Cuba To
Be Free!
Declares the President in
His Message.
No Abandonment of the
Phillippines.
Currency and Many Other
Matters Discussed.
Washington, Dec. s.—The president’s
message was read to both houses of
congress today, and is very long. At
the outset a touching allusion is made
to the death of Vice President Hobart,
whose ‘‘great soul now rests in eternal
peace.” Continuing the president notes
that the country is in a condition of
unusual prosperity, of universal good
will among the people at home, and 'n
relations of peace and friendship with
every government of the world. Our
foreign commerce has shown great in
crease in volume and value. The com
bined imports and exports for the
year are the largest ever shown by a
single year in all our history. Our ex
ports for 1899 alone exceeded by more
than a billion dollars our Imports and
exports combined in 1870. The Imports
per capita are twenty per cent, less
than in 1870, while the exports per
capita are 58 per cent, more than in
1870, showing the enlarged capacity of
the United States to satisfy the wants
of its own increasing population, as
well as to contribute to those of
the peoples of other nations.
Exports of agricultural products were
$784,776,142. Of manufactured products
we exported in value $339,592,140, being
larger than any previous year. It is a
noteworthy fact that the only years in
all our history when the products of
our manufactories sold abroad ex
ceeded those bought abroad were 1398
and 1899.
Government receipts from all sources
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1899,
including $11,798,314.14, part payment
of tho Central Pacific railroad Indebt
edness, aggregated $610,982,004.35, cus
toms receipts were $206,128,481.75, and
those from internal revenue $273,437,-
161.51.
For the fiscal year the expenditures
were $700,093,564.02, leaving a deficit
of $89,111,559.67. The secretary of the
treasury estimates that the receipts for
the current fiscal year will aggregate
$640,958,112, and upon the basis ot
present appropriations the expendi
tures will aggregate $600,958,112, leav
ing a surplus of $40,000,000. For the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1899, the in
ternal revenue receipts were Increased
about $100,000,000.
The Currency.
Tho president asks that modifications
be made in the national banking act ua
will render its service more respons
ive to the people’s needs in the way of
added circulation and urges that na
tional banks be authorized to organize
with a capital of $25,000. I urgently
recommend that to support the exist
irg gold standard, and to maintain
"Hie parity in value of the coins of the
iwo metals tgolil and silver) and the
equal power of every dollar at all times
in the market and In the payment of
debts ” tho secretary of the treasury be
given additional power and 'vh'ogeJ
with the duty to sell Uuitec
bonds and to employ such oth
ivo means as may be necessary to
these ends. The authority should in
clude the power to sot bonds on long
and short time, as conditions may re
quire, and should provide for a rate
of interest lower than that fixed by the
act of January 14, 1875. While there
is now no commercial fright which
withdraws gold from the government,
but, on the contrary, such widespread
confidence that gold seeks the treasury
demanding paper money in exchange,
yet the very situation points to the
present as the most fitting time to
make adequate provision to insure the
continuance of the gold standard and
of public confidence In the ability and
purpose of the government to meet all
its obligations in the money which the
civilized world recognizes as the best.
Tin financial transactions of the gov
ernment are conducted upon a gold
basis. We receive gold when we sell
United States bonds and use gold for
thplr payment. We are maintaining
jthi parity of all the money issued or
coined by authority of the government.
We are doing these things with the
means at hand. Happily at the pres
ent time we are not compelled to re
sort to loans to supply gold. It has
been done In the past, however, and
may have to be done in the future. It
behooves us, therefore, to provide at
once the best means to meet the emer
gency when It arises, and the best
means arc those which are the most
certain aril economical. Those now
authorized have the virtue neither of
directness or economy. We have al
ready eliminated one of the causes of
our financial plight and embarrassment
during the years 1893. 1594, 1595 and
1896. Our receipts now equal our ex
penditures: deficient revenues no
longer create alarm. us remove
tho only remaining cause by conferring
tho full and necessary power ort the
secretary of the treasury and impose
upon him the duty to uphold tho pres
ot gold standard And preserve tha
coins of the two metals on a parity
with each other, which is the repeat
edly declared policy of the United
States. The president’s former recom
mendations that a portion of the gold
holdings shall be placed in a trust fund
from which greenbacks shall be re
deemed upon presentation, but when
once redeemed shall not thereafter be
paid out except for gold, are repeated.
Trusts.
Encouragement of the merchant
marine is urged and, speaking of trusts
the president declares that it is uni
versally conceded that combinations
which engross or control the market
of any particular kind of merchandise
or commodity necessary to the gen
eral community, by suppressing nat
ural and ordinary competition, where
by prices are unduly enhanced to the
general consumer, are obnoxious pot
only to the common law but also to the
public welfare. There must be'a rem
edy for the evils involved in such' or
ganizations. If the present law can be
extended more certainly to control or
chegk these monopolies or trusts, It
should be done without delay. What
ever power the congress possesses over
this most important subject should be
promptly ascertained and asserted.
The present anti-trust law is quoted,
as well as opinions on the subject by
Harrison and Cleveland in this mes
sage.
"It is apparent tha. uniformity of
legislation upon this subject in the
several states is much to be desired,”
the president says. The whole ques
tion is so important and far-reaching
that he is sure no part of it will be
lightly considered, but every phase of
it will have the studied deliberation
of the congress, resulting in wise and
judicious action.
Minor Foreign Affairs.
Allusion is made to the good part
we played in settling the Argentine-
Chili dispute; to the new extradition
laws with the Argentine republic and
Brazil; to Austria’s vain claim for in
demnity for the killing of certain
miners in Pennsylvania; to the fact
that Belgium will not admit our cat
tle more freely but that Denmark is
still obdurate; to the assumption of re
lations with the new Santo Domingan
government; and to the Blueflelds epi
sode. In connection with the inter
oceanic canal project the president
talks of the various franchises and
commissions and adds: "The great im
portance of this work cannot be too
often or too strongly pressed upon the
attention of the congress.”
China.
After declaring that American capi
tal is conspicuous in Chinese develop
ment the president says:
"The extension of the area open to
international foreign settlement at
Shanghai and the opening of the ports
of Nanking, Tsing-Tao iKiao Chao)
and Ta-Llen-Wan to foreign trade and
settlement will doubtless afford Ameri
can enterprise additional facilities and
new fields, of which It will not be slow
to take advantage.” An appropriation
for a commission to study the commer
cial and industrial conditions In the
Chinese empire is recommended.
President Faure’s death is alluded to
and support of the Paris exposition is
recommended at much iengtn. Speak
ing of Germany the president says
that our relations continue to be most
cordial. The increasing intimacy of
direct association bus been murked
during the year by the granting per
mission in April "or the landing on our
shores of a cable from Borkum Emden,
on the North sea, by w-ay ot the Azores,
and also by the conclusion on Septem
ber 2d of a parcels post convention
with the German empire. In all that
promises closer relations of intercourse
and commerce and a better understand
ing between two races having so many
traits in common, Germany can be as
sured of the most cordial co-operation
of this government and people. We
may be rivals in man; material paths,
but our rivalry should be generous and
open, ever aiming towuru the attain
ment of larger results and the mutual
ly beneficial advancement ot each in
the line of its especial adaptability.
The several governments of the em
pire seetu reluctant to a’dmit the nat
ural excellence of our food produots
and to accept the evidence we con
stantly tender of the care with which
their purity is guarded by rigid In
spection from the farm, through the
slaughter-house and the packing es
tablishments, to the port oi shipment.
Alaskan Boundary.
By means of an executive agreement,
a Joint high commission had been
created for the purpose of adjusting
ail unsettled questions between the
United States and Canada, embracing
twelve subjects, among which were
the questions of the fur seals, the
fisheries of the coast and contiguous
inland waters, the Alaskan boundary,
the transit of merchandise In bond,
the alien labor laws, mining rights,
reciprocity in trade, revision of the
agreement respecting naval vessels
in the Great Lakes, a more complete
marking of parts of the boundary, pro
vision for the conveyance of criminals,
and for wrecking and salvage. Much
progress had been made by the com
mission toward the Adjustment ot
many of these questions where it be
came apparent that an irreconcilable
difference of views was entertained
respecting the delimitation of tne
Alaskan boundary. In the tatlure of an
agreement as to the meaning of ar
ticles 3 and 4 of the treaty of 1825
between Russia and Great Britain,
which defined the boundary between
Alaska and Canada, the Amerl an
commissioners proposed that the sub
ject of the boundary be laid aside and
that the remaining questions of dif
ference be proceeded with, some ot
which were so far advanced as to as
PRESIDENT WILLIAM McKINLEY.
sure the probaDillty of a settlement.
This being declined by the British
commissioners, an adjournment was
taken until the boundary should be ad
justed by the two governments. The
subject has been receiving the careful
attention which its importance de
mands, with the result that a modus
vivendi for provisional demarcations
in the region about the head of Lynn
canal has been agreed upon; and it is
hoped that the negotiations now in
progress between the two governments
will end in an agreement for the es
tablishment ana delimitation of a per
manent boundary.
In the Transvaal.
The president declares our neutrality
in the boer war and declares that, had
r circumstances suggested that the par
ties to the quar'e.l Would have wel
comed any kindly expression of the
hope of th'e American people tnat war
might be averted, good offices would
have bee-n gladly tendered.
Lynchlngs.
The lynchings of negroes in the
south is condemned, and our responsi
bility for the Austrian lives taken in
Louisiana is denied.
The construction of a cable to Ha
waii, Guam and the Phillipines, either
by the government or by private par
ties, is strongly urged. Japan’s spe
cial friendliness is adverted to as well
as our kindly relations with Mexico.
The nation is felicitated on file settle
ment of the Samoan question and ot
our retention of the "best anchorage In
the Pacific.”
CuDa.
After telling of the restoration ot
peace with Spain, the presiue.u .
ates the resolution of congress, dis
claiming aiiy disposition or intention
on our part to exercise sovereignty,
jurisdiction, or control over Cuba, ex
cept for the pacification thereof, ana
asserted its determination wnen that
was accomplished to leave tne govern
ment and control of the island to its
people. The pledge contained in this
resolution is of the highest honorable
obligation and must be sacredly kept.
The president believes that substantial
progress has been made in this direc
tion. All the administrative measures
adopted in Cuba have aimed to fit it
for a regenerated existence by enforc
ing the supremacy of law ana justice;
by placing wherever practicable the
maemnery of administration in the
hands of the inhabitants; by institut
ing needed sanitary reforms; by
spreading education; by fostering in
dustry and trade; by inculcating pub
lic nforallty, and, in short, Dy taking
every rational step to aid the Cuban
people to attain to that plane of self
couscious respect and self-reliant uni
ty which fits an enlightened communi
ty for self-government within its own
sphere, while enabling it to fulfill all
outward obligations. Wnatever be
the outcome, we must see to it that
free Cuba be a reality, not a name, a
perfect entity, not a hasty experiment
bearing within itself the elements ot
failure. Our mission, to accomplish
which we took up the wages of battle,
is not to be fulfilled by turning adrift
any loosely framed commonwealth to
face the vicissitudes which too often
attend weaker states wnose natural
wealth aud abundant resources are oft
set by incongruities of their political
organization ana the recurring occa
sions for internal rivalries to sap their
strength and dissipate their energies.
By the treaty of peace the Spanish peo
ple on the island have until April 11,
1900, to elect whether they will remain
citizens of Spain or become citizens of
Cuba Until then it cannot be defi
nitely ascertained who shall be entitled
to participate in the formation of the
government of Cuba. By that time the
results of the census will have been
tabulated and we shall proceed to pro
vide for elections which will commit
the municipal governments of the isl
and to the officers elected by the peo
ple. The experience thus acquired
will prove of great value in the forma
tion of a representative convention of
the people to draft a constitution and
establish a general system of Inde
pendent government for the island.
Turkey.
In the Turkish empire the situation
of our citizens remains unsatisfactory.
Our efforts during nearly forty years
to bring about a convention of natural
ization seem to be on the brink of
final failure through the announced
policy of the Ottoman porte to refuse
recognition of the alien status of na
tive Turkish subjects naturalized
abroad since 1867. The arbitrary
treatment, in some instances, of Amer
ican productions in Turkey has at
tracted attention of late, notably in re
gard to our flour and the president says
that this government will use its earn
est efforts to secure fair and equal
treatment for its citizens and their
goods. Failing this, it will not hesi
tate to apply whatever corrective may
be provided by the statutes.
Trade reciprocity with various coun
tries to the south of us has been ef
fected and allusion is made to many
other matters of minor importance.
The place conference comes in for
friendly consideration and, says the
president, the general character of the
convention, already signed by the dele
gates of more than 20 sovereign states,
further commends it to the favorable
action of the senate of the United
States, whose ratification it still awaits.
Our force in the Philippines amounts
to 1,499 officers and 45,966 men and
when the troops now under orders
shall reach Manila, the force in the ar
chipelago will comprise 2,051 officers
and 63,483 men. In Cuba, we now have
334 officers and 10,796 enlisted men; in
Porto Rico, 87 officers and 2,855 en
listed men and a battalion of 400 meu
composed of native Porto Rican*;
while stationed throughout the United
States are 910 officers and 17,317 men
and in Hawaii 12 officers and 453 en
listed men. Provision for chaplains ts
urged. Postal facilities for our co
lonial possessions have been con
structed.
A Great Abuse.
The domestic service contin
ues to grow with extraordinary rapid
ity. The expenditures and the rev
enues will each exceed $100,000,000 dur
ing the current year. Fortunately, the
revenues have -rown much faster than
the expenditures and there is every
indication that a short period will wit
ness the obliteration of the annual
deficit. In this connection the report
of the postmaster-general embodies a
statement of great evils which have
grown up outside of the contemplation
of law in the treatment of soms classes
of mail matter which wrongly *xercise
the privilege of the pound rate, and
shows that if thii matter had been
properly classified and had paid the
rate which it should have paid, instead
of a postal deficit for the last fiscal
year of $6,610,000. there would have
been on one basis a surplus of $17,-
63 i,570, and on another of $5,733,836.
The reform thus suggested would not
only put the postal service at once on
a self-sustaining basis but would per
mit great and valuable improvements,
and it is commended to the considera
tion of the congress.
The provision of the act of March
3, 1899, limiting the price of armor
plate to S3OO ought to be removed, the
president says. He also concurs in the
recommendations for the increase of
the navy, as suggested by the secre
tary.
T-nslons.
June 30, 1899, the pension roll num
bered 991.519. The number added dur
ing the year was 40,991. The number
dropped for all causes was 43,186, and
the number of claims disallowed was
107.919. During the year 89,654 pen
sion certificates were issued, of which
37,077 were for new pensions. The
amount disbursed for army and navy
| pensions was $138,355,052.95. which was
$1,651,461.61 less than the appropria
i tion. The present holding of the de
: partment is that if the widow s in*
come aside from her daily labor does
not exceed in amount what her pen
sion would be, to-wit: $96 per annum,
jshe would be deemed to be wUhout
I other means of support than her dally
labor, and would be entitled to a pen
sion under this act; while if the
widow’s income independent of the
amount received by her as the result
of her daily labor exceeds $96, sbe
would not be pensionable under the
act. The amount of the Income al
| lowed before title to pension Is barred,
has varied widely under different ad
ministrations of the pension office. In
order to make the practice at all times
uniform nd to do justice to the de
pendent widow, the amount of income
allowed independent of the proceeds
of her daily labor should be not less
than $250 per anhum, and the presi
dent urges that the congress shall so
amend the act to that effect.
At the present time we have a total of
36 forest reservations, embracing an
estimated area of 46,021,899 acres.
The additions during the past year
amount to over 5,000,000 acres. Forest
protection Is encouraged, the work of
the agricultural department Is com
mended, the introduction of tea cul
ture to the south is mentioned, and a
good word is spoken for improved
highways.
The Philippines.
"I had every reason to believe, and 1
still believe, that this transfer of sover
eignty of the Philippines was in accord
ance with the wishes and the aspira
tions of the great mass of the Filipino
people,” declares the president. The
steps taken to win the confidence of the
natives are set forth in detail. "But,”
says the president, "the sinister ambi
tion of a few leaders of the Filipinos
created a situation full of embarrass
ments for us and most grievous in its
consequences to themselves. The claim
of the rebel leader that he was promis
ed independence by any officer of the
United States in return for his assist
ance has no foundation in fact.
The most the insurgent leader hoped
| for when he came back to Manila was
the liberation of the islands from the
Spanish coiftrol, which they had been
laboring for years without success to
throw off. The prompt accomplish
ment of this work by the American
army and navy gave him other ideas
and ambitions, and insidious sugges
tions from various quarters perverted
the purposes and intentions with which
he had taken up arms. No sooner
had our army captured Manila than
the Filipino forces began to assume an
attitude of suspicion and hostility
which culminated in open rebellion.
This, the president says, must be put
down. Civil government cannot be
thoroughly established until order is
restored. With a devotion and eal
lantry worthy of its most brilliant his
tory, the army, ably and loyally as
sisted by the navy, has carried on this
unwelcome, but most righteous cam
paign with richly deserved success.
Self-governing municipal life has been
started in many portions or the archi
pelago. A notable beginning nas been
made in the establishmnet of a gov
ernment in the island of Negros. Its
people unreserveuly proclaimed alle
giance to the United States and adopt
ed a constitution looking to the estab
lishment of a popular government, but
this eventually proved unsatisfactory
to the natives themselves and anew
system was put into force with a mili
tary governor at the head.
The authorities of the Sulu islands
have i ccepted the succession of the
United States to the rights of Spain.
Already hundreds of schools are open
in the Vhilippines and filled with chil
dren. Religious freedom is sacredly
assured and enjoyed. The courts are
dispensing justice. Business is begin
ning to circulate in its accustomed
channels. Manila, whose inhabitants
were fleeing to the country a few
months ago, is now a populous and
thriving mart of commerce. The
earnest and unremitting endeavors o.
the commission and the admiral and
major general commanding the depart
ment of the Pacific to assure the
people of the beneficent intentions of
this government have had their legiti
mate effect in convincing the great
mass of them that peace and safety
and prosperity and stable government
can only be found in a loyal acceptance
of the authority of the United States.
Government of the Philippines.
The Philippines lie under the shelter
of our flag. They are ours by every
title of law and equity. They cannot
be abandoned. If we desert them .we
leave them at once to anarchy and
finally to barbarism. We fling them a
golden apple of discord among the
rival powers, no one of which could
permit another to seize them ”nques
tioned. Their rich plains and Talleys
would be the scene of endless strife
and bloodshed. The advent of Dewey’s
fleet in Manila bay, instead of being
as we hope, the dawn of anew day
of freedom and progress, will have
been the beginning of an era of misery
and violence worse than any which has
darkened their unhappy past. The sug
gestion has been made that we could
ren ’nee our authority over the 'stands
and, t iving them independence, could
retain a protectorate over them. This
proposition will not be found, lam
sure, worthy of your serious attention.
Such an arrangement would involve at
the outset a cruel breach of faith. It
would place the peaceable and loyal
majority, who ask nothing better than
to acept our authority, at the mercy
of the minority of armed insurgents.
It would make us responsible for the
acts of the insurgent leaders,' and give
us no power to control them. It would
charge us with the task of protecting
them against each other, and defending
them against any foreign power with
which they chose to quarrel. In short,
it would take from the congress of the
United States the power of declaring
war and vest that tremendous preroga
tive in the Tagalo leader of the hour.
It does cot seem desirable to the
president tlat he should recommend
at this time a specific and final form
of government for these islands.
When peace shall be restored It will
be the duty of congress to construct
a plan of government which shall es
tablish and maintain freedom and or
der and peace in the Philippines
The insurrection is still existing, and
when it terminates further informa
tion will be required as to the actual
condition of affairs before inaugurat
ing a permanent scheme of civil gov
ernment. As long as the insurrection
continues the military arm must neces
sarily be supreme. But there is no
reason why steps should not be taken
from time to time to inaugurate gov
ernments essentially popular in their
form as fast as territory _s held or con
trolled by our troops. The president
believes that reconstruction should
not begin by the establishment of one
central civil government for all the isl
ands, with its seat at Manila, but
rather that the work should be com
menced by building up from the bot
tom, first establishing municipal gov
ernments and then provincial govern
ments, a central government at last to
follow.
No effort will be spared to build up
the waste places desolated by war and
by long years of misgovernment. We
shall not wait for the end of strife to
begin the beneficent work. We shall
continue, as we have begun, to open
the schools and courts in operation, to
foster industry and trade and agricul
ture, and in every way in our power to
make these people whom Providence
has brought ”ithin our jurisdiction
feel that it is their liberty and not our
power, their welfare and not our gain,
we are seeking to enhance. Our flag
has never waived over any community
but in blessing. I believe the Filipinos
will soon recognize the fact that it has
not lost its gift of benediction in its
worldwide journey to their shores.
Turning to Alaska and Hawaii the
president declares that he can see no
reason why a more complete torm of
territorial organization should not be
provided for both.
Porto Rico Again.
He recommends that legislation to
the same end be had with reference to
the government of Porto Rico. The
time is ripe for the adoption of a tem
porary form of government for this
island. The system of civil jurispru
dence now adopted by the people of
tnis island is thoroughly modern and
scientific, so far as it relates to matters
of internal business, trade, production
and social and private right in gen
eral. The cities of the island are gov
erned under charters which probably
require very little or no change. So
that with relation to matters of local
concern and private right, it is not
probable that much, if any, legislation
is desirable; but with reference to pub
lic administration and the relations of
the islands to the federal government,
there are many matters which are of
pressing urgency. The same necessity
exists for legislation on the part of
congress to establish federal courts
and federal jurisdiction in the island
as in the case of Hawaii and Alaska.
Our plain duty is to abolish all cus
toms tariffs between the United States
and Porto Rico.
It is desirable that the government
of the island should be entirely civil
in its nature. For present purposes I
recommend that congress pass a law
for the organization of a temporary
government, which shall provide for
the appointment by the president, sub
ject to confirmation by the senate, of a
governor and such other officers as the
general administration of the island
may require, and that for legislative
purposes on subjects of a local nature
not partaking of a federal character a
legislative council, composed partly of
Porto Ricans and partly of citizens of
the United States, shall be nominated
and appointed by the president, their
acts to be subject to the approval of
the congress or the president. In the
municipalities and other local sub
divisions I recommend that the princi
ple of local self-government be applied
at once. Systems of education in these
new possessions founded upon com
monsense methods, adapted to existing
conditions and looking to the future
movement and industrial advancement
of the people, will commend io them
in a peculiarly effective manner the
blessings of free government.
1 he application of civil service rules
to many of the places included in the
classified list was found, says the pres
ident to result in friction and em
barrassment. After long considera
tion it became evident to the heads
of the departments, responsible for
their efficiency, that in order to remove
these difficulties and promote an effi
cient and harmonious administration
certain amendments were necessary.
These amendments were promulgated
by me in an order, dated May 29, 1899.
The principal purpose was to except
from competitive examination certain
places involving fiduciary responsibili
ties or duties of a strictly confidential,
scientific, or executive character. The
results attained show that under their
operation the public service has im
proved, declares the president,
WISCONSIN PENSIONERS.
Washington, Dec. B.—Original,
George Bullamore, Spring Prairie, $8;
Carl L. Lemke, Milwaukee, $8; Charles
Hohnberg, National home, Milwaukee.
$8; William D. Hambright, Beaver
Dam, $6. Special, Nov. 23—Jacob
Rhyner, Wisconsin Veterans’ home,
Waupaca, $6. Increase —Algernon Fry,
Baraboo. $lO to sl4; Leopold Lltner,
Grand Rapids, sl6 to sl7.
IS MILLER’S LAST RACE.
New York. Dec. 8. —The leaders in
the six days’ bicycle race at Madison
Square Garden last night were more
than 200 miles ahead of the record and
in easy lead. Miller said that the pres
ent race would be his iast. He says be
has had enough whether of the old
style or the new style of riding.