The sun., 1906-12-05

the Secretary OF War and the Assistant
Secretary Of State. in order that they might
grapple with the situation on the ground.
All Efforts TO secure an agreement between
the contending factions by which they
should themselves come % an amicable
understanding and settle upon some
modus Vivendi-some provisional govern
ment OF their own-failed. Finally the
President OF the Republic resigned: Tho
quorum of Congress assembled failed by
deliberate purpose of it's members, 80 that
there was no power TO act on his resignation.
and the Government came to halt. In
accordance with the so-called Platt amend
ment, which was embodied in the constltu-
ton OF Cuba, l thereupon procialIneu q
provisional government for the island, the
Secretary OF War acting as provisional
governor until he could be replaced by Mr..
Magoon, the late Minister to Panama and
Governor OF the Canal Zone on the lsthmus;
troops were sent to support them and 70 re;
lieve the navy, the expedition being handled
with most satisfactory speed and efficiency;
The insurgent troops Immediately agreed
that their troops should lay down their
arms and disband, and the agreement was
carried out. The provisional government
has left the personnel Of the old govern
ment and the old laws, SO far as might be,
unchanged, and will thus administer the
island for a few months until tranquility
can be restored a new election properly held
and new government inaugurated. Peace
mas come III Lne lbldIlu, hho hdA NCcbth6
OF the sugar cane crop, the great crop OF
the island, is about to proceed.
When the election has been held and the
new government inaugurated in peacefuI
and ORDERLY fashion the provisional gov
eminent will come to an end. take TINS
opportunity Of expressing upon behalf OF
the American people, with all possible
solemnity,. our most earnest hope that the
people Of Cuba will realize 0he imperative
need Of preserving justice and keeping
order in the island. The United States
wishes nothing of Cuba except that IL shall
prosper morally and materially. and wishes
nothing OF the Cubans save that they shall
be able to preserve order among themselves
and therefore TO preserve their indepen-
denoe. IL the elections become a farce,
and il the insurrectionary habit becomes
confirmed in the island, it is absolutely
out Of the question that the island should
continue independent, and the United
States, which has assumed the sponsorship
before the civilized world for Cuba's career
as a nation, would again have to intervene
and to see that the government was man
aged in such orderly fashion as to secure
the safety Of life and property. The path
to be trodden by those who exercise self
government is always hard, and we should
have every charity and patience with the
Cubans as they tread this difficult path.
have the utmost sympathy with and re-
gard for them, but / most earnestly adjure
them eolemnly to weigh their RESPONSE
bilities and TO see that when their new gov
ernment is started it shall run smoothly
and with freedom from fragrant denial OF
right on the one hand and from insurrec-
tionary disturbances on the other.
THE RIO CONF ERENCE.
The second international Conference Of
American Republics, held in Mexico in the
years 1902, provided for the holding OF
the third conference within five years and
committed the fixing of the time and place
nd tho nUa for tho OOnfaronNa
to the governing board Of the Bureau of
American Republics, composed of the
representatives of all the American
nations. in Washington. That board
discharged the duty imposed upon it
with marked fidelity and painstaking care,
and upon the courteous invitation of the
United States of Brazil the conference was
held at Rio de Janeiro, continuing from
the Esd OF July to the 10th OF August last.
Many subjects of common interest to all
the American nations were discussed by
the conference, and the conclusions reached,
embodied in a series Of resolutions and pro-
posed conventions, will be laid before you
upoh the coming in OF the final report OF
the American delegates. They contain
many matters of importance relating
to the extension of trade, the increase
OF communication, the smoothing away Of
barriers to free intercourse and the pro-
motion of a better knowledge and good
understanding between the different coun-
UTltS TtDTbtenUeQ. ne HlceJlU&B Oh Inc
conference were harmonious and the con-
cusions were reached with substantial
unanimity. It is interesting to observe
that in the successive conferences which
have been held the representatives of the
different American nations have been
learning TO work together effectively, for.
while the First Conference in Washington
in 1882 and the Second Conference in Mexico
in l00l-2, occupied many months, with much
time wasted in an unregulated and fruitless
discussion, the Third Conference at Rio
exhibited much of the facility in the practical
OF business which lcharacterizes
permanent deliberative bodies, and COM
pleted its labors within the period of six
weeks originally allotted for its sessions.
Quite apart from the specific value Of the
re ached by the confe nee the
example OF the represe natives OF all the
American nations engaging in harmonious
and kindly consideration and discussion of
subjects OF common inte erest is itself OF gre at
and substantial value for the promotion of
re easonable and considerate treatment of all
int national questions. The thanks of
this country are due to the Cove rnme mt of
Brazil and to the people of Rio de Janeiro
for the generous hospitality with which our
delegates, in common with the others, we're
received, entertained and facilitated in
their work
Incidentally to the meeting of the con-
ference, the Secretary Of State viste d the
city Of Rio de Janeiro and was cordinally
received by the conference, of which hewas
made an honorary president. The an
Of his inte ntion ID make this
visit was followed by most courteous and
urgent invitations from nearly all
the countries of South Americ
to visit them as the guest of their
governments II was deemed that by the
acceptance OF these invitations we might
express the real respect
and friendship in which we hold our sister
republics of the southern continent, and
the Secretary accordingly visited Brazil,
Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Panama
and Colombia. He refrained from visiting
Paraguay, Bolivia and Ecuador only be-
cause the distance OF their capitals from
the seaboard made il impracticable with the
time at his disposal. He carried with him
a pessaSe Of peace and friendship, and OF
strong desire Tor good understanding and
mutual helpfulness, and he was every
where received in the spirit of his message.
The members OF government, the press,
the learned professions, the men OF busi-
ness and the great masses OF the people
united everywhere in emphatic response
to. his friendly expressions and in doing
honor to the country and cause which he
In many parts OF South America there
has been much misunderstanding Of the
attitude and purposes of the United SCates
toward the other American republics. An
idea had become prevalent that our asser-