The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-12-15
The Pacific Cable.
OUR DUTY TOWARD CUBA.
Pledges of Congress Should be Faith
fully Executed.

Pledges of Congress Should be Faith
fully Executed.
My annual message of last year was
necessarily devoted in great part to a con-
sideration of the Spanish war and of the
results it wrought and the conditions it
imposed for the future 1 am gratified to
announce that the treaty of peace has re-
stored friendly relations between the two
powers. Effect has been given to it's most
important provisions. The evacuation of
Porto Rico having already been accom-
plished ON the 18th of October, 1898, moth
ing remained necessary there but to con-
tinue the provisional military control of
the island until the congress should enact
suitable government for the coded ter
ritory. Of the character and scope Of the
measures to that end I shall treat in
another part of this message.
The withdrawal of the authority of
Spain from tho island of Cuba was eff
fected by the first of January, so 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 gov
eminent and control therein as 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 the
preceding three decades, and 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
pacification thereof, and asserted it's de-
termination when that was accomplished
to leave the government and control of
the island to it's people The pledge con-
tanned in this resolution is of the highest
honorable obligation and
Must Be SacredIy Kept. -rE
This nation has assumed before the
world grave responsibility for the future
good government of Cuba. We have &C
cepted a trust the fulfillment of which
calls for the sternest integrity of purposes
and the exercise of the highest wisdom.
On the 7th of August last an order was
made for the taking of the census of the
island, to be completed on the 30th of No
vember. By the treaty of peace the Span
ish people on the island have until April
II, 1909. to elect whether they will remain
citizens of Spain or become citizens of
Cuba. Until then it cannot be definitely
ascertained who shall be entitled 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 for elections
which will commit the municipal govern
ments of the island to the officers elected
by the people. The experience thus &C
quired will prove of great value in the
formation of representative convention
of the people to draft constitution and
establish general system of independent
government for the island. ...-s..- . ...
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: .aa ...t ..,..,s-f-. r.. .. . ..
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
Samoa 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 l71st degree of west longitude, en-
bracing the islands of Tutuila, Ofoo
Olesenga and Mauna. transmit to the
senate for it's constitutional action there
on convention which, besides the pro.
visions above mentioned, also guarantees
us the same privileges and conditions in
respect to commerce and commercial
vessels in all of the islands of Samoa as
those possessed by Germany.