The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-12-08

all our rights and safeguard all our ma
tional rights in the islands.
Our views commended themselves to the
other powers. A satisfactory arrange
ment was concluded between the gov
ernments Of Germany and of England, by
virtue of which England retired from
Samoa in view of compensations in other
directions, and both powers renounced in
favor of the United States all their rights
and claims over and in respect to that por-
hon of the gro1p lying to the east of the
pne hundred ani seventyfirst degree Of west
longitude, embracing the islands of Tutuila,
Ofoo, OloseDga and Manua. 1 transmit to
the senate, for it's constitutional action
thereon, a coz 7ention, which besides the
provisions above mentioned also guaran-
tees US the same privileges and conditions
In resDect to commerce and commercial
vessels in all of the islands of Samoa as
those possessed by Germany.
THE PLEDGE TO CUBA.
My annual message Of last year
was necessarily devoted, in great
part, to the consideration of the
Spanish war and of the results it wrought
and the conditions it imposed for the fu-
ture. l am gratified to announce that the
treaty of peace has restored friendly rela-
tions between the two powers. Effect has
been given to it's most important provis-
ions. The evacuation of Porto Rico hav
ing already been accomplished on the 18th
of October, 1898, nothing remained necessa-
ry there but to continue the provisional
military control of the island until the
congress should enact a suitable govern
ment for the ceded territory. OF the char
acter and scope of the measure to that end
I shall treat in another part of this mes
sage.
The withdrawal of the authority of
=
fected by the 1st of January, so that the
| full establishment of peace found the
relinquished territory held by us in trust
| for the inhabitants, maintaining under the
| direction of the executive, such g2vern-
ment and control therein as should conserve
public order, restore the productive condi-
| tions of peace so long disturbed by the in
stability and disorder which prevailed for
| the greater part of the preceding three de-
| cades, and build up that tranquil develop
| ment of the domestic state whereby alone
can be realized the high purpose, as pro-
| claimed in the joint resolution adopted by
| congress on the 18th of April, 1898, by
which the United States discla;med any dis
position or intention to exercise sovereign
| ty, jurisdiction, or control over Cuba, ex-
| cept for the pacifcation thereof, and as
serted its determination when that was ac-
| complished to leave the government 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.
| 1 believe that substantial progress has
been made in this direction. All the ad-
ministrative measures adopted in Cuba
have aimed to fit it for regenerated ex-
| istence by enforcing the supremacy OF
law and justice; by placing wherever prac-
1 ~ >f oIr ictr IN
the hands of the inhabitants; by institut-
ing needed sanitary reforms; by spreading
| education; by fostering industry and
trade; by intoxicating public morality, and
| in short, by taking every rational step tt
aid the Cuban people to attain to that plane
| of self-conscious respect and self-relian1
unity which fits an enlightened community
for self government within it's OWL
sphere, while enabling it to fulfill all out
ward obligations.
After the Cuban question, the message
speaks of the resumption of diplomatic re
lations with Spain. In speaking Of Turkey
the president says the situation o
our citizens remains unsatisfactory. Tht
South American countries are then dis
cussed, the settlement of the Venezuelan
boundary question and the revolution IL
Venezuela being mentioned. The industria
expositions at Philadelphia and Buffalo ar,
noticed.
| INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.
In response to the invitation of hi!
majesty, the emperor of Russia, delegates
from twentysix countries were assembled
at The Hague on the 18th of May, as mem
bers of a conference in the interest of peace
The commission from the United State
consisted of the Hon. Andrew D. White, tn
Hon. Seth Low, the Hon, Stanford Newell
, Captain Alfred T. Mahan, of the Unitet
States navy, Captain William Crozier, o
the United States army, and the Hon
Frederick w. Hollis, secretary. The occa
sion seemed to be opportune for the seriou
, consideration of a plan for the pacifi
adjustment of international differences,
subject in which the American people hav
. been deeply interested for many years, an
a definite project for permanent inter
national tribunal was included In the in
/ structions to the delegates of the Unite
, States.
The final act of the conference include
, conventions upon the amelioration Of tn
laws and customs of war land, tn
!, adaptation to maritime warfare of tn
, prir ciples of the Geneva convention @
/. 1864 and the extension of judicial meth
: ods to international cases. The Conven
: : tion for the Pacific Settlement of Interna
tional conflicts embodies the leading fea
lures of the American plan, with sue
notifications as were rendered necessar
by the great diversity of views and inter
ests represented by the delegates. Tn
four titles of the convention provide fo
: the maintenance of general peace, the ex
ercise of good offices and mediation, tn
, formation of commissions of inquiry, an
= International arbitration.
THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT.
Since my last annual message, and
- H. 1a41 @q4 - 49,
% and 26, 1898, the remaining voluntee
> force enlisted for the Spanish war, consist
a ing of 34,S34 regulars and 110,202 volur
Q teers, with over 5000 volunteer officers, ha
y been discharged from the military servic
g OF the volunteers, 667 officers and IA ,Ss
men were serving in the Philippines, an
: 1850 of the regulars, who were entitled
< be mustered out after the ratification
L the treaty of peace. They voluntarily re
. mained at the front until their place
II could be filled by new troops. They wei
returned home in the order in which the
, went to Manila, and are now all Of the
u out of the service and in the ranks
. citizenship. I recommend that the col
q gress provide a special medal of honor fl
. the volunteers, regulars, sailors and m;
q rines on duty in the Philippines who vo
UNFAIRLY remained in the service aft
. their terms of enlistment had expired.
By the act of March 2, 1899, congre
"a gave authority to increase the regular a
"a my to maximum not exceeding $4,000 el
- listed men, and to en'is force of $50
q volunteers, to be recr'. i from the coul
"a try at large. BY virtu7 of this authori
=, the regular army has been increased
the number of 61,999 enlisted men al
"a 224S officers, and new volunteer regimen
=, have been organized aggregating So $50 e.
rs listed men and 1924 officers. Two of the
a volunteer regiments are made up of &C
" ored men, with colored line officers. tt
j. new troops to take the places of those r
o. turning from the Philippines have be-
-. tran Cd Manila q the