The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-04

president. acting for the United States
government, which Is responsible IN our
rights OF aliens under treaties Even as
the law now IS something can be done
by the federal government toward this
end, and In the matter now before me
afrecting the japanese. everything that It
all Of the forces. military and civil of
the United States which L may lawfully
should. however. be no particle of doubt
to the power OF the national govern
its own obligations to other nations The
mob of a single city may at any time
some class Of foreigners which would
plunge US into war That city by itself
would be poWerless to make defense
against the foreign power thus assaulted.
and If independent of this government it
would never venture to perform or permit
the performances OF the acts complained
Of The entire power and the whole duty
to protect the offending city or the Of
the United States government. It IS IN
thinkabe that we should continue a pol
icy under which given locality may ~
allowed to commit a crime against a
friendly nation, and the United States
government limited, not TO preventing the
commission of the crime, but, in the last
resort. to defending the people who nave
committed it against. the consequences of
their own wrongdoing-
Cuba.
Last August an insurrection broke out
in Cuba which 1t speedily grew evident
powerless TO quell This government was
repeatedly asked by the then Cuban gov
eminent TO intervene, and finally was
notified by the president OF Cuba that he
intended to resign; that his decision was
irrevocable; that none of the other con-
stitutiOnal officers would consent to car
ry on the government, and that he was
powerless 10 maintain order. 1t was evi-
dent that chaos was impending. and
there was every probability that If steps
were not immedfat ely taken bv this gov
eminent to try to restore order the rep
resentatives of various European nations
in the island would apply to their re-
1er1fc into
ton in order to protect the lives and
property of their citizens. Tn A ks to the
preparedness of our navy, 1 was able
Immediately to send enough ships to Cuba
to prevent the situation from becoming
hopeless; and 1 furthermore dispatched
TO Cuba the secretary of war and the as
sistant secretary of state, in order that
they might grapple With the situation on
agreement between the contending fac
lions Dy Whlch they should themselves
come to an amlcable understanding and
settle upon some modus vivendi-sOme
provisional government Of their own
failed Finally the president Of the re-
public resigned. The quorum of congress
assembled failed by deliberate purpose of
its members, so that there was no power
to act on his resignation, and the gov
eminent came to a halt In accordance
with the so-called Platt amendment,
which was embodied in the constitution
of Cuba, thereupon proclaimed a pro-
visienal government for the island the
secretary of war acting as provisional
governor until he could be replaced by
MT Magoon, the late minister to Panama
Isthmus; troops were sent to support
them and to relieve the navy. the expedi-
speed and effi~' ency. The insurgent chiefs
Immediately agreed that their troops
and the agreement was carried out. The
provisional government has left the per-
sonnet of the old government and the old
laws, so far as might be, unchanged. and
will thus administer the island for 4 few
months until tranquility held, and a new
a new election properly held. and a new
government inaugurated- Peace has come
in the island; and the harvesting of the
Island is about to p proceed. 9i0p
When the election has been held and
the new government inaugurated ia
peaceful and orderly fashion the provis-
ional government will come to end. 1
take this opportunity of expressing upon
behalf of the American people. with all
possible sOlemnity. our most earnest hope
that the people of Cuba will realize the
States wishes notbink Of c.,iba scent
that it shall prosper morally and mater
tally. and wishes nothing OF the Cubans
save that they shall be able TO preserve
order among themselves and therefore to
preserve their independence. If the cleo
lions become a farce, and il the insur-
island, it is absolutely out of the ques-
ton that the island should continue in
dependent; and the United States, which
has assumed the sponsorship before the
civilized world for Cuba s career as a 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 path to
be trodden by those who exercise self
government is always hard. and we
should have every charity and patience
with the Cubans they tread this diff
hcult path I have the utmost sympathy
with, and regard for. them; but I 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 insurrectionary disturbances on
the other.
The second international conference of
American republics held in Mexico in
the years 1951-o2. provided for the hold
ing of the third conference within five
years and committed the fixing of the
time and place and the arrangements for
the Bureau of American Republics. COM
posed 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 tSates of Brazil the con-
ference was held at Rio de Janeiro. con-
tinuing from the Ord Of july TO the 18th
OF August last. Many subjects of com
mon interest to all the American nations
were discussed by the conference. and the
conclusions reached, embodied in a ser
les of resolutions and proposed cOnven-
tons. viii be laid before you upon the
coming in of the final report of the Amer
lean delegates. They contain many mat
tiers of Importance relating to the extern
sion Of trade. the Increase of communf-
cation, the smoothing away of barriers
to free intercourse and the promotion of
better knowledge and good understand
resented. The meetings of the conference
we're harmonious and the conclusions
were reached with substantial unaninn-
ity. 1t is interesting to observe that in
the successive conferences which have
been held the representatives Of the diff
ferent American nations have been learn
ing to work together effectively. for
while the first conference in Washington
in 1889, ard the second conference in Mex
leo in I901-02, occupied many months.
with much time wasted in an unregulated
and fruitleSs discussion the third confer
ence at Rio exhibited much of the facfl-
ity In the practical dispatch of business
in the period of six weeks originally al
lotted scr its sessions.