The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-03-08


selves and our relations with the
rest of the world The part
which the United States bore so
honorably in the Thrilling scenes
in China, while new to American
life. has been in harmony with
its true spirit and best traditions,
and in dealing with the results
its policy will he that of moders.
ton and fairness.
1--WE face at this moment
most important question-that of
the future relations of the United
States aud Cuba. With our near
neighhorS we must remain close
friends The declaration of the
purposes of this government i'll
the resolution of April 20, 1898,
must be made good. Ever since
the evacuation Of the island by
the army of Spain the Executive
with all practicable speed has
been assisting its people in the
successive steps necessary to the
establishment of free aud indie
pendent government prepared to
assume aud perform the obliga
tionS of ional law which
now rest upon the United States
under the treaty OF Paris. The
convention elected by the people
to frame a constitution is ap.
preaching the completion of its
laborS. The transfer OF Ameri.
can control to the new govern
ment of such great Importance
involving an obligation resulting
from our Intervention and the
treaty Of peace, that | am glad
to be advised 10y the recent act
of Congress of the policy which
the legislative branch of the gov
ernment deems essential to the
best interests of Cuba and the
United States.
REASONS FOR INTERVENTION,
The principles which led to
our intervention require that the
fundamental law upon which the
new government rests should he
adapted to secure a government
capable of performing the duties
and diSchargiug the functions of
a separate nation, of observing its
international Obligations of pro
tecting life and property. insur-
ing order, safety aud liberty. and
conforming to the established aud
historical policy of the United
States i'll its relation to Cuba.
"The peace which we are
pledged to leave to the Cuban
people must carry with it the
guarantees of permanence. We
became sponsors for the pacifca-
ton of the island, and we remain
accountable to the CubanS, no
less than to our own country and
people, for the reconstruction of
Cuba as free commonwealth on
abiding foundations of right,
justice, liberty and assured order.
Our acknowledgements of the peo-
pie will not be completed until
free Cuba Shall 'he reality, not
a name; a perfect entity, not a
party experiment bearing within
itself the elements of failure
"When the treaty of peace with
Spain was ratified on the 9th of
February, 1899, and Publications
were exchanged nearly two years
ago, the Congress has indicated
no form Of government for the
Philippine Islands. 1t has, how.
ever, provided an army to enable
the Executive to suppress inSur-
rectlon, restore peace, give Sc.
curity to the inhabitants and es
tablish the authority of the United
States throughout the archipel-
ago. 1t has authorized the or.
ganlZation of native troops as
auxiliary TO the regular force.
PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT.
1t has been advised from time
to time of the acts of the military
and naval officers in the islands,
of my action in appointing civil
commissions, of the instructions
with which they were charged, Of
their duties and powers, of their
recommendations and of their
several acts under Executive com
mission, together with the very
complete general information they
have submitted. These reports
fully set forth the condition, past
and present, in the islands, and
the instructions clearly show the
principles which will guide the
Executive until Congress shall,
as it is required to do by the
treaty, determine ''the civil rights
and political status of the native
Inhabitants"
The Congress having added
the sanction of its authority to
the powers already possessed and
exercised by the Executive under
the Constitution, thereby leaving
with the Executive the RESPONSE.
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