The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1899-12-07
The TrnasvaAl War.

Great Britain and the Beer states Of Africa
We have remained faithful TO the precept Of
avoiding enIangling alliances as 70 affairs moi
Of our direct concern Had circumstances sug.
gested that the parties to the quarrel woull
have welcomed any kindly expression of this
hope OF the American people that war might De
averted. good offices would have been gladly
rendered. The United States representative Al
Pretoria was early instructed to see that al
neutral American int rests be respected by the
combatants- This has been an easy tas in
view of the positive declarations both Brit.
ish and Boer authorities that the personal and
property rights of our citizens should be OBJ
served
Upon the withdrawal of the British agent al
Pretoria the United States consul was author.
lied upon the request OF the British govern
ment and with the assent o; the South African
and Orange Free State governments. to exer-
else the customary good offices OF a neutral fol-
the care OF British interests In the discharge
OF this function am happy to say that abundan,
opportunity has been afforded 10 show the i'm
Partially OF this government toward botA the
combatants.
Wants a Cable TO Manila.
The japanese government has shown a lively
interest in the proposition 81 the Pacific Gable
company to add to Is prole :ted cable lines 70
Hawaii, Guam and the Philip branch
connection with the coast Of Japan IL would
be a gratifying contamination were the utility
of the contemplated scheme enhanced Dy bring
ing Japan and the United States into direct
Geographic relation Without repeating tae
observations of my special message Of February
IT, lsst. concerning the necessity OF a cable &c
Manila, l respectfully invite attention 70 il /
recommend that in case the con sre>s should not
take measures to bring about this result by che
direct action of the government, the postmaster
general be authorize t. invite competitive bids
for the establishment OF cable: the company
making the best responsible bid To be awarde,!
the contract. the successful company to give
ample bonds to insure the completion OF the
work within a reasonable time.
The Probe IN in Cuba.
The withdrawal of the authority OF Spain
from the island Of Cuba effected by the first
OF January, that tHc full ACCOMPLISHMENTS: OF
peace found the relinluished territory held by
Us in trust for the Inhabitants. maintaining, IN
der the direction of the executive. such govern
ment and control therein should conserve
public order, restore the productive conditions
OF peace SO long disturbed by the Instability
and disorder which prevailed for the greater
part of the preceding three decades and build
up that tranquil development OF the domestic
state whereby alone be realized the gh
purpose, proclaimed in the joint resolution
adopted by the congress on the 18th of April
1898. by which the United States discIaimad any
opposition or intention To exercise sovereignty,
jurisdiction or control over Cuba, except for the
pacihcatlon thereof, and asserted its determl-
nation when that was accomplished u leave the
government ard control of the island to its peo
pie. The pledge contained in this resolution is
of the highest honorable Obligation and must be
sacredly kept.
believe that substantial progress has been
made in this direction. All the administrative
measures adopted in Cuba have aimed to lit it
for regenerated existence by enforcing the
supremacy of law and justice: by placing wher
ever practicable the machinery OF administra-
ton in the hands OF the inhabitants; by insti
education, by fostering industry and trade. bv
intoxicating public morality and in short, by
taking every rational step 10 aid the Cuban peo-
pie to attain to that plane of self-conscious
spect and se.f-reliant unity which fits an en-
lightened community for seIf-government with
in its own sphere while enabling ii to fulfill ali
outward obligations.
This nation has assumed before the world a
grave responsibility for the future good gov
eminent of Cuba We have accepted a trust
the fulfiliment OF which calls for the sternest
integrity of purpose and the exercise OF the
highest wisdom. The Cuba yet 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 assured.
Whether those ties shall be organic conven-
tonai, the deStinieS of Cuba in some rieht-
full form and manner irrevocably linked with
our own. but how or how far is for the future to
determine IN the ripen-sS of events. Whatever
be the outcome, we must see to it that free Cuba
be n reality. not a name, perfect entity not
hasty exper C1ent bearing within Itself the e.
mentS of failure Our mission. to accomplish
o
be fulfilled by turning adrift any loosely framed
to face the yiciSSitudes which
too often attend weaker states wncse natural
wealth and abundant re cure offset by the
incon -ruities of their political org anizaton and
the recurring occasions for internal riva'ries to
sap their siren tn and dls>ipute their energies
The grea. est blessing VIII Oh can cou,e to uba
is the restoration Of her agricultural and indus
trial prosperity. which viii Aive employment to
idle men and re-4stablSh the pursuits of peace.
This is her chief and immed ate need
By the treaty OF peace the Spanish people
the is and have until April ii. 10 o. to elect
whether they will remain citizens of Spain or
become citizens of Cub = Until then it cannot
be definitely ascertalntd who shall be entitled
to partl, ipate in the formation of the gov
of 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
island to the Ulcers elected by the people. The
ex Experience thus acquired will prove of great
va iue in the formation of representative con-
vention OF the people 10 draft a constitution
and establish a general system Of independent
government for the island In the meantime
and so long exercise cont rol over the
island the products of Cuba should have q
market in the United States a good terms
and with as favorable rates Of dutT are give
to the West India islands under treaties OF re-
ciprocity which S8all be made.
CONCERNING Our solder and Sailors
ence TO the acts of the congress- of April ;. and
e, 1895. the remaining volunteer force enlisted
for the Spani war. consisting of 81. s34 regulars
and IL N. volunteers with over so volunteer
officers. has been disch ,rsed from the military
service. OF the volunteers. 657 officers and a.
s3i men were serving in the Pnilpp mes and L.
$50 of the regulars who were entitled to be mus
tered out after the ratification OF the treaty OF
peace. They voluntarily remained at the front
un til their places could be filled by new troops
They were returned home in the order in which
they went 10 Manila, and are now all OF them
out of the service and in the ranks OF citizen
ship. / recommend that the con.ress provide
a special medal of honor for the volunteers
regulars. sailors. and marines duty in the
who voluntarily remained in the
service after their terms of enlistment had eX-
pired.
BY the act OF March =, 1899. congress has au-
thority to increase the regular army to n maxi
mum not exceeding $40 enlisted men and TO
enlist force OF B. % volunteers TO be recruited
~, 10 a Ry of