CORVALLIS
GAZETTE.
WEEKLY.
UNION Estab July. 1S97
.j Consolidated Feb. 1899.
CORVALIilS, BENTON COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, lSOO.
VOL. XXXY1I. NO. 50.
GAZETTE Eitab. Dee., 1862,
IK Of DIE m
From All Parts of the New World
and the Old.
OF INTEREST TO OUR MANY READERS
Comprehensive Review of the Important Hap.
penings of the Past Week in a
Condensed Form.
A typhoon swept the Island of Guam,
killing hundreds of natives.
The dowager empress is trying to in
duce the emperor to return to Pekin.
The powers are debating on the wis
dom of sending an ultimatum to China.
The official vote ol Wisconsin fol
lows: Republican, 265,866; Demo
cratic, 159,285.
A laborer on a bridge near Grant's
Pas s was instantly killed in the col
lapse of the structure.
General Bates reports the capture of
33 Filipinos, six of whom murdered
several persons last spring.
The Dutch of Cape Colony are be
coming restless and loyalists fear there
may soon be an upiising.
The population of Oklahoma is 398,
246, against 61,834 in 1890, an increase
'of 336,411, or 44 per cent.
The population of South Dakota is
401,570, !i against 328,80 in 1890, an
increase oi 72,762, or 22.1 per cent.
The population of North Dakota is
319,416, as against 182,719 in 1890, an
increase of 136,427, or 74.6 per cent.
The population of Tennessee is
2.020,093, as against 1,767,18 in 1890,
an increase of 23,098, or 14.3 per cent.
The population of New Mexico is
195,210, as against 13,93 in 1890, an
increase of 41,717, or 27.1 per cent.
The United States auxiliary cruiser
Yosemite gftnk in a typhoon at Guam,
November 5, drowning five of the crew.
The population of Idaho, as officially
announced, is 161,772, as against 84,
385 in 1890, an increase oi 77,387, or
91.7 per cent.
Two American privates were killed
and three wounded in an ambush of
ladrones near Malolos, Luzon. The in
surgents escaped.
Bank robbers at Em den, 111., com
pletely wrecked the Farmers' bank
with dynamite and got away with
$3,000 to $4,000.
By an explosion of nitroglycerine
at Leaserville, W. Va., 20 miles above
Wheeling, four boys were killed and 14
wonnded, of whom two will die.
The population of the state of Wash
ington as officially announced, is 518,
103, as against 349,390 in 1890, an in
ncrease of 168,913, or 48.2 per cent.
Conger has not signed the Pekin pro
tocol. Secretary Root has returned fiom
Cuba.
Krnger visited the French govern
ment officials.
Palace guards have been sent to ar
rest Prince Tuan.
Colonel Denby may succeed Conger
as minister to China.
A conspiracy to assassinate Lord
Roberts was discovered in Johannes
burg. Governor Geer has issued certificates
ot election to Republican electors for
Oregon.
Heavy fogs preaviled on Puget
Sound, causing many minor accidents
on both land and water.
The official vote for presidential elec
tors in New Jersey was: Republican,
221,701; Democrat, 164,808.
The population of Texas is 3,048,710,
against 2.235,523 in 1890, an increase
of 813,137, or 36.3 per cent.
The population of Nebraska is 1,068,
539, against 1,058,910 in 1890, an in
crease of 9,620, or .9 per cent.
Official returns show that the vote
for president in Iowa was: Republi
can, 307,818; Democrat, 209,466.
The population of North Carolina la
1,803,810, as against 1,617,947 iu 1890,
an increase of 275,863, or 17 per cent.
The Portland, Or., Chambei of Com
merce urges an appropiration of $4,.
000,000 for canal and locks at the
dalles.
The population of Utah, as officially
announced, is 276,749, as against 207,
095 in 1890, an increase 68,844, or
33.1 per cent.
An irrigation bill allowing more
than $1,000,000 to Oregon, Washing
ten and Idaho will be iutrodnced at
the coming session of congress.
Signor Marconi has practically solved
the question of ocean transmission by
wireless telegraphy, and will soon be
able to use his system across the At
lantic. The population of Montana, as an
nounced by the United States census
bureau, is 243,329, as against 132,159
in 1890, an increase of 111,170, or
84.1 per cent. The population in 1880
was 39.159, showing an increase of
93,000, or 237.4 per cent, from 1880 to
1890.
Dr. Leopold Kabn, the Arctic ex
plorer, is certain that Lieutenant Peary
is wintering at Fort Conger.
The yellow book on Chinese affairs
published by the French foreign office
shows close relations' betw en France
and the United States.
The will of Frank Williams, late of
Johnstown, Pa., makes a bequest of
$300,000 to the Lehigh university at
South Bethlehem Pa., for the beneiit of
worthy students.
LATER NEWS.
Salem, Or., re-elected its reform m
nicipal officers.
The ship subsidy bill will displace
the Philippine bill.
Krnger wept at Emperor William's
refusal to meet him.
Five men were killed by the blowing
up of a power house in Chicago.
The short session of the Fifty-sixth
congress was successfully opened.
Colorado game wardens arrested 16
Mormons who had killed 30 deer.
Robbers blew up a Silverton, Or.,
bank, but failed to get at the cash.
A strange woman is exciting the Pa
pago Indians to be guided by their
dreams.
Congressman Lacey and Senator Tel
ler are in favor of offering homes to the
Boers.
Oscar L. Booze, a West Point cadet,
ia dying from the effects of a burning
drink given him by hazers.
A drunken man was killed and his
body derailed a heavy locomotive on
the O. R. & N., near Hood River, Ore
gon. Colonel John S. Williams, third au
ditor of the treasury nnder President
Cleveland, died at La Fayette, Ind.,
aged 77.
Rev. William Howard Day, D. D.,
general secretary of the A. M. E. Sec
ond church, dijd at Harrisbnrg, Pa.,
aged 73 years.
Rev Patrick Feehan, archbishop of
the Catholic archdiocese of Chicago,
will retire from the active manage
ment of his office with the close of the
present year.
General W. L. White, ex-qnarter-m
aster-general of the Michigan Na
tional guard, pleaded gnilty to complic
ity in state miliatry clothing frauds,
and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
John Baines, a constable, was mur
dered at Dallas, Tex., by burning. His
clothing had been saturated with tur
pentine and ignited. Both eyes were
bnrned ont. John Chapman and Ed
Fanlkner, saloon keepers, were arrest
ed, charged with the murder.
The Pacific cable committee has ac
cepted, on behalf of the government of
Great Biitain, New South Wales,
Queensland and New Zealand, the bid
of the Telegraph Construction & Main
tenance Company, to make and lay a
cable from Vancouver to Queensland
and New Zealand, via Fanning, Fiji
and Norfolk islands, for 1,795,000,
the work to be finished by the end of
1902. .
Boxers are active around Tien Tsin.
The Guam typhoon was the worst in
40 years.
House Democrats will offer a new
army bill.
Secretary Hay signed a canal treaty
with Nicaragua.
The United States gunboat Monocacy
will winter at Taku.
The Chinese conrt has lost confidence
in Earl Li and Prince Ching.
Twelve hundred bolomen aui render
ed to the Americans at Vigan.
An Austrian field marshal criticizes
the British army organization.
An American warship will make a
demonstration against Morocco.
Six men were drowned in a feny
boat disaster on Spokane river.
Texas' vote for presidential electors
was: Bryan, 267,432; McEinley, 121,
673. University of Oregon defeated Uni
versity of Washington in football by
43 to 0.
Fulton, Kentucky, was visited by a
fire which destroyd 20 establishments
and cnased a loss of $250,000.
A Snmpter, Or., miner was badly in
jured by the explosion of giant powder
which he placed on a stove to thaw
ont.
Fred W. Bnhsnell, for several years
city editor of the Minneapolis Tribune,
died at that city of oancer of the stom
ach. The population of Indian Territory ia
891,960, aa against 190,162 in 1890,
an increase of 211,775, or 117.5 per
cent.
The population of Wisconsin, as an
nounced by the census bureau, ia 2,069,
049, aa against 1,686,880 in 1890, an
increase of 382,142, or 22.6 per cent.
Two steamer? collided on the river
about 20 miles above Huntington, W.
Va., sinking 30 coalboata containing
500,000 bushels of coal, entailing a Ion
of $100,000.
Advicea from Australia state that
the volcano on Beach island, in the
New Britain group, haa again become
active, causing a great upheaval on
land and sea. Many natives have been
killed.
The award of the Swiss government
in the Franco-Brazilian boundary dis
pute gives Brazil 147,000 square miles
of the contested territory. France
gets about 3,000 square miles north of
the Tumnc Huemac range.
There are 400 cases of smallpox in
the city of Winona, Minn., and to pre
vent its spread the pnblio schools have
been closed and street-car companies
compelled to atop their oaia at the
boundary of the infected district.
Unsatisfactory rate arrangements
with railroads may prevent the G. A.
R. encampment in Denver.
The man who built the city ball ol
Denver is now selling cigars and tobac
co at a etaad in the corridor of the
building.
Colonel Benjamin West Blanchard,
once one of the most widely known
railroad men in the country, died at
bis residence in Washington, aged 74
years.
imrrs me
Recommendations for Civil Gov
ernment in the Philippines.
REVIEW OF THE CHINESE QUESTION
The History of a Year The West Indies
Operations of the Departments Other
Foreign Questions.
washijnuton. Dec. 3. President Mc
Klnley's message went to Congress to
day. It follows:
To the Senate and House of Representa
tives: With the outgoing of the old and the
Incoming of the new century you begin
the last session of the 56th Congress, with
evidences on every hand of individual and
National prosperity and with proof of the
growing strength and increasing power
for good of Republican institutions. Your
countrymen will join with you in fe
licitation that American liberty is more
firmly established than ever before, and
that love for it and the determination to
preserve it are more universal than at
any former period of our history.
The Republic was never so strong, be
cause never so strongly entrenched In
the hearts of the people as now. The
Constitution, with few amendments, exists
as it left the hands of its authors. The
additions which have been made to !t
proclaim larger freedom and more ex
tended citizenship. Popular government
has demonstrated in its 124 years of trial
here its stability and security and ts
efficiency as the best instrument of Na
tional development and the best safe
guard to human rights.
When the sixth Congress assembled, in
November, 1800, the population of the
United States was 5,308.483; it ia now
76,304,799. Then we had 16 states; now
we have 45 Then our territory consisted
of S09.050 square miles; it is now 3,846,595
square miles Education, religion and
morality have kept pace with our ad
vancement in other directions, and, while
extending its power, the Government has
adhered to its foundation principles and
abated none of them in dealing with our
new peoples and possessions. A Nation
so preserved and blest gives reverent
thanks to Gou and invokes his guidance
and the continuance of his care and favor.
CHINESE PROBLEM.
Cause Tbnt Led Up to tbe Recent
Troubles.
In our foreign intercourse the domi
nant question has been the treatment of
the Chinese problem. Apart from this
our relations with the powers have been
happy.
The recent troubles in China spring
from the anti-foreign agitation which for
the past three years has gained strength
in the northern provinces. Their origin
lies deep in the character of the Chi
nese races and in the traditions of their
government. The Tai Ping rebellion and
the opening of Chinese ports to foreign
trade and settlement disturbed alike the
homogeneity nd the seclusion of China.
Meanwhile foreign activity made itself
felt in all quarters, not alone on the
coast, but along the great rivers, arteries
and in the remoter districts, carrying new
Ideas and introducing new associations
among a primitive people which had pur
sued for centuries a national policy of
isolation.
The telegraph and the railway spread
ing over their land, the steamers plying
on their waterways, the merchant and
the missionary penetrating year by year
farther to the interior, became to the
Chinese mind types of an alien invasion,
changing the course of their national life,
and fraught with vague forebodings of
disaster to their beliefs and their self
control. For several years before the present
troubles all the resources of foreign di
plomacy, backed by moral demonstra
tions of the physical force of fleets and
arms, have t een needed to secure due
respect for the treaty rights of foreign
ers, and to obtain satisfaction from th?
responsible authorities for the sporadic
outrages upon the persons and property
of unoffend'ng sojourners, which from
time to tim? occurred at widely sep
arated points in the northern provinces,
as in the case of the outbreaks in Sze
Chuen and Shan Tung.
Posting of anti-foreign placards be
came a daily occurrence, which the re
peated probation of the imperial power
failed to check or punish. These inflam
matory appeals to the ignorance and
superstition of the masses, mendacious
and absurd in their accusations, and
deeply hostile in their spirit, could not
but work culminative harm. They aimed
at no particular class of foreigners; they
were impartial in attacking everything
foreign. An outbreak in Shan Tung, In
which German missionaries were slain,
was the too natural result of the malevo
lent teachings The posting of seditious
placards, exhorting to the utter destruc
tion of foreigners and of every foreign
thing. continued unrebuked. Hostile
demonstrations toward the stranger
gained strength by organization.
Tbe Boxer Agitation.
The sect commonly styled the Boxers
developed greatly in the provinces north
of the Yangt e. and with collusion of
many notable officials. Including some in
the immediate councils of the throne Itself .
became alai mlpgly aggressive. No foreign
er's life, outside cf the protected treaty
ports, was safe. No foreign interest was
secure from spoliation.
The diplomatic representatives of the
powers in Pekin strove in vain to check
this movement. Protest was followed by
demand, and demand by renewed protest,
to be met with perfunctory edicts from
the paiace and evasive and futile assur
ances from the Tsung li Tamun. The
circle of the Boxer influence narrowed
about Pekin. and, while nominally stig
matized as seditious, it was felt that its
spirit pervaded the capital itself, that
the Imperial forces were imbued with its
doctrines, and that the immediate coun
selors of. the Empress Dowager were in
full sympathy with the anti-foreign
movement. '
The Increasing gravity of the condi
tions in China, and the imminence of
peril to our own diversified Interests in
the empire, as well as to those of all
the other treaty governments, were soon
appreciated by this Government, causing
profound solicitude. The United States,
from the earliest days of foreign inter
course with China, has followed a policy
of peace, emitting no occasions to tes
tlfy good-will, to further the extension
of lawful trade, to respect the sovereign
ty of its government, and to Insure, by
all legitimate and kindly, but earn
est, means, the fullest measure of pro
tection for the lives and property of our
law-abiding citizens, and for the exer
cise of their b.neficent callings among
the Chinese people.
Mindful of this. It was felt to be ap
propriate that our purposes should be
pronounced in favor of such a course
as would hasten united action of the
powers at Pekin to promote the admin
istrative reforms so gieatly needed for
strengthening the imperial government
and maintaining the integrity of China,
In which we believed the whole West
ern world to be alike concerned. To
these indsl caused to be addressed to
the several poweis occupying; territory
and maintaining spheres of influence in.
China the circular proposals of 1899, in
viting from them declarations of their
intentions and views as to desirability
of the adoption of measures Insuring the
benefits of equality of treatment of all
foreigners throughout China.
With gratifying unanimity, the re
sponses coincided in this common policy,
enabling me to see in the successful ter
mination of these negotiations proof of
the friendly spirit which animates the
various powers interested in the untram
meled development of commerce and in
dustry in the Chinese Empire as a source
of vast benefit to the whole commercial
world.
Powers Acted In Concert.
In this conclusion, which I had the
gratification to announce as a completed
engagement to the interested powe'-s
March 20, 1900, I hopefully discern a po
tential factor for the abatement of the
distrust of foreign purposes, which for
a year past had appeared to inspire the
policy of the imperial government, and
for the effective exertion by it of power
and authority to quell the critical and
foreign movement in the northern prov
inces most immediately influenced by tbe
Manchu sentiment.
Seeking to testify confidence in the will
ingness and ability of the imperial ad
ministration to redress the wrongs and
prevent the evils we suffered and feared,
the marine guard, which had been sent
to Pekin in the Autumn of 1899 for the
protection of the Legation, was with
drawn at the earliest practicable moment,
and all pending questions were remitted,
as far as wc were concerned, to the or
dinary resorts of diplomatic intercourse.
The Chinese Government proved, how
ever, unable to check the rising strength
of the Boxers and appeared to be a prey
to internal dissensions. In the unequal
contest, the anti-foreign influences soon
gained the ascendancy, under the leader
ship of Prince Tuan. Organized armies of
Boxers, with, which the imperial forces
affiliated, held the country between Pekin
and the coast, penetrated Into Manchuria
up to the Russian border and through
their emissaries threatened a like rise
throughout Northern China. Attacks upon
foreigners, destruction of property and
.slaughter of native converts were re
ported from all sides. The Tsung 11
Tamun, already permeated with hostile
sympathies, could make no effective re
sponse to the appeals of the Legations.
At this critical juncture, in the early
Spring of the year, a proposal was made
by the other powers that a combined
fleet be assembled in Chinese waters as a
moral demonstration, under cover of
which to exact of the Chinese Govern
ment respect for foreign treaty rights and
the suppression of the Boxers. The
United States, while not participating in
the joint demonstration, promptly sent
from the Philippines all ships that could
be spared for service on the Chinese
coast. A small force of marines was
landed at Taku and sent to Pekin for the
protection of the American Legation.
j Other powers took similar action until
some 400 men were assembled in the capi
tal as legation guards.
Still the peril increased. The Legations
reported the development of the seditious
movement In Pekin and the need of In
creased provision for defense against it.
Taking of TaUu Forts.
While preparations were in progress for
a larger expedition to strengthen the
legation guaids and keep the railway
open, an attempt of the foreign ships to
make a landing at Taku was met by
Are from the Chine?? forts. Tne forts
were thereupon sh lied by the foreign ves
sels, the American Admiral taking no
part in the attack, on the ground that
we were not at war with China, and that
a hostile demonstration might consolidate
the anti-foreign elements and strengthen
the Boxers to oppose the relieving col
umn. Two days later, the Taku forts
were captured after a sanguinary con
flict Severance of communication with
P. kin followed, and a combined force ot
additional guards, which was advancing
to Pekin by the Pel Ho, was checked at
Lang Fang. The Isolation of the Lega
tions was complete.
By June 9, the Legations were cut off.
An identical note from the Tamun or
dered each Minister to leave Pekin, under
a promised escort, within 24 hours. To
gain time, they replied asking prolonga
tion of the time, which was afterward
granted, and requesting an interview with
the Tsung 11 Tamun on the following
day. No reply being received, on the
morning of the 20th the German Minister,
Baron von Ketteler, set out for the Ya
mun to obtain a response, and on the
way was murdered. An attempt by the
legation guard to recover his body was
foiled by the Chinese.
Pekin Legations Attacked.
Armed forces turned out against the
Legations. Their quarters were surround
ed and attacked. The mission compounds
were abandoned, their inmates taking
refuge in the British legation, where all
the other Legations and guards gathered
for more effective defense. Four hundred
persons were crowded in its narrow com
pass. Two thousand native converts wre
assembled In a near-by place under pro
tection of the foreigners. Lines of defense
were strengthened, trenches dug, barri
cades raised and preparations made to
stand a siege, which at once began.
With the negotiation of the partial
armistice of July 14, a proceeding which
was dc ubtless promoted by the represen
tations of the Chinese envoy in Wash
ington, the way was opened for the con
veyance to Mr. Conger of a test message
sent by the Secretary of State through
the kind offices of Minister Wu T,ng
Fang. Mr. Conger's reply, dispatched from
Pekin on July 18 through the same chan
nel, afforded to the outside world the
, first tidings that the inmates of the le
j gat Ions were alive and hoping for succor.
This news stimulated the preparations for
a joint relief expedition, in numbers suffi
cient to overcome the resistance which
for a month had been organizing between
Taku and the capital. Reinforcements
sent by all the co-operating governments
were constantly arriving. The United
States contingent, hastily assembled from
the Philippines or dispatched from this
country, amounted to some 5000 men, un
der the able command of the lamented
Colonel Liscum and afterwards of Gen
eral Chaffee.
Reacne of Leicat loners.
Toward the end of July the movement
began. A severe conflict followed at Tien
! Tsin, in which Colonel Liscum was killed,
j The city was stormed and partly de
' stroyed. Its capture afforded the base
; of operations from which to make the
: final advance, which began In the first
days of Augus the expedition being
made up of J. nese, Russian, British
! and American troops at the outset. An
other battle was foughT and won at
lYong.Tsun. Thereafter, the disheartened
Chinese troops offered little show of re
sistance A few days later, the impor
tant position of To SI Wo was taken. A
j rapid march brought the united forces to
: the populous City of Tung Chow, which
j capitulated without a contest.
On August 14. the capital was reached.
! After a brief conflict beneath the walls,
the relief column entered and the Lega
tions were saved. The United States
soldiers, sailors and marines, officers and
men alike. In those distant climes and
unusual surroundings, showed the same
valor, discipline and good conduct and
gave proof of the same high degree of In-
telllgence and efficiency which have dls-
! tinguished them in every emergency.
The Imperial family and the govern
ment had fled a. few daya before. The
city was without visible control. The
remaining imperial soldiery had made,
on the night of the 13th, a last attempt
to exterminate the besieged, which was
gallantly repelled. It fell to the- occupy
ing forces to restore order and organize
a provisional administration.
Tbe Rnuian Proposition.
! The Russian proposition looking to the
restoration f tbe Imperial power In Pe
tln has been accepted as in full con
sonance with our own desires, for we
lhave held and hold that effective repara
tion for wrongs suffered and an endur
ing settlement that will make their re
currence impossible can best be brought
about under an authority which the Chi
nese Nation reverences and obeys. While
so doing we forego no jot of our un
doubted right to exact exemplary and de
terrent punishment of the responsible
autnors and abettors of the criminal acts
whereby we and other nations have suf
fered grievous injury.
For the real culprits, the evil coun
sellors who have misled the imperial
judgment and diverted the sovereign au
thority to their own guilty ends, full ex
piation becomes Imperative within the
rational limits of retributive justice. Re
garding this as the initial condition of
an acceptable settlement between China
and the powers, I said In my message
of October 18 to the Chinese Emperor:
"I trust that negotiations may begin so
soon as we and the other offended gov
ernments shall be effectively satisfied of
Your Majesty's ability and power to
treat with Just sternness the principal
offenders who are doubly culpable, not
alone toward the foreigners but toward
Your Majesty, under whose rule the pur
pose of China to dwell In concord with
the world has hitherto found expression
in the welcome and protection assured to
strangers."
Taking as a point of departure the
imperial edict appointing Karl Li
Hung Chang and Prince Ching
plenipotentiaries to arrange a set
tlement, and the edict of September
25, whereby certain high officials were des
ignated for punishment, this Government
has moved in concert with the other
powers toward the opening of negotia
tions which Mr. Conger, assisted by Mr.
Rockhill, has been authorized to conduct
on behalf of the United States.
General bases of negotiations, formu
lated by the Government of the French
Republic, have been accepted with cer
tain reservations as to details, made
necessary by our own circumstances and
by like similar reservations by other
powers open to discussion in the prog
ress of the negotiations. The disposition
of the Emperor's Government to admit
liability for wrongs done to foreign gov
ernments and their citizens and to act
upon such additional designation of tbe
guilty persons as the foreign Ministers
at Pekin may be in a position to make
gives hope of a complete settlement of
all questions involved, assuring foreign
rights of residence and intercourse op
terms of equality for all the world-
I regard as one of the essential factors
of a durable adjustment the securement
of adequate guarantees for liberty of
faith, since insecurity of those natives
who may embrace alien creeds is scarce
ly a less effectual assault upon the
rights of foreign worship and teaching
than would be the direct Invasion thereof.
Matter of Indemnity.
The matter of indemnity for our
wronged citizens is a question of grave
concern Measured In money alone, a
sufficient reparation may prove to be be
yond the ability of China to meet. All
the powers concur in emphatic disclaim
ers of any purpose of aggrandizement
through the dismemberment of the em
pire. I am disposed to think that due
compensation may be made in part by
increased guarantees of security for -for
eign rights and immunities, and most
important of all, by the opening of China
to the equal commerce of all the world.
These views have been and will be earn
estly advocated by our representatives.
The Government of Russia has put for
ward a suggestion that in the event of a
protracted divergence of views in regard
to indemnities, the matter may be rele
gated to the court of arbitration at The
Hague. I favorably Incline to this, be
lieving that high tribunal could not fail
to reach a solution no less conducive to
the stability and enlarged prosperity of
China itself than immediately beneficial
to the powers.
OTHER FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Relations Wltb Germany.
Good will prevails In our relations with
the German Empire. An amicable adjust
ment of the long pending question of the
admission of our life insurance compa
nies to do business in Prussia has been
reached. One of the principal companies
has already been readmitted, and the way
Is opened for the others to share the Priv
ilege. The settlement of the Samoan problem,
to which I adverted in my last message,
has accomplished good results. Peace and
contentment prevail in the islands, espe
cially in Tutuila, where a convenient ad
ministration that has won the confidence
and esteem of the kindly-disposed natives
has been organized under the direction
of the commander of the United States
naval station at Pango Pango.
An imperial meat inspection law been
enacted for Germany. While it may sim
plify the Inspections, it prohibits certain
products heretofore admitted. There is
still great uncertainty as to whether our
well-nigh extinguished German trade in
meat products can "revive under Its' new
burdens. Much will depend upon regula
tions not yet promulgated, which we con
fidently hope will be free from the dis
criminations which attended the enforce
ment of the old statutes.
The remaining link In the new line of
direct telegraphic communication between
the United States and the German Em
pire has recently been completed, afford
ing a gratifying occasion for exchange of
friendly congratulations with the German
Emperor.
The Boer War.
Our friendly relations with Great Brit
ain continue. The war In South Africa
Introduced important questions. A condi
tion unusual in international wars was
presented in that while one belligerent
had control of the seas, the other had
no ports, shipping or direct trade, but
was only accessible through the territory
of a neutral. Vexatious questions arose
through Great Britain's action- in respect
to neutral cargoes not contraband In
their own nature, shipped to Portuguese
South Africa, on the score of probable or
suspected ultimate destination to the
Boer states. Such consignments in Brit
ish ships, by which alone direct trade Is
kept up between our ports and South
Africa, were seized in application of a
law prohibiting British vessels from trad
ing with an enemy without regard to any
contraband character of the goods, while
cargoes shipped to Delagoa Bay In neutral
bottoms were arrested on the ground f
alleged destination to the enemy's coun
try. Appropriate representation on our
part resulted in the British Government
agreeing to purchase outright all such
goods shown to be the actual property of
American citizens, thus closing the inci
dent to the satisfaction of the immediate
ly Interested parties, although unfortu
nately without a broad settlement of the
question of a neutral's right to send
goods not contrband per se to a neutral
port adjacent to a belligerent area.
Alaska Boundary.
The work of marking certain provis
ional boundary points for convenience of
administration around the head of Lynn
Canal, in accordance with the temporary
! arrangement of October, 1899, was com
I pleted by a Joint surveyln July last. The
modus vlvendl has so far worked without
friction and the Dominion Government
has provided rules and regulations for
i securing to our citizens the benefit of the
reciprocal stipulation that the citizens or
I subjects of either power found by that
arrangement within the temporary Jurls-
diction of the other shall suffer no di
minution of rights and privileges they
bave hitherto enjoyed. But, however
necessary such an expedient may have
been to tide over the grave emergencies
of the situation. It Is at best but an
unsatisfactory makeshift, which should
not be suffered to delay tbe speedy and
complete establishment of the frontier
line to which we are entitled under the
Russo-Amerlcan treaty for the cession of
Alaska.
In this relation, I may refer again to
the need of definitely marking the Alas
kan boundary where It follows the 141st
meridian. A convention to that end has
been before the Senate for some two
years, but as no action has been taken, I
contemplate negotiating a new convention
for a joint determination of the meridian
by heliocentrls observations. These, asit
is believed, will give more accurate and
unquestionable results than the sidereal
methods heretofore Independently fol
lowed, which, as Is known, proved dis
crepant at several points on the line, al
though not varying at any place more
than 700 feet.'
International Arbitration.
It Is with satisfaction that I am able
to announce the formal notification ot
The Hague, on September 4, of the depos
it of ratifications of the convention for
the pacific settlement of the international
disputes by 16 powers, namely, the United
States, Austria, Belgium, Denmark. Eng
land, France, Germany, Italy, Persia,
Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Siam, Spain,
Sweden and Norway and The Nether
lands. Japan also has since ratified the
convention. The administrative council
of the permanent court of arbitration has
been organized, and it has adopted rules
or order and a constitution for the In
ternational Arbitration Bureau. In ac
cordance with article 23 of the convention
providing for the appointment by each
signatory power of persons of known
competency in questions of International
law as arbitrators I have appointed as
members of this court, Hon. Benjamin
Harrison, of Indiana, ex-President of the
United States; Hon. Melville W. Fuller,
of Illinois, Chief Justice of the United
States; John W. Griggs, of New Jersey,
Attorney-General of the United States,
and Hon. George Gray, of Delaware, a
Judge of the Circuit Court of the United
States.
The Nlcnragna Canal.
The Important matter of an Interoceanle
canal has assumed a new Dhase. Ad
hering to Its refusal to reopen the question
of the forfeiture of the contract of the
Maritime Canal Company, which was
terminated for alleged nonexecution in
October, 1899, the Government of Nicara
gua has since supplemented that action
by declaring the so-styled Eyre-Cragin
option void for nonpayment of the stipu
lated advance. Protests in relation to
these acts have been filed in the State
Department, and are under consideration.
Deeming Itself relieved from existing en
gagements, the Nicaragua Government
shows a disposition to deal freely with
the canal question, either in the way of
negotiations with the United States or by
! taking measures to promote the water
way. Overtures for a convention to effect
the building of a canal under the auspices
of the United States are under considera
tion, in tne meantime, tne views ox con
gress upon the subject in the light ot
the report of the committee appointed to
examine the comparative merits of the
various trans-isthmian ship canal proj
ects may be awaited.
I commend to the early attention ot
the Senate the convention with Great
Britain to facilitate the construction of
such a canal, and to remove any objec
tion whleh might arise out of the conven
tion commonly called the Clayton-Bul-wer
treaty.
Relations With Spain.
Satisfactory progress has been made
toward the conclusion of a general treaty
of friendship and Intercourse with Spain
In replacement of the old treaty, which
passed Into abeyance by reason of the
late war. A new convention of extradi
tion Is approaching completion, and 1
would be much pleased were a commer
cial arrangement to follow. I feel that
we should not suffer to pass an oppor
tunity to reaffirm the cordial ties that
existed between us and Spain from the
time of our earliest independence, and to
enhance the mutual benefits of that com
mercial intercourse which is natural be
tween the two countries.
By the terms of the treaty of peace,
the line bounding the ceded Philippine
group on the southwest failed to include
several small islands lying west of the
Sulus, which have always been recog
nized as under Spanish control. The oc
cupation of Sibutu and Cagayan, Sulu.
by our naval forces elicited a claim on
the part of Spain, the essential equity
of which could not be gainsaid. In order
to cure the defect of the treaty by re
moving all possible ground of future mis
understanding respecting the interpreta
tion of its third article, I directed the
negotiation of a supplementary treaty,
which will be forthwith laid before the
Senate, whereby Spain quits all title and
claim of title to the islands named, as
well as to any and all islands belonging
to the Philippine Archipelago lying out
side the lines described in said third ar
ticle, and agrees that all such islands
shall be comprehended in the cession of
the archipelago as fully as If they had
been expressly Included within those lines.
In consideration of this cession the United
States is to pay Spain the sum of 100,000.
A bill is now pending to effect the rec
ommendation made in my last annual
message, that appropriate legislation be
had to carry into execution article 8
of the treaty of peace with Spain, by
which the United States assumed the
payment of certain claims for indem
nity of its citizens against Spain. I ask
that action be taken to fulfill this obli
gation. CONDITIONS IN PHILIPPINES.
Recommendations for a Civil fisv
i ernment for tbe Islands.
In my last annual message I dwelt at
some length upon the condition of af
fairs In the Philippines. While seeking
to impress upon you that the grave re
sponsibility of the future government of
those islands rests with the Congress of
the United States, I abstained from rec
ommending at that time a specific and
final form of government for the terri
tory actually held by the United States
forces, and in which, as long as the In
surrection continues, the military arm
must necessarily be supreme. I stated
my purpose, until the Congress shall
have made known the formal expression
of its will, to use the authority vested
in me by the Constitution and the stat
utes to uphold the sovereignty of the
United States in these distant islands, as
in all other places where our flag right
fully floats, placing to that end at the
disposal of the- Army and Navy all the
means which the liberality of the Con
gress and the people have provided. No
contrary expression of the will of the
Congress having been made, I have
steadfastly pursued the purpose so de
clared, employing the civil arm as well
toward the accomplishment of pacifica
tion and the institution of local govern
ments within the lines of authority and
law.
Progress in tbe hoped-for direction has
been favorable. Our forces have suc
cessfully controlled the greater part of
the islands, overcoming the organized
forces of the Insurgents, and carrying
order and administrative regularity to
all quarters. What opposition remains is
for the most part scattered, obeying no
concerted plan of strategic action, oper
ating only by tbe methods common to
the traditions of guerrilla warfare, which,
while ineffective to alter the general con
trol now established, are still sufficient
to beget insecurity among the popula
tior.s that have felt the good results of
our control, and thus delay the confer
ment upon them of the fuller measures
of local self-government, of education
and of Industrial and agricultural devel
opment wbicb we stand ready to give
them.
By the Spring of this year the effective
opposition of the dissatisfied Tagals to
the authority of the United States was
virtually ended, thus opening the door
for the extension of a stable administra
tion over much of the territory of the
archipelago. Desiring to bring this about,
I appointed Jn march last a civil com
mission, composed of the Hon. William
H. Taft, of Ohio; Professor Dean C.
Worcester, of Michigan; Hon. Luke E.
Wright, oi Tennessee; Hon. Henry C.
Ide, of Vermont, and Professor Bernard
Moses, of California. The alms of their
mission and 'he scope of their authority
are clearly set forth in instructions ot
April 7, 1900, addressed to the Secretary
of War, to be transmitted to them.
PORTO RICO AND CUBA.
Success In tbe Former Progress
Toward Cnban Autonomy.
The civil government of Porto Rico
provided for by the act of the Congress
approved April 12, 1900, is in successful
operation. The courts have been estab
lished; the Governor and his associates
working intelligently and harmoniously,
are making a commendable success. On
the 6th of November a general election
was held in the island for members of
the Legislature and the body has been
called to convene on the first Monday of
December.
I recommend that legislation be enacted
by Congress conferring upon the Secre
tary of the Interior supervision over the
public lands in Porto Rico, and that he
be directed to ascertain the location and
quantity of lands the title to which re
mained in the crown of Spain at the date
the cession of Porto Rico to the United
States, and that appropriations for sur
veys be made and the methods of the
disposition of such lands be prescribed
by law.
FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS.
Army Should Be OO.OOO to 100,000
The Navy, Postofftccs, Etc.
The present strength of the Army is
100,000 men 65,000 regulars and 35,000 vol
unteers. Under the act of March 2, 1S99,
on the 30th of June next the present vol
unteer force will be discharged and the
Regular Army will be reduced to 247
officers pnd 29,025 enlisted men. In 1888
a board of officers convened by President
Cleveland adopted a comprehensive
scheme of coast defense and fortifications
which involved the outlay of something
over 1100,000.000. Tliis plan received the
approval of the Congress and since then
regular aproprla lions have been made and
the work of fortification has steadily
progressed. More man $60,000,000 have
been invested in a g-eat number of forts
and guns, with all the complicated and
scientific machinery and electrical appli
ances necessary for their use. The proper
care of this defensive machinery requires
men trained In Its use. The number of
men necessary to perform this duty alone
is ascertained by the "War Department,
at a minimum allowance, to be 18,420.
There are 58 or more military posts in
the United states other than the coast
defense fortifications. The number of
these posts is being constantly Increased
by Congress. More than $22,000,000 have
been expended in building and equipping
them, and they can only be cared Tor
by the Regular Army. The posts now In
existence and others to be built provide
accommodations Tor, and, if fully gar
risoned, require 26,000 troops. Many ot
these posts are along our frontier or at
important strategic points, the occupa
tion of which is necessary. We have in
Cuba between 5000 and 6000 troops. For
the present our troops in that island can
not be withdrawn or materially dimin
ished, certainly not until the conclusion
of the labors of the constitutional conven
tion now In session and a government pro
vided 1 y the National Constitution should
have been established and its stability
assur- d. In Porto Rico we have re
duced the garrisons to 1636. which include
896 native troops. There Is no room for
further reduction here. We will be re
quired to keep a considerable force In
the Philippine Islands for some time to
come. From the best information ob
tainable we shall need there for the Im
mediate future from 50,000 to 60,000 men.
I am sure the number may be reduced as
the insurgents shall come to acknowledge
the authority of the United States, of
which there are assuring Indications.
It must be apparent that we will re
quire an army of about 60,000, and that
during present conditions in Cuba and
the Philippines the President should have
authority to increase the force to the
present number of 100,000. Included in
this, authority should be given to raise
native troops in the Philippines up to
15.000, which the Taft commission believes
will be more effective in detecting and
suppressing guerillas, assassins and la
drones than our own soldiers.
The full discussion of this subject by
the Secretary of War in his annual re
port is called to your earnest attention.
The Navy.
Very efficient service has been rendered
by the Navy In connection with the Insur
rection in the Philippines, and the recent
disturbance in China.
A very satisfactory settlement has been
made of the long-pending question of the
manufacture of armor-plates. A reason
able price haa been secured, and the
necessity for a Government armor-plate
plant avoided.
The Hawaiian Islands.
Much Interesting information Is given In
the report of the Governor of Hawaii as
to the progress and development of the
islands during the period from July 7,
1898, the date of the approval of the joint
resolution of the Congress providing for
their annexation up to April 30, 1900, the
date of the approval of the act providing
a government for the territory and there
after. The last Hawaiian census, taken
In the year 1896, gives a total population
of i09,020, of which 31,019 were native Ha
waiian:. The number of Americans re
ported was 8485. The results of the Fed
eral census taken this year show the
islands to have a total population of 154.
001, snowing an increase over that report
ed in 1896 of 44,981, or 41.2 per cent. There
has been marked progress In educational,,
agricultural and railroad development of
the islands.
The Twelfth Census.
The Director of the Census states thai
the work In connection with the 12th cen
sus is progressing favorably. This Na
tional undertaking, ordered by the Con
gress each decade, has finally resulted in
the collection of an agregation of statis
tical facts to determine the industrial
growth of the country. Its manufacturing
and mechanical resources, its richness in
mines and forests, the numbers of its
agricultural districts, their farms anl
products, its educational and religious op
portunities, as well as questions pertain
ing to sociological condit'ons.
Precaution Against Extravagance.
In our great prosperity we must guard
against the dangers It Invites in extrav
agance in government expenditures and
appropriations, and the chosen represen
tatives of the people will. I doubt not, fur
nish an example In their legislation of
that wise economy which, in a season of
plenty, husbands for the future. In this
era of great business activity and oppor
tunity caution .is not untimely. It will
not abate but strengthen our confidence.
It will not retard but promote legitimate
Industrial and commercial expansion.
Our growing power brings with it temp
tations and perils requiring constant vig
ilance to avoid. It must not be used to in
vite conflicts, nor for oppression, but for
the more effective maintenance of those
principles of equality and justice upon
which our institutions and happiness de
pend. Let us keep always In mind that
the foundation of our Government is lib
erty; its superstructure peace.
WILLIAM McKTNLET.
Executive Mansion, December 3, 1900.