The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-27

filed before that time. Following out
his expressed policy to take no back
ward step in the Philippines, the presi-
dent will directly ask congress for an
policy to its legitimate conclusion
LIBERTY PROMISED CUBA
Pending the result of the constitu-
t10nai convention in the island, the mes
sage will avoid a. distinct declaration
as to the exact form of government in
Cuba, but it Will nevertheless be some
what of a surprise to those people who
have been accustomed to think the Gu
bans were incapable of self-govern-
ment. The president will quote reports,
it is said from different military and
civil officials, including the secretary Of
war. highly commandatory ofthe peace
full disposition of the Cubans and the re-
ceptive manner in which they are al
ready learning the lesson of self-gov-
There will be distinct promise in the
message, unless all signs fail, that it is
the purpose of the president to turn
over the island to the Cubans them
selves soon, and the hope will be ex-
dressed that before another message is
written a. new and independent nation
wiz have been created in the western
hemisphere.
In connection with the Cuban para
graph there will probably be significant
praise for the work Of sanitation and
education in the island, which has been
carried on so vigorously since the evacu-
alton by the Spanish.
CANAL QUESTION IN DOUBT.
Regarding the treatment of the Mic
aTaguan canal project, there is consid-
cradle difference Of opinion as to the
extent to which the president will feel
justified in recommending the canal
scheme As to his approval of the gen.
eraI project of building a canal, there is
no doubt, and he viii make his position
entirely clear in that regard. There are,
however, many complications TO be
avoided. and even the presidents ad-
vksers do not seem to be fully aware of
how the canal paragraph of the message
finally will be written.
The president is in favor of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty and will not hesitate to
say as much in an indirect manner al
though as the treaty remains unacted
upon by the senate he can not go into
the subject to any great extent
The president will have before him the
preliminary report of the canal COM
mission. This will be favorable to the
ETicaraguan route as against all others
including the Panama canal itself.
So far as can be learned the president
is not enamored of the Hepburn bill,
which passed the house last spring, and
which will come up in the senate a week
after congress meets Owing to his ad-
herence to the Fay treaty it Is believed
the president will so word this part of
his message when it is finally recaSt as
tc indicate that he will not favor the
building of a canal unless the Clayton
Bulwer treaty is specifically repealed,
or the Hay-Pauncefote treaty enacted
into law.
On this account there are those who
think that the canal paragraph of the
message will not be entirely satisfactory
to those ardent champions Of the canal
scheme, who want to go to work on the
big ditch at once
The message certainly will intimate
that the disposition Of Nicaragua and
Costa Rica is especially favorable, the
only objection to building the canal be-
ings that the United States should not
violate a treaty made with another
country years ago and never yet prop
erly abrogated or amended.