Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-08

message Of President Mckinley was
read in both houses of Congress today.
The full text of the document is as
follows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
Notwithstanding the added burdens
rendered necessary by the war our
people rejoice In a very satisfactory
and steadily increasing degree Of pros
perity evidenced by the largest volume
OF business ever recorded. Manufacture
has been productive, agricultural pur-
suits have yielded abundant returns,
labor in all fields of industry is better
rewarded, revenue legislation passed
by the present Congress has increased
the treasury's receipts to the amount
estimated by its authors; the finances
Of the government have been success
fully administered and its credit adj
vanced to the first rank; while its cur
rency has been maintained at the
worlds highest standard. Military
service under common flag and for
q righteous cause has strengthened the
national spirit and served to cement
more closely than ever the fraternal
bonds between every section of the
country.
A review of the relation of the
United States to other powers, always
appropriate, is this year Of primary
importance in view Of the momentous
issues which have arisen, demanding
in one instance the ultimate determi-
nation by arms and involving far
reaching consequences which will re-
quire the earnest attention Of the Con-
gress.
In my last annual message very full
consideration was given to the question
of the duty of the government OF the
United States toward Spain and the
Cuban Instruction as being by far tho
most important problem with which we
were then called upon to deal. The con-
sideration then advanced and the ex-
position of the views therein expressed,
disclosed my sense Of the extreme
gravity of the situation. Setting aside,
as logically unfounded or practically
inadmissible, the recognition of the
Cuban insurgents as belligerents, the
recognition of the Independence of
Cuba, neutral intervention to end the
war by imposing rational compromise
between the contestants, Intervention
in favor of one or the other party, and
forcible annexation Of the island, /
concluded 1t was honestly due to our
friendly relations with Spain that she
should be given reasonable chance to
realize her executions of reform to
which she had become irrevocably COM
mittvd. Within few weeks previously
she had announced comprehensive plans
which 1t was confidently asserted would
be etiicacious to remedy the evils SC
deeply affecting our own country, SC
injurious to the true interests of the
mother country as we'll as to those OF
Cuba, and SO repugnant to the uni.
versai sentiment of humanity.
The ensuing month brought little
sign Of real progress toward the pacifi
cation Of Cuba. The autonomous adj.
ministratiens set up in the capital ant
some Of the principal cities appeared
not to gain the favor of the inhabitant,
nor to be able to extend their infiuenc,
to the large extent of territory held b,
the insurgents, while the military arm
obviously unable to cope with the still
active rebellion, continued many o
the most Objectionable and offensive
policies of the government that hat
preceded it. No tangible relief wa
afforded the vast numbers of unhapp
reconcentrados, despite the reiterate,
professions made in that regard an,
the amounts appropriated by Spain +
that end. The proffered excellent O
zones of cultivation proved illusory
indeed no less practical nor more de
lusive promises of succor could we
have been rendered TO the exhauste
and destitute people, stripped Of a
that made life and home dear, an
herded in strange region among III
atrot hRr Ilxt
cessitous than themselves.
By the end of December the mortalit
among them had frightfully increased
Conservative estimates from SPANS
sources placed the deaths among thes
distressed people at over 40 per cer
from the time Gen. Weyler's decree {
Recommendation was enforced. Wit
the acquiescence OF the SPANS
authorities scheme was adopted ft
relief by charitable contribution
raised in this country and distribute,
under the direction OF the cons,
general and the several consuls,
noble and earnest individual effo
through the organized agencies Of Il
American Red Cross. Thousands
lives were thus saved, but many tho
sands more were in accessible to su,
forms of aid.
The war continued on the old footii
without comprehensive plan, develo
ing only the same spasmodic encou
tiers, barren of strategic results, tn
had marked the course of the earli
ten years rebellion as was the prese
insurrection from its start. No altern
tive save physical exhaustion of eth
cvmbatant and there withal the prac
cal rum Of the island, lay in sight, b
how far distant no one could ventu
to conjecture.
THE MAINE CATASTROPHE.
At this iuncture, on the 10Th
February last, occurred the destructi
OF the battleship Maine while rigl
fully lying in the harbor of Hava
on q mission of international court,
add good villa catastrophe, the s.
picious nature and horror OF viii
stirred tho nations heart profound
1t is striking evidence Of the DO
and sturdy good sense distinguish
our national character that this sho
ing blow, falling upon gener,
people, already deeply touched by r
ceding events in Cuba, did not M
them to an instant, desperate reso
to tolerate no longer the existence G
condition Of danger and disorder
our doors that made possible sue
deed, by whomsoever wrought.
the instinct Of justice prevailed I
the nation anxiously awaited the
suit of the searching investigation
once set on foot. The finding of
naval board Of inquiry established t
the origin of the explosion was
ternal by submarine mine, and @
halted, through lack Of. positive tie
mony, to fix the responsibility of