Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-06

| the government OF CUBA. By that ui"'
| the results OF the census VIII nave pee"
tabulated. aud we shall proceed 10 pro-
vide for relations which VIII commit the
\ nunicipal governments OF the island 10
officers elected By the people, The eNpe-
rienco thus acquired will prove or great
value In the formation Of representa-
| tive convention Of the people to dratt
! constitution and establish general sgs-
TEN Of independent government for the
| island In the mean time. ana 50 lohs
! as we exercise control over the island. the
/ products OF cuba should nave market
! ln the United States on az good terms
and with az favorable rates of duty. as
are given TO the West India islands under
treaties Of reciprocity which snail be
made"
TURKEY.
In the Turkish empire the situation OF
our citizens remains unsatisfactory The
arbitrary treatment n some instances OF
American productions in Turkey has at
tractcd attention Of late notably in re-
gard 20 our -four This government Will
use its carnCs. efforts 10 secure fair and
equal treatment for its citizens and their
goods Failing this. II Will not hesitate
10 apply whatever corrective may be pro-
yided by ihe statutes,
THE PEACE CONFERENCE.
Referring TO the work OF the Peace Con-
ference at the Hague last May. the mes
sage says. while earnestly promoting
the idea Of establishing q permanent M
! ternational tribunal the delegation of
the United States was not unmindtu ot
| the Inconvenience which might arise
J from an obtrusive exercise OF mediat on.
and IN signing the convention carefully
guarded the historic position of The
/ United States by ihc following deciara-
ton: Nothing contained in ;hi~ con-
yention shall d. 50 construed as
TO require TIE United ~l'cs or America
TO depart from IFS traditional policy of
not intrudins upon. inieIlrting with or
cntaugIing itself in the political ques-
tions or policy or internal adm lls ration
ci .Hl t.r.-n States. ro. snail any
thing contained I'm the said convention
be construed 20 imply a relin nuishment
by the United States Of America of its
traditional attitude toward purely Ameri-
can questions.
"Thus interpreted the convention for
the pacific settlement az international
conf cts may be- regarded as rcaliZ ne the
earnest desire Of great number- OF Amer
ican citizens, whose deep sense OF Justice
expressed in numerous resolutions ana
memorials has urged them 90 labor for
this noble achievement The general
character of this convention already
I signed by the delegates of more than
twenty sovereign States further com
mends it 10 the favorable action of the
Senate OF the United states. whose iati1-
cation It stll awaits"
MEDALS OF HONOR FOR TROOPS.
The President recommends that Con-
/ gress provide a special medal OF honor
for the volunteers. regulars. sailors, ANA
I q DO. r.f. rnrIUI
4 voluntarily remained IN the service after
! their terms of enlistment had expired.
1.-THE force now in Manila cons SITS of
9O5 officers and 30 SIS regulars and 5si Off
/ GERS and 1888 of the volunteers. making
an aggregate Of 1.4S9 officers and $3.50
men When the troops now under orders
/ shall reach Manila the force IN the
! archipelago will comprise 2,Ojl officers and
65.4SS men.
THE muster-out Of the great volunteer
army organized for the Spanish war and
the creation Of a new army, the trans
portation from Manila TO San Francisco
of those entitled 10 discharge, and the
TRANSFORMATION Of the new troops 10 take
their places. have been a work of great
magnitude, well and ably done. Of which
too much credit cannot be given the War
| Department.
REDUCTION OF FORCES.
During the past year we have reduced
our force in Cuba and Porto Rico, In
cuba we now have 3A officers and l0,1lb
enlisted men; in Porto Rico, 81 officers
and $50 enlisted men, and a battalion
of 400 men, composed Of native Porto
! Ricans, while stationed throughout the
United States are 80 officers and 1871
men. and in Hawaii y officers ana 4J}
| enlisted men.
The operations Of the army are fully
presented I'm the report Of the Secretary
OF War. / cannot withhold from officers
and men the highest commentator Tor
their soldierly conduct I'm trying situd-
tons, their willing sacrifices for their
country and the integrity and ability
with which they have performed unusual
and difficult duties in our. island posses
sions.
In the organization Of the volunteer
regiments authorized by the act Of March
2, 1899 it was found that no provision had
been made for chaplains. This omission
was doubtless from inadveTtence. ! Te-
commend the early authorization of the
appointment Of one chaplain for each Of
said regiments These regiments are now
in the Philippines and it is important
that immediate action be had
MAILS FOR OUR NEW WARDS.
ION the restoration Of peaceful conGi-
tons, orderly rule, and civic progress i'm
Cuba, Porto Rico, and so far as practi-
cable in the Philippines, the rehabilitation
of the postal service has been an es-
sential and important part of the work.
1t became necessary 10 provide mail
facilities both for our forces OF occupa-
ton and for the native population 10
me this requirement has involved "A sub.
stantial reconstruction. The existing sys-
TENS were so fragmentary defective. and
inadequate. that a new and comprohen
siVe Organization had 10 be created.
American trained officials have been as
signed TO the directing and executive po-
siuons while natives have been chiefly
employed in making up the body Of the
force. In working out this plan, the
merit rule has been vigorously and faith.
fully applied
NAVAL NEEDS
THE navy has maintained the spirit
and high efficiency which have always
characterized that service, and has lost
none Of the gallantry in heroic action
which has signallized its brilliant and
glorious past. The nation has equal
pride in its early and later Achievements
It's habitual readiness for every emer-
gency has won the confidence and admit
= ration Of the country. The people are
interested IN the continued preparation
and prestige Of the navy, and will Justify
| liberal appropriations for its maintenance
i | and Improvement The officers have
shown peculiar adaptation for the per-
Torrance of new and delicate duties.