The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-12-08

minister. justice, the greater economy
resulting from a well devised system,
and the accumulated judicial skill and
experience with such tribunal would,
soon possess.
While, earnestly promoting the idea
OF establishing q permanent interna-
tional tribunal the delegation of the
u. s. was not unmindful of the incon-
venience which must arise from an
obtrusive exercise of mediation, and in
signing the convention carefully guard
ed the historic position of the u. s. by
the following declaration:
Nothing contained in this convent
shall be construed to require the United
States of America to depart from it's
traditional policy If not intruding upon,
interfering with, or entangling itself
in the political questions or policy or
internal administration of foreign state,
nor shall anything contained in said
convention be construed to imply a
REIMBURSEMENT by the u. s. of America
of its traditional attitude towards
purely American questions.
Thus interpreted, the convention for
the pacific settlement of international.
conflicts may be regarded as realizing
the earnest desire of great numbers of
American citizens whose deep sense of
tions and memorials, has urged them to
labor for this noble achievement. The
general character of this convention
already signed by the delegates of more
than twenty sovereign states, further
commends it to the favorable action of
the senate of the U. s., whose ratifica-
ton 1t still waits.
OUR ARMY-oRGANIzA
OPERATIONS.
Since my last annual message, and In
obedience to the acts of the congress Of
April 22, and 26, 1898, the remaining
volunteer force enlisted for the Spanish
war, consisting of 34,S34 regulars aud
110,2G2 volunteers with over 5000 volun-
teer officers, has been discharged from
the military service. OF the volunteers
667 officers and 1881 men were serving
in the Philippines and 1850 of the
regulars who were entitled to be
mustered out, after the ratification of
the treaty of peace They voluntarily
remained in the front until their places
could be filled 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. 1 recommend
that the congress provide a. special
medal of honor for the volunteers,
regulars, sailors and marines, on duty
in the Philippines. who voluntarily re-
mained in the service after their terms
of enlistment had expired.
BY the act of March g. 1899, congress
gave authority to increase the regular
army to a maximum not exceeding
$4,000 enlisted men and to enlist a force
IN ad
from the country at large. BY virtue
OF this authority the regular army
has been increased to the number of
61 1893 enlisted men and 2,248 officers
and new volunteer regiments have been
organized, aggregating 33,050 enlisted
men and 1,524 officers, two of these
volunteer regiments are made up of
colored men, with colored line officers.
The new troops to take the places of
those returning from the Philippines
have been transported to Manila to
the number of 5S1 officers and 26,322
enlisted men of the regular army and
594 officers and 1888 enlisted men OF
the new volunteer force, while 504
officers and 14,119 men of the volunteer
force are on the ocean en- route to
Manila.
The force now in Manila consists OF
905 officers and 30,57S regulars and 594
officers and 1888 of the volunteers
making an aggregate of 1,499 officers
and 1896 men. When the troops now
under orders shall reach Manila, the
force in the archipelago will comprise
2,O51 officers and 63,4S3 men.
The muster out of the great volun-
teer army organized for the Spanish war
and the creation of the new army, the
transportation from Manila to San
Francisco of those entitled to be dis
charged, and the transportation of the
troops to their places have been a work
of great magnitude, well and ably done
for which too much credit cannot be
given the war department. During the
past year we have reduced our forces In
Cuba and Porto Rico; In Cuba we now
have 334 officers and 1876 enlisted men
and a battalion of 400 men composed OF
native Porto Ricans; while stationed
throughout the u. S. are 910 officers and
1897 men. and in Hawaii IL officers
and 453 enlisted men.
The operations of the army are fully
presented in the report of the secretary
of war. / cannot withhold from officers
and men the highest commentator
for their soldierly conduct in trying
situations, their willing sacrifices for
their country, and the integrity and
ability with which they have performed
unusual and difficult duties in our
island possessions.
In the organization of volunteer regi-
ments authorized by the act of March
2, 1899. it was found that no provision
had been made for chaplains. This omis-
sion was doubtless from inadvertance
/ recommend the early authorization
for the appointment of one chaplain for
each Of said regiments. These regiments
are now In the Philippines and 1t is i'm
portant that immediate action be had.
POSTAL ORGANIZATION
In restoring peaceful conditions,
orderly rule, and civic progress in Cuba,
Porto Rico and, so far as practicable,
in the Philippines, the rehabilitation OF
the postal service has been an essential
and important part of the work 1t
f,, 10 agli