The Portland daily press., 1899-12-06

surar o. that this people are In condi-
tion to govern them selves before We let
them make the experiment By the
pssce treaty the spanish residents Of the
island are given until April IL. 1900 20
Ct spain or become oft sens of Cuba. BY
that time the result Of the census Of
the people will be known and
then the United States will proceed to
provide for elections In the island which
will commit Its municipal government TO
the offiosrs elected by the PEOPLE. There
Is nothing In the Presidents treatment
OF Cuba that indicates that he has any
sympathy with the elements that would
seek &c annex the islAnd TO the United
States In spite OF our plsde,. His ssnti-
ments are all In the other direct ton.
Tbs PHILIPPINES occupy large place In
the message. The President narratss the
sion and holds that our title Is perfect
10th In law and equity. 1he instruction
OF Aguinaido he treats ss the work Of
an mbitious man indifferent 10 the
wishes Of his peopls, ard he contends
that q large Fart OF the Inhabitants have
nsyer sympathizsd with 1t. He relies
upon ths reI orr of the commission to
prev, TINT the insurreoii IN was unpro-
voked and wsnton. The most meroiful
COT rse Is to put down the insurrSt ton
with Stern hand, and after that to
confer such privileges of self government
rs In the estimation Of ous Representa-
tives the Fiiipiuos ers capable Of. lie
vigorously oombats tine idea of n protec.
torsts and leates little room for doubt
that he believes In the permanent reten-
ton OF the islands. he nowhere suggests.
even remotely, the treatment OF the is
lands a. we have pledged ourselves to
treat Cuba. In brief the President leaves
no doubt that he Is In favor Of the pei
msnent retention and government Of the
Philippines by the United States. He
outlines the agreement with the Sultan Of
Sulu substantially as 1t has already been
outlined In the press, but adds that the
Sultan has been notified that the agree
n,ent is not to bs construed as giving the
consent OF the United States to the sxit :
tenoe of slavery In the Sulu arch lego
Congr S, Is urged to take iumst iats
steps for TIE formation Of civil govern
ments In Hawaii and Porto nico. and Q
plan Is outlined for the latter ieland, In
which the natives will have a consider
able ,hare, though the Presidtn, holds
silently educated and experienced TO b.
trusted to govern them selves. He conours
v it'll the recommendation of the Secre-
tary Ct War that the products Of Porto
Rico be admit to our markets free OF
duty-in other words. that free trade be
established between the United States
and that Island. This recommendation
IL likely to stir mp s1ns Of the protected
Interests In this country especially the
Ca ms cticut tobacco growers. But 1t
seems only fair and right that the Is
land, since 1t has become q part Of the
United States, should have the advantages
which other parts Of the United States
enjoy.
The topics above enumerated cover per-
haps this most Important and intsrest-
ing In the msss sge But great variety
Of osher matters are treatsd and many
made. 1hs importance
of the Nicaragua canal project is i'm
pressed upon Congress. The lynchinR of
tho Italians IN Louisiana ana the de-
mand Tor reparation growing out OF them
are made the basis Of renewing the
that the United states
courts be given jurisdi lotion in cases affect
ing aliens. Secretary Longs reoommen-
dalton for the building Of Is armor clad
vesssls 10 strongly endorsed. and Congress
isl ,tion to enable the government
to oontrao. early In the year
for armor plate. An amendment to
the pension Law In regard TO dependent
WIDOWS, SO that she amount OF income
allowed independent of the proceeds of
their daily labor shall be not less than
$3.50 per annum Is urged.
Our relations with foreign powers as,
described as cordial for the most prrt,
though the Alaska boundary ques-
ton is not yet permanently settled, and
other questions which ware subr:tttsd t,
the Joint High Commission are sin
pending. The best of feeling ex's S
between Germany and the United States,
and the agrs ement between RIsiia ssd
this country to submit ths sealing ques.
tion to arbitration at.ests the good rela-
tions between them. Apparently Turkey
Is as obdurate Is ever, and cur demands
for damages for missionary property des-
troyed have met with nothing better
than unfulfled promises. Our rslS..ors
with the Republics to the south of US
are generally satisfactory. The President
says a strong word for the Paris exposi-
tion at which the United States will be
well represented. He reviews the Hague
conference and EXPRESSES satisfaction at
the results achieved. He explains his
civil service order and claims that 1t
Was In the interest Of real refrm, and he
pledges himself to select off ials for our
for merit and ability. There
is q strong word of condemnation for