Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-23


government. And it gave us the right
70 naval stations upon her coast for
the protection and defense of Cuba and
the United States.
on May 20, 1902, under constitu-
ZION winch embodied these stipulations.
lne government and control of Cuba
were surrendered to the President and
congress elected by her people, and;the
American army sailed away. The new
republic began its existence with an
Administration of Cubans completely
organized in all it's branches and train
ca 10 eftective service by American Of
ncers. The administration of Presi.
dent Palma has been wise and eff
cient Peace and order have prevail.
ed. The people of Cuba are prosperous
ana happy. Her finances have been
honestly administered, and her credit
is Nigh The naval stations have been
located and bounded at Guantanamo
ana Bahia Honda, and are in the DOS
session of our navy. The Platt amend
ment is the sheet anchor of Cuban in
dependence and of Cuban credit. No
such revolutions as have afflicted Cen
tral and South America are possible
mere, because it is known to all men
that an attempt to overturn the founda-
tons OF that government will be con.
fronted by the overwhelming power of
the United States. The treaty of reel
procity and the act of congress of De-
cember 6, 1903, which confirmed Ii.
completed the expression of our policy
towards Cuba; which with a far view
to the future aims to bind to us by ties
OF benefit and protection, of mutual in
terest and genuine friendship, that is.
land which guards the Caribbean and
the highway to the isthmus, and must
always be, if hostile, an OUTPOST Of at
tack, and, if friendly, an outpost of de.
Tense for the United States. Rich as
we are, the American people have no
more valuable possession than the sen.
tim ent expressed in the dispatch which
l will now read:
Havana, May 20, 1902.
" Theodore Roosevelt,
President, Washington.
The government of the Island ha1y.
ing been just transferred, l, as Chief
Magistrate of the republic, faithfully
interpreting the sentiment of the
whole people of Cuba, have the honor
to send you and the American people
testimony of our profound gratitude
and the assurance of an enduring
friendship, with wishes and prayers to
the Almighty for the welfare and pros.
perity of the United States.
T. ESTRADA PALMA
The Philippine Issue.
When the last national convention
met the Philippines also were under
military rule. The insurrectos from
the mountains spread terror among
the peaceful people by midnight foray
and secret assassination. Aguinaldo
blded his time in a secret retreat Over
10000 American soldiers from more
than 500 stations, held still vigorous
enemy in check. The Philippine com.
mission had not yet begun its work.
| The last vestige of instruction has
been swept away. With their work
accomplished, over. $4,000 American
troops have been brought back across
the Pacific. Civil government has
been established throughout the Arch
ipelago. Peace and order and Justice
prevail. The Philippine commissions
guided at first by executive order and
then by the wise legislation of con-
gress in the Philippine government
act of July 1, 1902, have established
and conducted government which
has been credit to their country and
a blessing to the people of the islands.
The body Of laws which they have en-
acted upon careful and intelligent
study of the needs Of the counJ
try challenges comparison with
the statutes of any cou1l-
try. The personnel of civil govern
ment has been Brought together under
an advanced and comprehensive civil
service law, which has been rigidly en-
forced. A complete census has been
taken designed to be there as it was
in Cuba the basis for representative
government; and the people Of the Isl
lands will soon proceed under provis-
ions already made by congress to the
election of a representative assembly
in which, for the first time in their
history, they may have a voice in the
making of their own laws. In the
meantime the local and provincial gov
ernments are in the hands of officers
elected by the Filipinos; and in the
great central offices, in the commits
sion, on the bench, in the executive
departments, the most distinguished
men of the Filipino race are taking
their part in the government of their
people. A free school system has been
established and hundreds of thousands
of children are learning lessons which
will help fit them for self-government.
The seeds of religious strife existing in
the bitter controversy between the peo-
pie and the religious orders have been
deprived of potency for harm by the
purchase of the friars lands. and their
practical withdrawal. By the act Of
congress of March 2, 1903, a gold STAN
dard has been established to take the
place of the fluctuating silver cur
rency. The unit Of value is made ex-
actly one-half of the value of the
American gold dollar, so that Ameri-
can money is practically part of their
currency system. To enable the Phil
ippine government to issue this new
currency. s6,OOO,000 was borrowed by
them in 1903 in the city of New York.
And it was borrowed at a net interest
charge of 1 SIS per cent per annum.
The trade of the islands has increased
Notwithstanding adverse conditions.
During the last five years of peace
under Spanish rule, the average total