New-York tribune., 1900-12-04

7
in every avenue Of development.
The Filipinos are race quick to learn and 10
profit oy knowledge. He would be rash who
with the teachings of cOntempOraneOus history
in view, would fix limit to the degree OF cult
ure and advancement yet within the reach OF
these people if our duty toward them be faith
fully performed.
PORTO RICO AND CUBA
The civil government of Porto Rico provided
for by the act Of the Congress approved April
II. 1900. is in successful operation. The courts
have been established. The Governor and his
associates, working inteIligently and harmoni-
ously are meeting with commendable success
On the 9th Of November a general election
was held in the island for members Of the Legfs-
lature. and the body elected has been called to
convene on the first Monday Of December.
L recommend that legislation be enacted by
the Congress comforting upon the Secretary OF
the Interior supervision the public lands in
Porto Rico, and that he be directed to ascertain
the location and quantity of lands the title to
which remained in the Crown of Spain at the
date of cessiOn of Porto Rico TO the United
States. and that appropriations necessary 1Or
surveys be made and that the methods or the
disposition of such lands be prescribed by law
ON the 10Th Of July, 1900. directed tnat
call be issued for election in Cuba for MEM
bers of a constitutional convention to frame a
Constitution as basis FOR a stable ana lhde-
pendent government in the island In pursu-
ance thereof the Military Governor issued the
following instructions:
Whereas. The Congress OF the United states oy
its Joint resolution of April 20. 1S9s, declared
That the people OF the island :, Of OF Suba are
THAT the United States hereby dsclaims any dis
diction or control over said island except for the
paciicaton thereof and asserts its determination.
ment and control of the island TO its people,;
And whereas the people OF cuba have s; esta9 sI,-
thorty from the suffrages Of the people given un-
@anner 1u to proceed to- the establSRmen Of
eral government which shall assume and exercise
island.
Therefore, il is ordered that a general election
be held in the island OF Cuba on the third satqr
day Of September in the year 1900 to elect dele
vana at l2 O'Clock noon on the first Monday Of
IN the ysr S oT @ TO o. fsRs came anS ana aaos s
thereof y 70 pr PP0Yf for and h t5s rs tne
tions to exist between that Government and the
government of Cuba. and to provide tor the elee-
tuition and the transfer Of government TO the Of
hcers elected.
The election viii be held in the several voting
precincts Of the island under and pursuant TO 70 tne
provisions of the electoral law OF April Is 1900 and
the amendments thereof
The election was held on September 15 and
the convention assembled on November ., 100.
and Is now in session.
In calling the convention 20 order, the Military
Governor of Cuba made the following state
ment:
As Military Goyern9r OF the island repr&sSentlng &
1t viii be your duty first, TO frame and adopt
done to formulate what in your opinion ought 10 be
the relations between Cuba and the United States.
stable orderly and Tree soyeFn@sHi; - -,,.s
in your 9pnioa ought To- exist Between Cuba and
the United States the Government of the United
shall lead to anaI and authoritative agreement
6e6wesn me ne Iep eGPe 95 sns interests "
All friends Of Cuba will follow your delloera-
tons with the deepest interest. earnestly desiring
that shall reach lust conclusions, aud that Dy
the dignity individual selfrestratnt, and wise con-
servatsm which shall charaeterize your proceed
ings the capacity OF the Cuban people for repre-
sentative government may oe sgnsay Illus ILus'raIea @
sentative government and Dictatorship is that
whatever office confines himself strictly within the
limits of his defined powers. Without such re-
ment
Under the order pursuant 10 which you have
no authority to take part in the present govern
tied by the terms OF that order.
When the convention concludes it's Iabors
will transmit 10 the Congress the constitution
as framed by the convention for its considera-
tion and for such action II may deem ad-
visable.
renew the recommendation made in my
special message Of February 10. 1899 as TO the
necessity for cable communication between the
United States and Hawaii with extension 10
Manila. Since then circumstances have strik-
ingly emphasized this need. SURVEYS have
shown the entire feasibility of chain OF cables
which at each stopping place shall touch on
American territory. so that the system shall be
under complete control Manila once
within teIegraphic reach. connection with the
systems of the Asiatic Coast would open in
creased and profitable opportunities for a more
direct cable route from our shores to the
Orient than is now afforded by the transat-
lantic. Continental and trans-Asian lines
INCREASE OF THE ARMY.
The present strength of the Army is 100000
men--65.0O0 regulars and $4,000 volunteers
Under the act OF March o 1899. on the 3Oth OF
June next the present volunteer force will be
discharged. and the Regular Army will be re-
duced TO 2.447 officers and 29.025 enlisted men,
In 1888 Board of officers convened by Presi-
dent Cleveland adopted a comprehensive scheme
OF coast defence fOrtihcations. which involved
the outlay Of something over S1O0OO0OOO This
plan received the approval of the Congress. and
since then regular appropriations have been
made and the work of fortihcation has steadily
progressed.
More than $50. 100000 have been invested in
a great number OF forts and guns with all the
complicated and scientific machinery and elec-
! trical appliances necessary for their use The
proper care of this defensive machinery requires
men trained in its use The number of men
necessary to perform this duty alone is ascer-
tanned by the War Department. at a minimum
allowance, to be 1870
There are fifty-eight more military posts
In the United States other than the coast de-
fence fortihcatiOns.
increased by the Congress. More than SD OOO-
COO has been expended in building and equip
ment and they only be cared for by the
Regular Army, The posts now in existence and
others to be built provide for accommodations
for and II fully garrisoned require % 600 troops
Many of these posts along our frontier or
at important strategic points, the occupation OF
which Is necessary.
We have In Cuba between 5000 and 5000
troops For the present our troops in that island
cannot he withdrawn or materially diminished
and certainly not until the conclusion OF the
laN Ftou fffTIfin
session and until government provided by the
new constitution shall have been established and