Request the Government to Interfere
December 16, 1899
Summary
Holland asks President McKinley to "use his good offices to bring about peace between the English and the Boers," although "the President can do nothing of this kind except when requested by both parties to do it."
Transcription
REQUEST THE GOVERNMENT TO INTERFERE
Senator Burrows has presented President McKinley a petition signed by the Hollanders of Michigan, asking that he use his good offices to bring about peace between the English and the Boers, and he petition has been filed in the Department of State. The President can do nothing of this kind except when requested by both parties to do it.
Hon. John Barrett, late U.S. Minister to Siam, said in a lecture on “The Philippines and the Far East,” delivered under the auspices of the National Geographic Society: “If I were asked to state the necessary immediate influences that will assist in making America forever the paramount power of the Pacific, I would enumerate in order of importance: First, permanent sovereignty over the Philippines; second, construction of the Trans-Isthmian Canal; third, preservation according to the treaty of our trade rights throughout all China; fourth, laying of the Pacific cable; fifth, upbuilding or reasonable subsidies of our merchant marine; sixth,- a new but important proposition- the extension of a parcel post system of mail to the far East to compete with similar European systems, and seventh, the early sending of a Commission to fully investigate and report on Asiatic markets, as recommended in the President’s Message.”
With the exception of the Sixth, the President anticipated every one of Mr. Barrett’s suggestions, in his annual message to Congress.
Senator Burrows has presented President McKinley a petition signed by the Hollanders of Michigan, asking that he use his good offices to bring about peace between the English and the Boers, and he petition has been filed in the Department of State. The President can do nothing of this kind except when requested by both parties to do it.
Hon. John Barrett, late U.S. Minister to Siam, said in a lecture on “The Philippines and the Far East,” delivered under the auspices of the National Geographic Society: “If I were asked to state the necessary immediate influences that will assist in making America forever the paramount power of the Pacific, I would enumerate in order of importance: First, permanent sovereignty over the Philippines; second, construction of the Trans-Isthmian Canal; third, preservation according to the treaty of our trade rights throughout all China; fourth, laying of the Pacific cable; fifth, upbuilding or reasonable subsidies of our merchant marine; sixth,- a new but important proposition- the extension of a parcel post system of mail to the far East to compete with similar European systems, and seventh, the early sending of a Commission to fully investigate and report on Asiatic markets, as recommended in the President’s Message.”
With the exception of the Sixth, the President anticipated every one of Mr. Barrett’s suggestions, in his annual message to Congress.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Elias Sturim
Citation
“Request the Government to Interfere,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed April 24, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1759.