The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-12-04

of the people given under just and equal laws, and are now ready, ill like manner, to proceed to the establishment of gen eral government which shall assume and exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, and control over the island:
 '"Therefore, it is ordered that a general election be held in the island of Cuba on ahe third Saturday of September, in the year nineteen hundred, to elect delegates to convention to meet in the city of Havana at twelve o'clock noon on the first Monday of November, in the year nineteen hundred, to frame and adopt a constitution for the people of Cuba, and as part thereof to provide for and agree with the Government of the United States upon the relations to exist be- tween that Government and the govern ment of Cuba, and to provide for the cleo ton by the people of officers under such constitution and the transfer of govern ment to the officers so elected.
 ''1he election will be held in the several voting precincts of the island under, and pursuant to, the provisions of the electo- ral law of April IS, 1900, and the amend ments thereof"
 The election was held on the 18th of September and the convention assem- bled on the 9th of November, 1900, and is now in session.
 In calling the convention to order, the Military Governor of Cuba made the fol lowing statement:
 'As Military Governor of the island, representing the President of the United States, call this convention to order.
 ''It will be your duty, first, to frame and adopt a constitution for Cuba, and when that has been done to formulate what in your opinion ought to be the re- iations between Cuba and the United States,
 'AThe constitution must be adequate to secure a stable, orderly, and free govern ment.
 "When you have formulated the rela- tions which in your opinion ought to eN- ist between Cuba and the United States the Government of the United States will doubtless take such action on it's part as shall lead to a final and authoritative agreement between the people of the two countries to the promotion of their com 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 the dignity, individual self-restraint, and wise con servatism which shall characterize your proceedings the capacity of the Cuban people for representative government may be signally Illustrated.
 'sThe 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 stitutional government
 4'Under the order pursuant to which you have been elected and convened you have no duty and no authority to take part in the present government of the island. Your powers are strictly limited by the terms of that order"
 When the convention concludes it's la- bors l 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.
 I renew the recommendation made in my Special Message of February 10, 1899, as to the necessity for cable com naunication between the United States and Hawaii, with extension to Manila. Since then circumstances have strikingly 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 our own complete control Manila once within telegraphlc reach, connection with the systems of the Asiatic coast would open increased and profitable opportunities for a more direct cable route from our shores to the Orient than is now afforded by the trans-Atlan- tic, continental, and trans-Asian lines. urge attention to this important matter.
 The present strength of the Army is 100000 rnen7-85, GOO regulars and 35,O00 volunteers. Under the act of March ,, 1899. on the Both of June next the pres ent volunteer force will be discharged and the Regular Army will be reduced to 2,447 officers and 29,025 enlisted men.
 In 1888 a Board of Officers convened by President Cleveland adopted a 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 ap- propriations have been made and the work of ferti6oation has steadily pro gressed.
 More than sixty millions of dollars have been invested in great number of forts and guns, with all the complicated and scientific machinery and electrical appli- ances necessary for their use. The prop CT care of this defensive machinery re- uuires men tsairled in its use. The num- Der of men necessary to perform this duty alone is asceFtained by the War De partment, at a minimum, allowance, to be 1S,42O.
 There are tffty-eight or more military hosts in the United States other than the coast-defense Notifications.
 The number of tfese posts is being con stantly increased by the Congress More than $22, ,00o,090 have been expended in building and equipment. and they can only be cared for by the Regular Army. The posts now f,l existence and others to be built provide fer accommodations for, and if fully garpisoned require, 26,00O troops. Many of these posts are along our frontier or at important strategic points, the oaedpatfon of which is neces- sary.
 We have in Cuba between 5000 aud 6.O00 troops For the present our troops in that island can not be withdrawn or materially diminished, and certainly not