The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-12-06

uVerteU, ROOu OmCeS would have been
gladly rendered
The United States representative at
Pretoria was early instructed to see that
all neutral American interests be re.
spected by the combatants. This has
been an easy task in view of the posi-.
tive declarations of both British and
Boer authorities that the personal and
property rights OF our citizens should
be observed.
Upon the withdrawal of the British
agent from Pretoria, tho United States
consul was authorized, upon the request
or the British government and with the
assent OF the South African and Orange
Free State governments, to exercise the
customary good Offices of neutral for
the care of British interests In the dis.
charge OF this function. am happy to
say that abundant opportunity has been
afforded to show the impartiality of this
government toward both the combat.
ants.
Cuban Administration.
My annual message of last year was
necessarily, devoted in great part to q
consideration of the Spanish war and
OF the results 1t wrought and the condi.
tions 1t imposed for the future. lam
gratified to announce that the treaty of
peace has restored friendly relations be.
tween the two powers. Effect has been
given to its important provisions. The
evacuation of Porto Rico having already
been accomplished on Oct. I8. 1898.
nothing remained necessary there to
continue the provisional military con.
troll of the island until the con.
gress should enact a suitable govern.
ment for the coded territory. OF the
character and scope of the measures to
that end l shall treat in another part of
this message.
The withdrawal of the authority of
Spain from the island of Cuba was eff.
fected by Jan. /. so that the full re. ca.
tablishment of peace found the relin.
quished territory held by us in trust for
the inhabitants. maintaining under the
direction OF the executive such govern.
ment and control therein as should con.
serve public order, restore the produc.
tive 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 do.
mestic state whereby alone can be real.
lied the high purpose as proclaimed in
the joint resolution adopted by the con.
gress on April 10. 1898, by which the
United States disclaimed any disposi.
tion or intention to exercise sovereignty,
jurisdiction or control over Cuba, ex-
cept for the pacification thereof. and as.
serted its determination when that was
accomplished to leave the government
and control of the island to its people.
The pledge contained in this resolu.
tiOn Is Of the highest honorable obliga.
tion and must be sacredly kept. I be-.
lieve that substantial progress has been
made in this direction. All the admin.
istrative measures adopted in Cuba have
aimed to fit for a regenerated existence
by enforcing the supremacy of law and
justice; by placing where, or practica BILE
the machinery of administration in the
hands of the inhabitants; by instituting
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
to that plane Of self conscious respect
and self reliant unity which fits an en-.
hghtened community for self govern.
ment within its own sphere, while en-.
abling it to fulfill all outward obliga.
tions.
Philippines Problem.
On the 10th Of December. 1899. the
treaty of peace between the United
States and Spain was signed It pro-
vided. among other things, that Spain
should cede to the United States the
archipelago known as the Philippine
islands; that the United States should
pay to Spain the sum of twenty millions
Of dollars, and that the civil rights and
political status of the native inha bitants
OF the territories thus ceded to the
United States should be determined by
the congress. The treaty was ratified
by the senate on the 9th of February.
1899. and by the government of Spain
on the 10th OF March following The
ratifications were exchanged ON the llth
Of April. and the treaty publicly pro.
claimed. On the Ind of March the con.
gress voted the sum contem plated by
the treaty and the amount was paid
over to the Spanish government on the
1st Of May.
In this manner the Philippines came
to the United States. The islands were
coded by the government Of Spain,
which had been in undisputed posses.
sion of them for centuries They were
accepted. not merely by our authorized
agents In Paris under the direction of
the executive. hut by the constitutional
and we'll considered action of the repre-.
sentatives of the people in both houses
Of congress. had every reason to be.
lieve. and l still believe, that this trans.
fer Of sovereignty was in accordance
with the wishes and the aspirations of
the great mass of the Filipino people.
From the earliest moment. no oppor.
turity was lost of assuring the people
of the islands of our ardent desire for
their welfare, and of the intention of
this government to do everything pos.
sible to advance their interests.
Aguinaldo's Claim.
The claim of tho re bel leader that he
was promised independence by any Off.
Ger OF the United States in return for
his assistance has no foundation in fac
and is categorically denied by the very
witnesses who were called to prove il.
Tho nOsr tho iuorrnont 1o~I--