The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1898-12-14
T. the Senate and House of Repre-

people rejoice IN very tatlsl@ctuiS /
and steadily Increasing degree Of pros
perity, evidenced by The largest volume
of business ever recorded. Every monu-
facture has been productive, agrlcul-
ture pursuits have yielded abundant re-
turns. labor in the fields OF industry Is
better rewarded, revenue legislation
passed by the present Congress has In
creased the treasury's receipts to the
amount estimated by It's authorities. the
finances OF the government have been
successfully Administered and Its credit
advanced to the first rank, while It's
currency has been maintained at the
worlds highest standard. Military GER
vice under common nag and for
righteous cause has strengthened the
national spirit ana served 70 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 Inn
portance in view OF the momentous
issues which have arisen, demanding In
one instance the ultimate determination
by arms, and involving far?reaching
CONSEQUENCES winch VIII iSPuH~ $50
earnest attention Of the Congress.
DUTY TOWARD SPAIN.
In my 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 insurrectlon. as being by far the
most Important problem with which we
were called upon to deal The con-
siderations then advanced, and the OK
position OF the views therein expressed,
disclosed my sense OF the extreme grav-
ity of the situation. Setting aside. as
logically unfounded, or practically mad
fnissable. the recognition or the CUBAN
Insurgents as belligerents the recog-
milton OF the Independence OF CUBA, neu-
trial Intervention TO end the war by Inn
posing a rational compr )miss between
the contestants, intervention in favor NJ
one or the other party and the forcible
annexation OF the Island, | concluded IL
was honestly due 10 our friendly rela-
lions with Spain that she should be
given a reasonable chance to realize her
Expectations Of reform TO which she had
become irrevocably committed Withln
few weeks previous she had an
nounced comprehensive plans, which IL
was confidently asserted would be effica-
cious to remedy the evils 10 deeply af-
fecting our own country. so injurious
10 the true interests OF the mother coun-
try as well as those OF CUBA and SO
IeDuknbHI " the hAANNAoet sff+'tN''''N'ff -
humanity.
The ensuing months brought little
sign OF real progress toward the pacln-
cation OF Cuba. The Autonomoul hd-
mlnlBtration set up In me capital ara
rome of the principal cities appeared
not 10 gain the favor OF the Inhabitants
nor To be able TO extend their influence
10 the large extent OF territory held by
the insurgents. while the military arm.
obviously unable to cope With the still
continued M ut Of the
most Objectionable and offensive policies
of the government that had preceded It,
No tangible relief was Afforded The vast
numbers OF unhappy reconcentrados
despite the reiterated PROFESSIONS mau'
IN that regard. and the amount appro'
priated by Spain to that md. Tbs prof
fered expedlent OF ZONES 81 cultivation
proved lllusory Indeed, no less prac-
tlcal nor more deluslve promises OF sue
cor could well have been tendered g
tbs exhausted and destitute people
stripped Of all that made NE and ham'
dear. and herded In a strange reglor
among unsympathetic stranEers hardly
less necessltous than themselves.
STARVING RBCoNCENTRADoS.
BY the end OF December the mortail
,ty among them had frlghtfully in
creased Conservative estimates from
Spanish sources placed the death!
among these distressed people at ove1
40 per cent, from the time Gen. Wey
ler'B decree OF reconcentrados vas en-
forced With the acduie scence OF span
lsh authorities, a scheme was adopted
Tor relief by charitable contributions
raised In this country and distributed
under the direction OF the consul Rener
Al and the several consuls. by noble nn'
earnest Individual effort through he or
tanlzed agencies OF the American Re-
Cross.
Thousands OF lives were thus savet
but many thousands more were lnac
leesslble TO such form Of aid.
The war continued on the old footlnl
without comprehensive plan, d developing
only the same spasmodlc encounters
barren OF strategic result. that ha'
marked the course of the earlier tel
years of rebellion as we'll as the pressn
lnsurrectlon from Its start, No alterna
tive save physical exhaustion or eth
Dr. combatant and therewlthll the prac
teal ruin OF the Island, lay In sight. bu
how far distant no one could vcntur
10 conjecture.
DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE.
At this juncture, on the 18th o
February las St. S osGurSed ,,n IN
while rightfully lying In the harbor o
Havana on a mission of in'ternatlona
courtesy and goodwill. a Gaia stroph
the suspicious nature and horror o
which stirred che nations heart pro
foundiy. IT Is a striking evidence O
the polse and sturdy good sense dis
blngulshing our national character ina
this shocking blow, FALLING upon a gen
arOus people, already deeply touohg
by preceding eVeres In Cuba did No
move them 70 desperate resolve 10 t0l
erate no longer the existence OF a con
dition OF danger and disorder at on
doors that made possible such a dee
By whomsoever wrought. Yet the In
rtlnct OF justice prevailed and the ma
flon anxlously awaited the result
the searching Investigation at once 81
on foot. The finding OF the naval boar
of Inquiry established that tine orig
~ the explosion was external by
iubmarlne mine and On'f halle
through lack OF positive testimony
the responsibility OF Its authorshl
An thnoa uhtuu4 carried eOuVlUtlC