Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-12-06
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY
TO THE COUNTRY

mon interests.
San friends of Cuba will follow your
deliberations with the .sepest interest,
earnestly desiring that You shall reach
lust conclusions, and that by the dignity,
individual. lf-restraint, and wise con-
servatism which shall characterize your
proceedings the capacity of the Cuban
people for representative government may
be signally illustrated.
4The fundamental distinction between
true representative government and die
tatorship is that in the former every rep
resentative of the people. in whatever OF
fee, confines himself strictly within the
limits of his defined powers. without
such restraint there can be no free con-
stitutonal government.
Under the order pursuant to whlch |
YOU have been elected and convened You
have no duty and no authority to take
pnrt in the present government OF lhe
island. Your powers are strictly limited
BY the terms of that order"
When the convention concludes its Ia
bors will transmit to the Congress the
constitution as framed by the convention
for it's consideration and for such action
as it may deem advisable.
renew the recommendation made in
my Special Message of February 10, 1893,
as to the necessity for cable communica-
ton between the United States and
Hawaii, with extension to Manila. Since
then circumstances have strikingly en-
phasized this need. Surveys have shown
the entire feasibility of II chain of cables
which at each stopping place shall touch
on American territory. so that the system
shall be under our own complete control.
Manila once within telegraphic reach,
connection with the systems Of the Ash
attic coast would open increased and prof
liable opportunities for more direct
cable route from our shores to the orient
than is now afforded by the trans-Atlnn-
tic, continental, and trans-Asian lines.
urge attention to this important matter
The present strength of the army is
100000 men-65,000 regulars and $4,000
volunteers. Under the act of March 2,
1899, on the S0th of June next the pres
ent volunteer force will be discharged
and the Regular Army will be reduced to
2,447 o;cers and 29O25 enlisted men.
In 1883 Board of Officers convened
by President Cleveland adopted COM
prehensive scheme of coast-defense forti-
fications, which involved the outlay OF
something over one hundred million dol
lars This plan received the approval OF
the Congress, and since then regular APP
preparations have been made and the
work of fertilization has steadily pro-
crossed.
More than sixty millions of dollars have
been invested in a great number of fort:
and guns, with all the complicated ant
scientific machinery and electrical appl
ances necessary for their use. The prop
er care of this defensive machinery re
-, .ts,, he,
Der of men necessary to perform thi
duty alone is ascertained by the War De
partment, at a minimum allowance, t
be 1920.
There are fifty-eight or more militar
posts in the United States other than til
coast-defense Notifications.
The number of these posts is being con
stantly increased by the Congress. Nor
than $22,000,000 have been expended j
building and equipment, and they ca
only be cared for by the Regular Army
The posts now in existence and others t
be built provide for accommodations fo
and il fully garrisoned require, 26Ot
troops. Many of these posts are alon
our frontier or at important strateg
points, the occupation of which is neces
sary.
We have in Cuba between 5000 an
5000 troops. For the present our trooI
in that island cannot be withdrawn
materially diminished, and certainly n
until the conclusion of the labors of IL
constitutional convention now in sessic
and o government provided by the ne
constitution shall have been establish,
and its constitutionality assured.
In Porto Rico we have reduced the ga
risons to 1886, which includes $40 natl
troops. There is no room for further r
duction here.
We will be required to keep a consi
terable force in the Philippine Islands T
some time to come. From the best i
formation obtainable we will need the
for the immediate future from $4,000
10000 men. | am sure the number IN
be reduced as the insurgents shall col
to acknowledge the authority of t
United States, of which there are asst
Ing indications.
1t must be apparent that we will
quire an army Of about 10000, and II
during present conditions in Cuba q
the Philippines the President sho
have authority to increase the force
the present number of 100000. Inclut
in this number authority should be gi,
to raise native troops in the Philipp
up to 10000 which the Taft Comm
sion believe will be more effective in
tecting and supprcssing guerias, ass
sins, and ladrones than our own soldi,
The full discussion of this subject
the Secretary of War in his Annual
port is called to your earnest attention
L renew the recommendation made
my last Annual Message that the c
gress provide special medal of he
for the volunteers, regulars. sailors
marines on duty in the, Philippines
voluntarily remained in the service a
their terms of enlistment had expire
favor the recommendation of the !
rotary of War for the detail of off
from the line of the Army when va,
cies occur in the Adiutant- Generals
partment, Inspector-General's Den
inent, Quartermnster's Department, S
sistence Department, Pay Departm
Ordnance Department and Signal G.
The Army can not be too highly {
mended for its faithful and effet
service in active military operation
s5 the field and the difficult work of
administration.
The continued and rapid growth Of
postal service is a sure index of the {
and increasing business activity of
country. Its most striking new dev,
ment is the extension of rural free d
IA cry. This has come almost wholly w
the last year. At the beginning OF
fiscal year 1S99-19O0 the number of r,
In operation was only 391, and mo
these had been running less than ty
months. On the 18th of November,
the number had increased to ASIA, II
ing into forty-four States and Il