transferred to the United States, and if not, by the Nicaragua route, This is another pledge carried out by the Republican party. The passages of this act of Congress cleared the way for direct negotiations by the State Department, and within ten days after the adjournment of Congress the Government of France, through diplomatic correspondence and by action of the French courts, had removed most embarrassments in the way of the transfer of the title from the new Panama Company to the United States. The Government of France has given assurances to this Government that no claims against the property will be presented after the payment of $10,000,000 and the transfer of the title. The Attorney-General of the United States arranged to visit Paris and investigate the title and all legal questions relating to the transfer to this Government. The State Department also resumed its negotiations with the minister of Colombia, immediately after the adjournment of Congress, with the result that amendments to the treaty were agreed to and sent to the Colombian Government for approval. These amendments are to make the treaty agree not only with the Spooner act, but also with the spirit of Congress as developed in the debate on the canal bill. They provide for defenses of the canal, for the police power of this Government on the territory adjacent to the canal, and for a definite price to be paid for the concession. It is now certain that the new treaty with Colombia will be sent to the Senate in December, and with the ratification of that treaty, the transfer of the Panama Canal to the United States Government will be completed and the work of constructing the great waterway will be commenced by the President. The whole work of Congress and the Executive Department of the Government, under Republican guidance, has been to carry out the will of the people, with the greatest possible expedition, and provide for an isthmian canal. That canal will be constructed and ready for use within ten years. This is another illustration of the business methods of the Republican party in carrying out great public policies in harmony with the demands of the people. It is not only highly desirable, but necessary, that there should be legislation which shall carefully shield the interests of wageworkers, and which shall discriminate in favor of the honest and humane employer by removing the disadvantage under which he stands when compared with unscrupulous competitors who have no conscience, and will do right only under fear of punishment.— Theodore Roosevelt, in speech at Minneapolis, September 2, 1901. THE CUBAN REPUBLIC. THE GROUNDWORK OF A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT LAID BY THE UNITED STATES. The Cuban Republic, inaugurated May 20, 1902, is the most significant mark of the progress of democratic government under the guidance and protection of the United States in the new century. It is in marked contrast to the developments in South Africa. There the Boer Republics have been suppressed by England and made Crown colonies of the Empire. Here, after a war for freedom from oppression, Cuba has been freed from Spain, her affairs successfully administered, and the groundwork of a republican form of government laid by the United States Army, and this model handed over to the Cuban people by the American soldiers who fought for and won their freedom. The Cuban Republic and the Cuban flag over the Morro at Havana are the newest and best testimonials to the fidelity of the present Republican Administration to the principles of the Declaration of Independence. They illustrate a new order of imperialism-the imperialism of democracy. The United States has not only freed Cuba, but has guaranteed the continuance of her independence against the encroachment of any foreign power and internal revolution. There is only one way the Cuban Republic can cease, and that is by the voice of her own people asking for closer ties with the United States by annexation to be placed in the same list with Porto Rico and Hawaii. Purpose of the War with Spain. The sole purpose of the war with Spain was the freedom of Cuba from the oppression of the Spanish Government. The revolution in Cuba had become a menace to the peace and prosperity of the American people. A minority in Congress desired to recognize the so-called Cuban government in the spring of 1898-a government that only existed on paper and had no existence in fact. But President McKinley and the Republican leaders in Congress looked beyond the expulsion of Spain to the necessity for a stable as well as an independent government in Cuba. In his message to Congress April 11, 1898, President McKinley said: "The only hope of relief and repose from a condition which can no longer be endured is the enforced pacification of Cuba. In the name of humanity, in the name of civilization, in behalf of endangered American interests which give us the right and the duty to speak and to act, the war in Cuba must stop. "In view of these facts and of these considerations I ask the Congress to authorize and empower the President to take measures to secure a full and final termination of hostilities between the Government of Spain and the people of Cuba, and to secure in the island the establishment of a stable government, capable of maintaining order and observing its international obligations, insuring peace and tranquillity and the security of its citizens as well as our own, and to use the military and naval forces of the United States as may be necessary for these purposes." Action of the Republican Congress.—The Republican majority in Congress followed the President's recommendation, and the following was the final form of the resolutions adopted: First. That the people of the island of Cuba are and of right ought to be free and independent. Second. That it is the duty of the United States to demand, and the Government of the United States does hereby demand, that the Government of Spain at once relinquish its authority and government in the island of Cuba and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters. Third. That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United States, and to call into the actual service of the United States the militia of the several States, to such extent as may be necessary to carry these resolutions into effect. Fourth. That the United States hereby disclaims any disposition * or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said island except for the pacification thereof, and asserts its determination when that is accomplished to leave the government and control of the island to its people. Only two Democratic Senators voted for the resolution, Gray and Morgan. The vote was as follows: Yeas, 42.-Aldrich, Allison, Baker, Burrows, Carter, Chandler, Clark, Cullom, Davis, Deboe, Elkins, Fairbanks, Faulkner, Foraker, Frye, Gallinger, Gear, Gray, Hale, Hanna, Hansbrough, Hawley, Kyle, Lodge, McBride, McMillin, Mason, Morgan, Morrill, Nelson, Penrose, Perkins, Platt (Conn.), Pritchard, Proctor, Quay, Sewell, Shoup, Spooner, Warren, Wilson, and Wolcott. Nays, 35.-Allen, Bacon, Bate, Berry, Butler, Caffrey, Cannon, Chilton, Clay, Cockrell, Daniel, Harris, Heitfeld, Jones (Ark.), Jones (Nev.), Kenney, Lindsay, McEnery, McLaurin, Mallory, Mantle, Martin, Mitchell, Money, Pasco, Pettigrew, Pettus, Rawlins, Roach, Stewart, Teller, Turley, Turner, Turpie, and White. Not voting, 11.-Gorman, Hoar, Mills, Murphy, Platt (N. Y.), Thurston, Tillman, Vest, Walthall, Wellington, and Wetmore. The Democrats still boast that they brought on the war, but they opposed the policy of the President to have the object of that war clearly defined, so as to not be a source of misunderstanding and trouble ever afterward. The protocol, which ended hostilities between the United States and Spain, signed August 12, 1898, provided that “Cuba, Porto Rico, and other Spanish islands in the West Indies shall be immediately evacuated," and the treaty of peace signed in Paris in December provided: "Spain relinquishes all the claim of sovereignty over and title to Cuba, and as the island is upon the evacuation of Spain to be occupied by the United States, the United States will, so long as such occupation shall last, assume and discharge the obligations that may under international law result from the fact of its occupation for the protection of life and property." Control of Cuba by the United States.-The United States military authorities took over the control of Cuba on January 1, 1899. In his first proclamation, General Brooke, who became governorgeneral of the island, said: "The object of the present government is to give protection to the people and security to person and property, to restore confidence, to encourage the people to resume the pursuits of peace, to build up waste plantations, to resume commercial traffic, and to afford full protection in the exercise of all civil and religious rights." The first perplexing question before this Government in its new duties to Cuba was to make a favorable disposition of the insurgent army. The Cubans could not agree how this army should be disbanded. The United States Congress finally appropriated $3,000,000 to be distributed among the troops upon the surrender of their This was accomplished in September, 1899. arms. The efforts of the military government in Cuba were chiefly in three directions: First, toward the reformation of the courts, which were so corrupt under Spanish rule as to have utterly destroyed their usefulness or value as mediums of dispensing justice; second, the establishment of a proper educational system in the island, and, third, the improvement of the sanitary conditions of the cities. The courts were, during the year 1899, remodeled, and have gained the respect and confidence of the citizens of the island. Schools were opened wherever practicable, and a large number of native Cubans placed in charge to take up the educational work, and the sanitary work in the cities was pushed forward with great success, especially in Santiago and Havana, the result being that despite the war conditions which had so long prevailed, the island passed through the summer of 1899 with an unusually small loss. of life from those diseases peculiar to these conditions in a tropical climate. On August 17, 1899, President McKinley issued a proclamation to the people of Cuba, announcing the census as a prelim inary step to preparations for the establishment of civil self-government, which the people of that island had so long desired, saying: "The disorganized condition of your island resulting from the war and the absence of any generally recognized authority aside from the temporary military control of the United States have made it necessary that the United States should follow the restoration of order and peaceful industry by giving its assistance and supervision to the successive steps by which you will proceed to the establishment of an effective system of self-government." The direction of the temporary government of Cuba was transferred to General Wood in 1900, General Brooke having been relieved of that duty at his own request. Progress in Cuba.-In his last report on the conditions in Cuba, the Secretary of War said that there were now more than 3,600 teachers employed in the schools with an average enrollment of 180,000 and an average attendance of 140,000 pupils. The island has been freed from yellow fever, and that danger has been removed from the United States. The revenues of the island have been expended for the benefit of the Cuban people, to give them a republican form of government, free schools, courts free from old imperial prejudices, public roads, and other public works to make the people prosperous and healthy. A census was held and elections authorized to select delegates to a constitutional convention. The convention adopted a constitution in June, 1901, and in October adopted a general electoral law providing for a general election to be held December 31, 1901. At that election governors of provinces, provincial councilors, members of the House of Representatives and Presidential and Senatorial electors were chosen. On February 24, 1902, the several bodies of electors met and elected a President, Vice-President, and Senators. Thomas Estrada Palma was elected President, and he was inaugurated May 20, 1902. The American flag, which had protected Cuba for three years, was withdrawn, and the Cuban flag took its place over the new Republic made possible and in fact established and developed by American soldiers. Relinquishment of American Authority. In turning over the government of Cuba to President Palma, Governor-General Wood delivered this message: "HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT of Cuba, "To the President and Congress of the Republic of Cuba: "SIRS: Under the direction of the President of the United States I now transfer to you as the duly elected representatives of the people of Cuba the government and control of the island, to be held |