The Meeker herald., 1898-12-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE:
FULL DISCUSSION OF NATIONAL
ISSUES.
4 Careful Review of the Conflict with
spain and Its Causes-Urges WithdrA"
N of Some Forms of Currency-Asks
for an Increase In the Army and Navy.

Washington. Dec 6.-Presdent NC
Kinley yesterday sent to Congress MS
annual message. 1t is of great length
and fully covers the important ma
tional issues We present below a
brief summary of it. The message be
gins as follows:
.To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives: Notwithstanding the add
ed burdens rendered necessary by the
war, our people rejoice in very salts
factory and steadily increasing degree
of prosperity evidenced by the largest
volume of business ever recorded. EN-
cry manufacture has been productive,
agriculturalpursuits yielded abun-
dant returns. revenue Legislation passed
by the present Congress has In
creased the treasury receipts to the
amount estimated by the authorities.
the finances of the government have
been successfully administered and its
credit advanced to the front rank, while
its currency has been maintained at the
worlds highest standard. Military SER
vice under common flag and for n
righteous cause has strengthened the
national spirit and served to cement
more closely than ever the fraternal
bonds between every section or the
country. \ review of The relations OF
the United States to other powers, al
ways appropriate. is this year OF pri-
mary importance in view of the mo-
mcntous issues which have risen. de-
manding in one instance the ultimate
determination by arms and involving
far-reaching consequences which will
require the earnest attention OF the
Congress"
The President launches ut once into
full recital of the events leading up
to the war with Spain. and details at
some length the leading features of
the campaign.
war lie says:
"Our country thus, after an intervalOf
half century of peace with all na-
tons. found itself engaged in deadly
conflict with foreign enemy. Every
nerve was strained to meet the emerg-
cncy The response to the initial call
for 125,OOO volunteers was instant and
as was also the result of the
second call of May 7th for 5000 addi-
tional volunteers. The ranks of the
regular army We're increased to the
limits provided by the net Of April
23. The enlisted force of the navy,
OIL the 18th of August. when 1t reached
its maximum, numbered 24,123 men
and apprentices. One hundred and
three vessels We're added to the navy
by purchase, one was presented to the
government, one leased and the four
of the International Navigation
the st. Paul, st. Louis, New
York and Paris. We're chartered. In
addition to these the revenue cutters
and lighthouse tenders We're turned
over to the Navy Department and be-
came temporarily part of the auxil-
larry navy.
1.-THE maximum effective fighting
force of the navy during the war sepa-
rated into classes was ms follows:
-Four battleships of the first class.
one ba,tlcship of the second class. two
cruisers. six coast defense
monitors. one armored ram. twelve
protected cruisers. eighteen gunboats,
one dynamite cruiser. eleven torpedo
boats, fourteen old vessels of the old
navy. including monitors. Auxiliary
navy: Auxiliary cruisers. twenty-eight-
yachts, twenty-seyen con-
verted tugs. nineteen converted colliers,
four revenue cutters, four lighthouse
tenders and nineteen miscellaneous yes-
sells.
"The national defense. under the
$50,0O0.OOO fund. was expended in
large part by the army and navy, and
the objects for which 1t was used are
fully shown in the representations of
the several secretaries. Ii was Il
most timely appropriation. enabling
the government to strengthen its de-
fense and TO make preparations great
ly needed in case of war. This fund
being inadequate to the requirements
of equipment and for the conduct of
the war, the patriotism of Congress
provided the means in the war reve-
nue. act Of June by authorizing 3
per cent. popular loan not to exceed
$4Oo.000,O00. and by levying additional
imports and taxes. OF the authorized
loan S2oo.oOO.OOo was offered and
promptly taken. the subscriptions so
far exceeding the call as to cover 1t
many times over. while. preference be-
ing given TO the smaller bids. no sin
gle allotment exceeded 5000. This
was most encouraging and signifi-
cant result. showing the vast re-
SutlttS VI t1t upter.
mnation of the people to uphold their
country's honor
Concerning the casualties of the war
the President says:
"The total casualties in killed and
wounded in the army during the war
was as follows: Officers killed. %:
enlisted men killed. 257; total. $50; Off
GERS wounded, 113; enlisted men
wounded. 1.4G4; total, 1877: Of the
navy, killed II: wounded, 81: died as
result Of wounds, 1; invalided from
service, q: total, 81.
1T will be observed that while our
navy was engaged in two great bat
ties and in numerous perilous under
takings in the blockades and bonn
bardments. and more than 10000 of
our troops were transported to distant
lands. and engaged in assault and
siege and battle, and many skirmishes
in unfamiliar territory. we lost in both
arD,s NJ t1n Sarvtnn n tptO1 nf 4 H{tS