The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1906-12-13

Quoting himself properly. To remem-
Der this Is incumbent on every Amer
lean citizen, and it is Of course pecul-
iarly incumbent on every government
official, whether of the nation or of
the several states.
I am prompted to say this by the
attitude Of hostility here and there as
sumed toward the japanese in this
country. This hostility is sporadic and
is limited to a very few places. Never
theless it is most discreditable to US
as people, and it may be fraught
with the gravest consequences to the
nation.
I ask fair treatment for the japanese
as l would ask fair treatment for Ger
slams or Italians. / ask it as due to
humanity and civilization. l ask it as
due to ourselves, because we must act
uprightly toward all men. / recon-
mend to the congress that an act be
passed specifically providing for the
naturalization of Japanese who come
here intending to become American cit
liens. One of the great embarrass-
ments attending the performance Of
our international obligations is the
fact that the statutes Of the United
States are entirely inadequate. They
fail to give to the national government
sufficiently ample power, through Unit
ed States courts and by the use Of the
army and navy, to protect aliens in the
rights secured to them under solemn
treaties which are the law of the land.
l therefore earnestly recommend that
the criminal and civil statutes OF the
United States be so amended and add
ed to as to enable the president, acting
for the United States government,
which is responsible in our interna-
tional relations, to enforce the rights
Of aliens under treaties.
The Cuban Matter.
Last August an Instruction broke
out in Cuba which it speedily grew evil
dent that the existing Cuban govern
ment was powerless to quell. Thanks
to the preparedness of our navy,
was able Immediately to send enough
ships to Cuba to prevent the situation
from becoming hopeless. and l fur
thermOre dispatched to Cuba the Sec
rotary of war and the assistant secre-
tary of state in order that they might
grapple with the situation on the
ground.
In accordance with the so called
Platt amendment. which was embod-
led in the constitution of Cuba. I there
upon proclaimed Il provisional govern
ment for the island, the secretary Of
war acting as provisional governor I'M
til he could be replaced by Mr. Magoon,
the late minister to Panama and gov
ernor Of the canal zone on the isthnus.
Troops were sent to support them and
to relieve the navy, the expedition be-
| ing handled with most satisfactory
speed and efficiency. 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 provisional
| government will come to an end.
The United States wishes nothing OF
| Cuba except that it shall prosper NOR.
| ally and materially and wishes nothing
Of the Cubans save that they shall be
able to preserve order among them
selves and therefore to preserve their
independence. If the elections become
| a farce and if the insurrectionary habit
becomes confirmed on the island it i!
absolutely out Of the question that thu
| island should continue Independent
and the United States, which has as
sumed the sponsorship before the civ
ilized world for Cuba's career as a ma
ton, would again have to intervene
and to see that the government wa
managed in such orderly fashion as t
secure the safety of life and property.
The Rio Conference.
The second international conference
of American republics, held in Mex
co in the years 19O1-O2. provided 70
the holding of the third conference
within five years and committed tn
fixing of the time and place and tn
arrangements for the conference to tn
governing board Of the bureau o
American republics, composed of tn
representatives of all the America
nations in Washington. That boar
discharged the duty imposed upo
1t with marked fidelity and pains
taking care, and upon the courteou
invitation of the United States Of Bra
I'll the conference was held at Rio d
Janero. continuing from the Esd Q
July to the Doth of August last. Man
subjects of common interest TO ell til
American nations were discussed b
the conference, and the conclusion
reached. embodied in a series OF resi-
buttons and proposed conventions, wi
be laid before you upon the coming q
the final report Of the American del,
gates.
| Panama Trip.
I have just returned from a trip
Panama and shall report to you 8