Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-12-06

Notwithstanding the added burdens
necessary by the war our people re-
5oICe in 4 very satisfactory and stcaGi-
y increasing degree Of prosperity evil
denced by the largest volume Of bust
ness ever recorded. Manufacture has
been productive, agricultural pursuits
have yielded abundant returns. labor il
the fields OF industry is better rewarded.
revenue legislation passed by the pres
ent congress has increased the treas
uTy's receipts to the amount estimated
by its authors. the finances of the gov
ernment have been successfully admin
fstered and its credit advanced TO the
first rank, while its currency has been
maintained at the worlds highest
standard. Military service under q
common flag and for righteOu cause
has STRENGTHENED the national spirit and
served to cement more closely than
ever the fra CeTnal 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 nave arisen.
demanding in one instance the ultimate
determination by arms and involving
far-rcaching consequences which viii
require the earnest attention OF the
congress.
II Uy last annual message very full
consideration was given 10 the question
of the duty Of the government Of the
United States toward Spain and the
Cuban resurrection as being by far the
most important problem with which We
were then called upon to deal The
ConsiG .TItiDus then advanced. and the
exposition Of the views the rein eN-
pressed. disclosed my sense of the cN-
ire me gravity IS the situation. Setting
aside "a logically uufUuUGed or UTds-
tiCaIy inadmissibi- the recognition OF
the Cuban insurgents as beliige rents,
the recognition Of the Independence of
Cuba neutral intervention TO end the
war Jg ll.IJ=IuE a rational compromise
between TIRE contestants. intervention
in favor II one or the other party. and
fOrCi BILE annexation Of the island. / con
ciucsd 10 was honestly dCetO our friend
~ relations with Spain that she should
be given reasonable ,..ar"e To realize
her e--re-fatlpIs of reform To which she
had become irreyocaIiy committed.
Within a few weeks previously she
had announced cJmpr. hcnsive plans
which II was confidently asserted would
b., eiliCaCiOGs To- remedy the evils 81
deeply aneCtiu. our own country, 80
injurious 20 the true interests OF the
mother country as well as To- those OF
Cuba and 50 TeuugEant TO the uni
vcrsal sentiment of humanity. The en-
suing month brought little sign OF real
progress toward Dacificatiou of Cuba.
The autonomous administration set up
in the capital and some of the principal
cities appeared not 10 gain the favor OF
the Inhabitants nor u he abb to CN-
tcId their influence to the large extent
Of territory held Hy the insurgents,
while the military arm. obviously I'm
able to cope with the still active re-
bcilion. continued many Cf the most
ohjectiona BILE and offensive policies OF
the government that had preceded it,
No tangible relief was afforded the vast
nun hers of unhappy reConCentrados
despite the reiterated professions made
in that regard and the amount apprO-
priated Ey spain 70 that end