The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-12-07

ulJOh a SoONCi
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 isthmus.
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. 80.
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 is
absolutely out of the question that the
island should continue independent
and the United States, which has as
sumed the sponsorship before the civ
ilized world for Cuba's career as ma
ton, would again have to intervene
and to see that the government was
managed in such orderly fashion as to
secure the safety of life and property.
The Rio Conference.
The second international conference
of American republics, held in Next
co 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
arrangements for the conference 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 pains
taking care, and upon the courteous
invitation of the United States of Bra
Zil the conference was held at Rio de
Janeiro, continuing from the 23d of
July to the 29th 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 reso-
lutions and proposed conventions, will
be laid before you upon the coming of
the final report of the American dele
gates.
Panama Trip.
I have just returned from a trip to
Panama and shall report to you at
length later on the whole subject of the
Panama canal.
The AIgeciras Convention.
The Algeciras convention, which was
signed by the United States as we'll as
by most of the powers of Europe, SUI
persedes the previous convention of
1880, which was also signed both by
the United States and a majority of
the European powers. This treaty
confers upon us equal commercial
rights with all European countries and
does not entail single obligation of
any kind upon us, and l earnestly hope
1T may be speedily ratified.
Sealing.
The destruction of the Pribilof is
land fur seals by pelagic sealing still
continues. The herd. which, according
to the surve y made in 1874 by direc-
ton of the congress, numbered AGO.
600. and which. according to the sur
vey of both American and Canadian
commissioners in 1891. amounted to
100000. has now been reduced to
about 100000 This result has been
brought about by Canadian and some
other sealing vessels killing the female
seals while in the water during their
annual pilgrimage to and from the
south or in search of food.
The process of destruction has been
accelerated during recent years by the
appearance, OF a number Of Japanese
vessels engaged in pelagic sealing.
Suitable representations regarding
the incident have been made to the
government of Japan. and we are as
sured that all practicable measures will
be taken by that country to prevent
any recurrence of the outrage.