Rock Island Argus., 1906-12-04

| gress assembled failed by deliberate
| purpose of it's members, so that there
was no power to act on his resignation,
and the government came to a halt. In
| accordance with the so called Platt
amendment, which was embodied in
the constitution of Cuba, thereupoD
proclaimed a 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 isthmus.
Troops were sent to support them and
to relieve the navy. the expedition be-
ing handled with most satisfactory
speed and efficiency. The insurgent
chiefs Immediately agreed that their
troops should lay down their arms and
disband, and the agreement was car
ried out. The provisional government
has left the personnel of the old gov
ernment and the old laws, so far as
might be, unchanged and will thus ad-
minister the island for a few months
until tranquility can be restored, a
new election properly held and a new
government inaugurated. Peace has
come in the island, and the harvesting
! 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
peaceful and orderly fashion the pro-
visional government will come to an
end. l take this opportunity of ex-
pressing upon behalf of the American
people with all possible sOlemnity our
most earnest hope that the people of
Cuba will realize the imperative need
of preserving justice and keeping or
der in the island. The United States
wishes nothing of Cuba except that it
shall prosper morally and materially
and wishes nothing of the Cubans save
that they shall be able to preserve or
der among themselves and therefore to
preserve their independence. If the
elections become a farce and If the in
surrectionary habit becomes confirmed
in the island. it is absolutely out of the
question that the island should con-
tinue independent, and the United
States, which has assumed the sponsor
ship before the civilized world for
Cuba's career as n nation, would again
have TO intervene and to see that the
government was managed in such or
derly 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 sym
pathy with and regard for them. but 1
most earnestly adjure them solemnly
TO weigh their responsibilities and to
see that when their new government is
started it shall run smoothly and with
freedom from fragrant denial of right
on the one hand and from insurrectiOn-
ary disturbances on the other.
The Rio Conference.
The second international conference
of American republics, held in Mexico
in the years 1901-02, provided for the
holding of the third conference within
five years and committed the fixing of |
the time and place and the arrange |
mentS for the conference to the gov |
erning board of the bureau of ATueri- |
can republics. composed of the repre- |
Sentatives of all the American nations |
in Washington. That board discharg |
ed the duty imposed upon it with |
marked fidelity and painstaking care, )
and upon the courteous invitation of .
the United States of Brazil the con-
ference was held at Rio de Janeiro.
from the 23d Of July to
the Doth of August last. Many sub
iectS of common interest to all the
American nations were discussed by
the conference. and the conclusions
IN, Df |
utions and proposed conventions, will
De laid before you upon the coming
n of the final report of the American
ielegates. They contain many matters
If Importance relating to the eXten-
'ion of trade, the increase of communi-
.ation, the smoothing aw:y v of barriers
o free intercourse and the promotion
# better knowledge and good under
standing between the different coun-
ries represented. The meetings of the
conference were harmonious and the
were reached with sub
tantial unanimity. 1t Is interesting
o observe that in the successive con-
erences which have been held the
representatives. of the different Ameri-
an nations have been learning to
/
he first conference in Washington in
$50 and the second conference in
1exico In 1901-02 occupied many
1onths, with much time wasted in an
and fruitless discussion,
he third conference at Rio exhibited J
luch of the facility in the practical {
ispatch of business which character 6
ses permanent dellberative bodies and !
ompleted its laboTs within the period I
six weeks originally allotted for its !
essions. G
Quite apart from the specific value
T the conclusions reached by the con-
erence, the example of the representa- S
ves of all the American nations en-
aging In harmonious and kindly con-
liberation and discussion of subjects OF
Ommon interest is itself OF great and S