc longitude, en-
bracing the islands Of Tutuila, Ofoo,
Olesenga and Mauna. transmit to the
senate for its constitutional action there
on a convention which, besides the pro-
visions above mentioned, also guarantees
us the same privileges and conditions In
respect to and commercial
vessels In all of the islands of Samoa as
those nOssessad nv Germany.