Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,

The annual message of President Nc
Klnley appropriately opens with these
paragraphs:
incoming of the new century YOU begin
the last session of the Fifty-slxth Con-
gress with evidences on every hand of
Individual and national prosperity and
proof Of the growing strength and in.
creasng power for good of republican in
stitutiCns. Your countrymen will ioin
with you in felieitation that American
liberty is more, firmly established than
ever before, and that love for II and the
determination TO preserve II are more
universal than at any former period of
The Republic was never so strong. he
cause never so strongly intrenched in the
hearts of the people as now. The con-
stitution, with few amendments. exists n 9
it left the hands of its authors. The
additions which have been made TO n
proclaim larger freedom and more ex-
tended citizenship. Popular government
has demonstrated in its la years of trial
here its stability and security, and its
efficiency as the best instrument of ma
tional development and the best safe
guard to human rights.
When the Sixth Congress assembled in
November, 1900, the population of the
United States was 5,S0S,tS3. 1t is now
Is, SOi,799. Then we had l6 states Now
we have 40. Then our territory con-
sisted of 9O9,C5O square miles 1T is now
3,SlG,595 square miles. Education, re
ligon and morality have kept pace with
our advancement in other directions
and while extending its power the Gov
principles and abated none of them in
dealing with our new peoples and pos
sessions. A nation SO preserved and
invokes His guidance and the continuance
of His care and favor"
The message is of unusual length. 1t
takes up first, as it's main topic of discus
SIGN, the complications in China. Next
in Importance come the Philippines, Cuba
and Porto Rico, the question of the 18th
milan canal and the splendid record of
the treasury department.
THE COMPLICATIONS IN CHINA.
In regard to China the President, re-
viewing The events which led up to the
murder of the missionarie the killing Of
the German ambassador at Pekiu, and
the siege of the legations, says that the
trouble had its origin in the character of
their government To the Chinese mind
the progress in China of the arts of the
civilized nations constituted species of
foreign invasion which ranked until it
produced the present situation. Treaty
rights constantly were violated and il
took all the diplomacy, backed by demon
stra tons OF force, to compel a partial re-
spcct for their terms. Finally, the rise
ana spread of the Boxer movement Gull
minated in the siege of the legations and
lighting Incident to the relief Thereof The
securement of adequate guarantees for
liberty of faith is put fol ward as one Of
the essential factors of durable ad-
1ustment since insecurity of those ma
tiyes who may embrace alien creeds is
scarcely less effectual assault upon the
rights of foreign worship and teaching
than would be the direct invasion Thereof !"
Touching upon the possible inability of
China to pay a sufficient money indemnity
the President says: Il am disposed to
think that due compensation may be
made in part by increased guarantees Of
security for foreign rights and immuni-
ties, and, most important OF all, by the
opening of China to the equal commerce
OF all the world. These views have been
and will be earnestly advocated by our
representa- tives." In the event of pro-
talions the President favorably incllnes
to Russia's suggestion that the matter of
indemnities be relegated to the Court of
Arbitration at The Hague.
THE PHILIPPINES.
The treatment of the Philippine ques-
ton consists largely of a review of events
and acts during the past year, recalling
the Presidents determination to await
the decision OF the will of Congress as to
the establishment of form of govern
ment He reports favorable progress
towards paoification and the institution of
local government
BY the spring of this year" he says,
the effective opposition of the dissat-
listed Tagals to the authority of the
United states was virtually ended, thus
opening the door for the extension of a
STABLE ddmintSlTdtlOn over mucn OF a ter
ritory on the archipelago. Desiring to
bring this about, l appointed in March
last civil commission composed of Hon.
William II. Taft of Ohio, Professor Dean
{. Worcester of Michigan, Hon. Luke /.
Wright of Tennessee, Hon. Henry G. Ide
of Vermont and Professor Bernard Moses
of California. The aims of their mis-
sion and the scope Of their authority are
clearly set forth in my instructions of
April Z, 1900, addressed to the secretary
of war to be transmitted to them"
These instructions are embodied in the
message in full. Later reports from the
commission are highly encouraging.
Reiterating his designation of the Flo
pinos as the wards Of the nation" the
President says 1T is our duty so to
treat hem that our flag may he no less
beloved in the mountains of Luzon and
the fertile soils of Mindanao and Negroes
than 1t is at home, that there es here it
shall be the revered symbol of liberty, en-
lightenment and progress in every avenue
of development. The Filipinos are a
race quick to learn and to profit by
knowledge. He would be rash who with
the teachings of contemporaneous his
tory in view would fix a limit to the de-
gree Of culture and advancement yet
within the reach of these people IL our
duty toward them be faithfully per-
formed"
Porto Rico is only briefly referred to-
legislation is recommended to confer
upon the secretary OF the interior super
vision over public lands in Porto Rico,
with The duty to ascertain the location
and quantity of lands, the title to which
remained in the crown OF Spain when
Porto Rico was coded
Afer reviewing the circumstances of the
constitutional convention In cuba, the
President announces that when the con-
vention concludes its .labors he will trans
nit to Congress the constitution for such
action as it may deem advisable.