The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-12-08

H b t30k AAS FbVNA&S~E " AAAsS L
message TO na.rate the history OF the
extraordinary war that followed the /
Spanish declaration OF April Il. but .
brief recital Of its more salient features |
Ii appropriate.
The first encounter OF the war In |
point Of date took place April -. when /
detachment of the blockadIng |
squadron made q reconnaissance In |
force at Matanzas. sheiled the harbor /
forts. and demolished several new
works In construction
The next engagement was destined TO
mark a memorable epoch In maritime
warfare. The Pacific feet. under Com
modore George Dewey. had lain for
some weeks al Hong Kong. Upon the
colonial proclamation OF neutrality be-
Ing issued and the customary ~ hours ,
notice being given. IL repaired to Mrs
bay. near Hong Kong. whence IL pro-
ceeded TO the Philippine Islands under
teiegraphed orders To capture or de-
stroy the formidable Spanish fleet then
assembled at Manila AT daybreak on
the LIST OF May the American force en-
tered Manila bay, and after few
hours engagement effected the total
destruction OF the Spanish fleet, con-
sisting of ten warships and a transport,
besides capturing the naval station and
forts at Cavite, thus annihilating the
Spanish naval power in the Pacific
ocean and completely controlling the
Bay OF Manila. with the ability to take
the city at will. For this gallant
achievement the congress. upon my
recommendation. fifty bestowed upon
the actors preferment and substantial
reward. The effect of this remarkable
victory upon the spirit of our people
and upon the fortunes OF the war was
instant. A prestige OF invincibility
thereby attached TO cur arms, which
continued throughout the struggle. Re
Inducements were hurried to Manila
under the command or Major Gonsrai
Merritt and firmly established within
sight of the capital, which lay helpless
before our guns.
Proceeding, the message refers to the
principal events of the war-the death
Of Ensign Worth Bagley, the 'excep-
tional heroism Of Lieutenant Hobson
and his seven devoted volunteers" the
invasion Of Cuba and Porto Rico and
the departure Of Admiral Cervera's
fleet from Cape Verde Islands. The
landing of Skaters army at Daiquiri
and the capture of Santiago itself is
OWeu upOIl, tHcH CoIuSS tHiS II H.
ute to the fleets Of Sampson and Schley:
Destruction OF Cervera's Fleet.
On the day following this brilliant
| achievement Of our land forces. the Sd
of July, occurred the decisive naval
| combat of the war. The Spanish fleet,
attempting to leave the harbor, was
met by the American squadron under
| command Of Commodore Sampson. In
l oil h.. ,sc1,
ships were destroyed, the two torpedo
boats being sunk, and the Maria Teresa,
Almirante Oquendo. Vizcaya and Girls
| tobal Colon driven ashore. The Spanish
admiral and over 1900 men were taken
prisoners, while the enemy's loss Of life
was deplorably large, some 600 perish
ing. On our side but one man was kill
ed and one man seriously wounded.
| Then follows the oft told story of the
capitulation of Santiago, and tribute
to 1.-The individual valor of officers and
soldiers" The return Of our soldiers
from Cuba after only two months alb
sence is alluded to, and a splendid trib-
ute is paid to 1.-The patriotism and de-
votion of that large portion of our
army which, although anxious to be
ordered to the post of greatest expos
ure, fortunately was not required out
side of the United States" The work
of Miss Clara Barton and the Red Cross
society is also feelingly referred to.
The action of Spain in suing for peace
the presidential proclamation suspend
ing hostilities and the appointment OF
the peace commissions is dealt with a.
length, and then comes the following
with reference to Cuba:
| No RecOmme ndatfOns as TO Policy.
I do not discuss at this time the gov
eminent or the future of the new pos
sessions which will come to US as thu
result of the war with Spain. Such dis
cussion will be appropriate after thu
treaty of peace shall be ratified. In tn
meantime and until congress has legis
lated otherwise it will be my duty t.
continue the military government
which have existed since our occupation
al11 give to the people security in Lift
and property and encouragement unde
) O. just and beneficent rule.
AS soon as we are possession of CUB
and have pacified the island it will b
necessary to give aid and direction t
| it's people to form a government TO
? themselves. This should be undertake.
. at the earliest moment consistent wit
. safety and assured success. 1t is I'M
, portant that our relations with thi
| people shall be of the most friendl
character and our commercial relation
close and reciprocal. 1t should be on
2 duty to assist in every proper way t
build up the waste places of the isl
2 and, encourage the industry of the pee
: pie, and assist them to form a govern
ment which shall be free and independ
ent, thus realizing the best aspiration
of the Cuban people.
< Spanish rule must be replaced by
Just, benevolent and humane govern
pent, created by the people Of Cubs
capable of performing all information;
t obligations and which shall encourae
7 thrift, industry and prosperity and pro
2 mote peace and good will among all O
the Inhabitants, whatever may hav
3 been their relations in the past. Neithe
e revenge nor passion should have plac
= In the new government. Until there
8 complete tranquility in the island an
q stable government iuuagurated mil
itary occupation will be continued.
8 With the one exception of the ruptur
a with Spain the intercourse Of the Uni
: ted States with the great family Of ma
e lions has been marked with cordialit!
O and the close Of the eventful year find
= most OIL the issues that neceSSar1l
e arise in the complex relations Of SOY
ereign states adjusted or presenting n
Il obstacle to just and honorable sol,
= ton by amicable agreement.
y The Argentine-Chile Dispute.
A long unsettled dispute as to the ez
tended boundary between the Argentfr
!. Republic and Chile, stretching alon
the Andean crests from the souther
Y border of the Atacama Desert to Me-
gellan straits, nearly q third Of tt
&c length of the South American cont
= nent, assumed an acute stage in tt
.. early part Of the year. and afforded I
&c this government occasion> to EXPIRE.
. the hope that the resort to arbitration
~ already contemplated by existing col
g ventions between the parties, migl
prevail despite the grave difficulti'
arising in it's application. am hapr