The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-12-15

WASHINGTON, D. c. (SpcciaD President
McKinley's second annual message, docu-
Tnent OF unusual length, was read to the
two Houses OF Congress Immediately after
they assembled for the third and closing
session Of the Fifty-ffth Congress:
To the Senate and House'ot Representa-
tives:
Notwithstanding the added burdens Yen-
dered necessary by the war, our people re-
joice in a very satisfactory and steadily in
creasing degree OF prosperity, evidenced by
the largest volume Of business ever record
ed. Manufacture has been productive,
agricultural pursuits have yielded abun-
dant returns, labor in all fields OF in
dustry is better rewarded, revenue
legislation passed by the present
Congress has increased the Treas
ury receipts to the amount estimate
by its authors, the finances OF the
administered and its credit advanced 10
the first rank, while its currency has been
maintained at the worlds highest stan
6ard. Military service under common
flag and for a righteous cause has strength
ened the national spirit and served to
cement more closely than ever the fraternal
bonds between every section OF the coun-
try. A review OF the relation OF the United
States to other powers, always appropri-
ate, is this year OF primary Importance, in
view Of the momentouS issues which have
arisen, demanding in one instance the usti-
mate determination by arms and involving
far-reaching consequences which will re-
Quire the earnest attention OF the Congress.
Spanish Misrule in Cuba.
In my last annual message very full con-
sideration was given to the question Of the
duty OF the Government OF the United
States toward Spain and the Cuban insur-
rection as being by far the most important
problem with which We were then called
upon to deal. The considerations then ad-
vanced, and the exposition OF the views
therein expressed, disclosed my sense OF
the extreme gravity of the situation. Set
ting aside, as logically unfounded or prac-
tically inadmissible. the recognition Of the
independence of Cuba, neutral intervention
to end the war by imposing r"tional COM
promise between the contestants, interven-
tion in favor OF one or the other party, and
forcible annexation OF the island, con-
cluded 1t was honestly due to our friendly
relations with Spain that she should be
given q reasonable chance to realize her eX-
pectations OF reform, to which she had be.
come irrevocably committed. Within few
weeks previously she had announced com
preheDsive plans, which it was confidently
asserted would be efficacious to remedy the
evils so deeply affecting our own country
so injurious to the true interests Of the
mother country as we'll as to those Of Cuba,
and so repugnaut to the universal sent
ment of humanity.
The ensuing month brought little sign OF
real progress toward the pacification O
Cuba The autonomous administrations
set up in the capital and some OF the prin'
cipal cities appeared not to gain the favor
of the inhabitants nor to be able to extend
their influence TO the large extent OF ter
ritory held by the insurgents, while the
military arm, obviously unable to cope with
the still active rebellion, continued many
OF the Tost Objectionable and offensive
policies Of the Government that had pre-
ceded it. No tangible relief was afforded
the vast numbers Of unhappy recon.
centrados, despite the reiterated proteS
sions made in that regard and the amount
appropriated by Spain to that end. Th'
proffered expedient of zones of cultivation
proved illusory; indeed, no less practica
nor more delusiYe promises OF succor could
we'll have been rendered TO tie exhausted
Ind destitute people, stripped OF wha
made life and hcme dear and herded in ;
strange region among uuSN III pitboti
strangers hardly less necessisous thai
themselves.
By the end OF December the mortalit.
among them had t-ightfully increased
Conservative estimates from Spanisl
sources placed the deaths among these dis
tressed people at over fort! per cent. from
the time General Weyler's dcC~ee OF recon
cent-atiou was enforce With he acqui
escence OF the Spanish authorities, a 7chem
was adopted for relief by charitable coEtri
buttons raised IN this country and distrio
uted, under the direction OF the Consul
General aud the several Consuls, BY nobl
and earnest individual etfort through TIT
organized agencies OF the American Rec
Gross. Thousands of lives were thus saved
7 but many thousands more were inacces
sible TO such forms OF aid.
The war continued On the old footin
without comprehensive plan, developin
only the same spasmodic encounters, bar
rem OF strategic result, that had marked tn
course OF the earlier ten years rebellion a
well as the present insurrsction from it
start. No alternative save physical exhaus
ok- hot M nd