Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-12-14

disorder which prevailed for the greater part
of the preceding three decades and build up
that TRANQUIL development OF the state where
by alone can be realized the high purpose pro-
claimed in the joint resolution adopted by con
United States disclaimed any intention to
exercise sovereignty over Cuba, except for
termination when that was accomplished to
leave the government OF the island to itself
The pledge contained in this resolution must
be Sacredly kept
1 believe that substantial progress has been
made in this direction. All the administrative
measures adopted in Cuba have aimed to tit 1t
for q regenerated existence by enforcing the
supremacy of law and justice; by placing wher-
ever practicable the machinery Of admnistra-
tion in the hands of the inhabitants; by tnsti-
tuting needed sanitary reforms; by spreading
education; by fostering industry and trade; by
intoxicating public morality, and, in short, by
taking every rational step to aid the Cuban
people to attain that plane OF self-reiant unity
which fits enlightened community for self
government within its own sphere. while ena-
bling it TO fulfill all outward obligations
This nation has assumed before the world a
grave responsibility for the future good gov
ernment OF Cuba. We have accepted "a trust,
the fultllment OF which calls for the SterneSt
integrity of purpose and the exercise of the
highest wisdom. The new Cuba yet to arise
from the ashes OF the past must needs be
bound to us by ties of singular intimacy and
strength il its enduring welfare is to be en-
Sured Whether those ties shall be organic or
conventional the deStinies of Cuba are in some
rightful form and manner lrrevocably linked
with our own, but how and how far Is for the
future to determine in the ripencSS of events
Whatever be the outcome we must see to 1t
that free Cuba be a reality, not u name, per-
feet entity, not a haSty experiment bearing
within itself the elements of failure
On the 9th of August last an order was made
for the taking OF the census in the island, to be
completed the 3Oth of November. by tho
treaty of peace the Spanish people on the
island have until April H. 1850, to elect whether
they will remain citizens OF Spain or become
citizens of Cuba. Until then 1t cannot be dett-
nitely ascertaincd who snail be entitled to par
ri iTaf in hp
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 governments of the islands to the
officers elected by the people. The experience
thus acquired will prove of great value in the
formation of representative convention OF the
people to draft a constitution and establish a
general system of independent COVE rnment for
the island. In the meantime, and so long as we
exercise control over the island the products
of Cuba should have a market in the United
States on as good terms and with as favorable
rates OF duty as are given to the West India
islands under treaties of reciprocity which
shall be made.
The Peace Conference.
In response to the invitation of the emperor
of Russia delegates from 20 countries as
sembed at The Hague May 49, as members
of Il conference in the interest OF peace The
commission from the United States consisted
of Hon. Andrew ID. White Hon. Seth Low,
Hon. Stanford Newell, Capt Croser, of the
United Safes army, Capt. Alfred 7. Mahan, of
the United States navy, and Hon. Frederick w.
-.
Opportune Tor the serious consideration OF a
plan for the pacific adjustment OF international
differences.
The final act OF the conference includes con-
yentious upon the am, Iteration of the laws and
customs OF war on land, the adaptation TO
maritime warfare of the principles of the
of judicial methods to international cases.
The convention for the pacific settlement of
international conflicts embodies the leading
features of the American plan, with such
notifications were rendered necessary by
the great diversity OF interests represented by
the delegatcs The four titles of the Conven-
ton provide for the maintenance of general
peace, the exercise OF good offices and med a
ton, the formation of commissions of inquiry
and international arbitration.
The Army.
Since my last annual message, and in obedi-
ence to the acts OF congress of April % and 26
1898, the remaining volunteer force enlisted for
the spanish war, consisting OF "a, ,s3l regulars
and llO.2O2 volunteers, with over 5,UO Volun-
teer officers, has been discharged from the
military service OF the volunteers 667 officers
and II S3l men were serving III the Philippines
and $50 Of the regulars who were entitled to
be mustered out after the ratification of the
treaty of peace They voluntarily remained al
the front until their places could be tled by
new troops. They were returned home in the
order in which they went to Manila, and are
now all of them out OF the service and in the
ranks of citizenship. l recommend that con-
gress provide a special medal Of honor for the
regulars. sailors and marines on duty in the
Phil ppines who voluntarily remained in the
| service after their terms of enlistment had ex-
! pired.
By the act OF March .. 1899 congress gave
| authority to increase the regular army to q
| max mum not exceeding $1,000 enlisted men
| and to enlist force of 81, 900 volunteers to be
recruited from the country at large. BY virtue
| OF this authority the regular army has been
increased to the number of 6l .999 enlisted met
| and 2,2iS officers. and new volunteer regiments
have been organized aggregating 81, ,05D enlisted
men and ,594 officers. Two OF these volunteer
regiments are made up of colored men, witt
| cOlored line officers. The new troops to take
l
| pines have been transported to Manila to the
| number of 5sl eiticcrS and 26,322 enlisted mer
| of the regular army and o9i officers and 1855
| enlisted men of the new volunteer force while
| 50i officers and l4,ll9 men of the volunteer
| force are on the ocean en- route to Manila.
The force now in Manila consists of 90j ON
| GERS and 3I.57S regulars, and 59i officers anC
| ID 3sS of the volunteers, making an aggregate
| OF l i99 officers and 1886 men. Wnen the
| troops now under orders shall reach Manilt
| the force in the archipelago will comprise
| 205l officers and 63,4S3 men. The muster Ou
| of the great volunteer army organized for the
| Spanish war and the creation OF new army
| the transportation from Manila to San Fran
| cisco of those entitled to dichargc, and the
| transportation of the new troops to take theil
| places have been a work of great magnitude
| well and ably done, for which too much credi
| cannot be given the war department
| During the past year we have reduced Oul
| force in Cuba and Porto Rico. In Cuba w
| now have 33i officers and 1926 enlisted men
| in Porto Rico, 81 officers aud 2,s5> elsted mel
| and II battalion of 400 men, composed of NATIVE
| Porto RicanS: while stationed throughout tht
| United StateS,are 80 officers and II 3l7 men
| and in Hawaii l. officers and ij3 enlisted men
| The Postal Service.
| The domestic postal service continues Il
| grow with extraordinary rapdity. The ex
| penditureS and the revenues Will each exceed
| @l00. .OU0.OiO during the current year FOrtu
natelv since the revival of prosperous time
| the revenues have grown much faster than tn
| expenditures, and there is every indication
| that Il short period will witness the Oblitera
| tion of the annual deficit. In this connection
| the report of the postmaster general embodie
| statement of some evils which have grow
| up outside of contemplation of law in tn
treatment of some classes OF mail matte
| which wrongly exercise the privilege of tn
pound rate, and shows that If this matter hat
| been properly classified and had paid the rat
| which 1t should have paid, instead of posta
| deficit for the last fiscal year of i6,6l0,pO
| there would have been on one basis a surplu
| of Ill, ,637, so, and on another of 10 735 $50.
The Navy.
| The navy has maintained the spirit AM
high efficiency which have always character
| lied that service and has lost none of the gal
| lantry in heroic action which has SignaiZe
| its brilliant and glorious past The nation ha
equal pride in its early and later achieve
mentS Its habltual readiness for every emer
gency has won the confidence and admiration
of the country. The people arc interested il
the continued prepa ration ana prestige OF th
| nd nil inst am nnria ion