Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-04

l recommends tustt M enIcT
cd by the Congress comforting upon thu
Secretary Of the Interior supervision ore,
, the public lands in Porto Rico. and ih..
he be directed 10 ascertain the location
ana quantity of lands the title to whic!
remained in the Crown Of Spain nj tn,
dale of cesSion of Porto Rico io the Init
ed States. and that appropriations ncccs
sary for surveys be made. and that til.
methods Of the disposition Of such land,
be prescribed by law.
On the 18th Of July. 1900. / directed
that !, call be issued for an election i,
Cuba for members Of constitutions,
convention to frame Il constitution as !;
basis for a stable and independent COY.
eminent in the island. In purs,,anc,
thereof the Military Governor issued tn,
following Instructions:
Whereas the Congress Of the United
States by it's joint resolution Of April 30
1898. declared
THAT the people Of the island of Cuba
are. and of right ought to be. free ana in
dependent.
That The United States hereby dis.
claims any disposition or intention to cx-
erci>c sovereignty. jurisdiction. Or con.
trol over said island except for the paciii-
cation thereof. and asserts its determine
ton. when that is accomplished. To leave
the government and control of the island
40 its people;
And whereas the people of Cuba have
established municipal governments. de-
ilNlng thri: authority from the Suflra yes
vi the people given under just and equal
laws, and are now ready. in like manner.
to proceed to the establishment Of Il gen
eral government which shall assume anl
exercise sovereignty. jurisdiction, and
contI"l over the island
''Thereforc it is ordered that n general
election h" held i'll the island Of Cuba on
the third Saturday Of September in the
year nineteen hundred. To elect delegates
to Il convention 10 meet in the city "f
Havana ut twelve O'clock noon on he
first Monday of November. III the year
nineteen hundred to frame and adopt Il
constitution for the people of Cuba. ami
as i part thereof To provide for aud agree
with the Government III the United
States upon the relations to exist he
tween that Government and the govern
mrnt OF Cuba. ana I" provide for the clcc-
ton 10y The people of officers under such
constitution and the transfer II govern
mcnt to the officers 50 elected.
The election will he held in the several
voting precincts of the island nnder. and
pursuant To. the provisions Of the cIectu-
raj law of April -. 1900. and the amend
m"nts thereof.
The election WAS held on the 10Th of
September, ana the convention assem-
hled on the 9TH Of November 1900. ami
is now in session.
In calling the convention Ia order. the
Military Governor Of Cuba made the fol
lowing statement:
''AS Military >invcrnor Of the island.
representing the President Of the United
states. call this convention to order.
1t will ne Your duly. first. to frame
and adopt u constitution for Cuba. an,f
when that has been done to formulat.,
What in your opinion ought To be- the re-
laiionS between Cuba and the United
States.
The constitution must be- adequate to
secure a stable. orderly, and free govern
m,nt.
when You have formulated the rela-
ti"ns which in Your opinion ought to rN-
Isl between cuba and ihr United States
tn" Government Of the United States will
druItlcsS talk, such action on it, part AZ
shall lead To- Il final and authoritative
agreement bctwcr the people ~ the tw"
countries 50 the promotion Of their cont
mon interests.
"All friends of Cuba will follow your
deliberations with the deepest interest,
earnestly desiring that YOU shall reach
Just conclusions and that by tho dignity.
individual >clt-reStraint. and wise cri-
Scrvatism which shall characterize your
proceedings the capacity OF thr Cuban
p,"rl" for representative government
may be- ~ignally illustrated.
The Fundamental distinction between
TIM, representative government and die
tatui ship i that in the former every rep
roscntativc IT ID" people. il whatever Of
fec confines himself strictly within the
limits Of his defined powers. Without
>url; restraint Their" can be no free con
StiEiionai government.
Il ndcr the order pursuant t. which
yuu have t",n elected aud convened You
have no duty and n" authority To take
par in the present government of the
islHid. Your powers are strictly limited
hy The terms Of thar order"
When the convention ronrludc~ its la
hor> | will transmit to the Congress the
constitution AZ framed 10y the convention
for lis consideration aud for such action
az ID may deem advisable.
| renew the Recommendation matte in
my Special Message "t February ~.
1899. rs to the necessity for cable COM
mlnic:tiun between Tho nitcd States
and Hawaii. with extension 1" Manila
Since then circumstances havc >trikin.lN
emphasized this need Surveys have
shown thc ..ujirc Feasibility of a chain Of
cables Nh.h ~ each stopping place shall
touch on american territory. :" that the
system Shall be under utr own complete
control Manila once Within Geographic
reach. connection with the Sy>trmS IT the
ASiaic coast would open increased and
profitable opportunities for Il more direct
cable i,,nt. from our shores To the Orient
than i now afforded by the trans Allan
tie Continental. aud tran<-A>iau lines.
urge attention I" This important matter.
The present strength of The Army l.
1GU.HlD mcn-G.,.ptm rec,Il,l> and $1,000
volunteers. Under the act at March =.
1888 CA the :;Dth Of June next the pre~-
cnt volunteer fore" will he discharged
and til" Regular Army Will bc reduced to
iii officers and 290.o1 enlisted men.
In 1883 Board of Officers convened
by President Cleveland adopted Il com