The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-12-07

and the United States, which Tus as,
sumcd the sponsorship before the civ.
ilizcd world for Cuba's career us Il 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 nnd property.
The Rio Conference.
| The second international conference
: Of American republics, held in Mexi-
CO in the years 1001-O2, 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
1t with marked fidelity and pains
| taking care, and upon the courteous
! invitation OF the United States Of Bra
I'll the conference was held ut Rio dc
Jnnelro, continuing from the 23d Of
July to the Goth OF August last. Many
subjects Of common interest to Ill the
| American nations were discussed by
/ the conference. and the conclusions
| reached, embodied in q 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.
| l have lust returned from q trip to
Panama and shall report to YOU ut
. length later Oh the whole subject Of the
! Panama canal.
The Alsccirns Conventions
The AlgcciraS convention, which was
! signed by the United States rs we'll as
| by most Of the powers Of Europe, Su-
pcrscdes 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
J rights with all European countries and
does not entail single obligation Of
any kind upon us, and I earnestly hope
1T may he speedily ratified.
Scaling.
! Tie destruction of the Pribilof is
: lani fur seals by pclagic sealing still
continues. The herd. which, according
! to The Survc V made in 1871 by dircc-
| ton Of tho congress. numbered I,70O,-
! ONO and which, according to the sur
, rcy of both American and Canadian
! commissioners in 1901, amounted to
! l,Ouo,OOO, has now been reduced to
about 10000. This result has been
! brought about by Canadian and some
| Other scaling 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 ~ number OF Japanese
vessels engaged in p"lngic scaling.
Suitable representations regarding
the incident have been made to the
government Of Japan. and We arc as
.Surcd that all practicable measures will
be taken by that country to prevent
any recurrence of the outrage.
We have not relaxed our efforts to
! secure an agreement with Great Brit
ain for adequate protection Of the seal
herd, and negotiations with Japan for
the same purpose are In progress.
The laws for the protection Of the
seals within the Jurisdiction Of the
United States need revision and
amendment.
Second Hague Conference.
In my last message I advised you
that the emperor Of Russia had taken
the initiative in bringing about sec
ond peace conference at The Hague.
Under the guidance Of Russia the ar
rangement Of the prcliminarics for
such conference has been progressing
during the past year. Progress has
necessarily been slow, owing to the
great number Of countries to be con-
suited upon every question that has
arisen. 1t Is q matter Of satisfaction
that all Of the American republics have
now, for the first time, been invited to
join in the proposed conference.
Army and Navy.
1t must ever be kept In mind that
war Is not merely justifiable, but i'm
perative upon honorable men, upon an
honorable nation, where peace can
only be obtained by the sacrifice Of
conscientious conviction or of national
welfare.
The United States navy IS the surest
| guarantor Of peace which this country
possesses. | do not ask that we con-
tinue to Increase our navy. l ask
merely that it be maintained at its
present strength, and this can be done
only If we replace the obsolete and out
worn ships by new and good ones. the
equals Of any naoat in any navy. TO
stop building ships for one year means
that for that year the navy goes back
instead Of forward.