Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-12-15
HIS MESSAGE.
President Mckinley Sent 1t
20 Congress.
Events Leading Up to the War
with Spain are Given
at Length.
Legislation is Asked for 10 Increase
the Strength Of the Army TO loo,-
600 Men, Also TO Provide
Form OF Government for
Hawaii-NO Fixed Co
IoniaI Policy 10
Suggested.


70 tn. sehkS. and House of Represen-
tatives: Notwithstanding the added pur-
deus rendered necessary by the war; our
people rejoice in a very satisfactory anu
steadily increasing degree OF prosperity
evidenced by the largest NoIunle oA ou9'-
Tanufacture has been productive, agri-
cultural pursuits have yleIdea aoumuaH. itris a..
returns labor in all fields OF industry 10
better rewarded revenue leSlslauoh
passed by the present congress mas n
creased the treasury's receipts 10 the te
amount estimated by its authors' the
finances of the government have been sue
cessfully administered and It's credit au-
vanced to the first rank; while IT'S cur
rency has been maintained at the worlds
highest standard.
Military service under a common nag
and for a righteous cause has Strength
ened the national spirit and served 20
cement more closely than ever the fra-
ternal bonds between every section OF tha
A review OF the relation OF the Unitei
States to other powers. always appro-
pirate, is this year of primary Importance
in view of the momentous issues whici
have arisen. demanding in one instance
the ultimate determination by arms anl
Involving far-reaching consequences.
which will require the earnest attentlo'
Of the congress
Duty 10 Cuba.
In nv last annual message very fur
consideration was given to the question
of the duty OF the government of the Unit
ed States toward Spain and the Cuban in
surrection, as being by. far the most i'm
portant problem with which we were then
called upon to deal, with considerations
then advanced, and the exposition of the
views therein expressed disclosed my
sense OF the extreme gravity Of the stu
ution.
The war continued on tho old footing
without comprehensive plan. developing
only the same spasmodic encounters, bar
rem of strategic result, that had marked
the course of the earlier 10 years rebellion
as well as the present insurrecuon from
its start.
No alternative save physical exhaustion
OF either combatant, and therewtthal thu
hut how far distant nc one could venture
40 conjecture.
The Maine Disaster.
At this juncture, on Feb. l5 last oc-
CURED the destruction of the battleship
Maine, while rightful!y lying in the harbor
of Havana. on a mission OF international
courtesy and goood villa catastrophe
the suspicious nature and horror of which
stirred the nations heart profoundly.
Yet the instinct of justice prevailed and
the nation anxiously awaited the result
of the searching investigation at once set
on foot
quiry established that the origin Of the
explosion was external, by submarine
mine. and only matted, through lack of
positive testimony, to fix the responsible
ties of its authorship.
All these things carried conviction to the
most thoughtful, even before the finding
of the naval court. that a crisis in our
relations with Spain and toward Cuba
was at hand.
So strong wa. this bellef that It needed
but a brief executive suggestion to the
congress to receive immediate answer to
the duty of making instant provision for
the posSble and perhaps speedily prOba-
bic emergency OF war and the remarka-
D!e almost uniform spectacle was pre-
sented of unanimous Tote Of both
houses on the 9th of March, aPpropTiat-
ing $50 900, 600 for the national defense and
for each and every purpose connected
herewith. to be expended at the discre-
tiCn of the president"
our coasts were practically undefended.
our navy needed large provision for in
creased ammunition and supplies and
even numbers to cope with any sudden
attack from the navy Of Spain. which com
priSed modern vessels OF the highest type
Of continental perfection. Our army also
required enlargement Of men and muni-
t!ons.
stnl animated by the hope of a peace
ful solution and obeying the dictates of
cuty, no effort was relaxed to bring about
a speedy ending Of tho Cuban struggle.
TeeOtiations continued for some little
time at Madrid, resulting in offers by the
Spanish government which could not but
be regarded as inadequate.
Grieved and disappointed at the barren
outcome of my sincere endeavors to reach
q practicable solution, ! felt IT my duty to
remit the whole question to the congress.
The response OF congress. after nine
days Of earnest dellhers ton, during which
the almost unani inous sentiment of your
body was developed on every point save
as to the eXped!ency Of coupling the pro-
posed action with formal recognition OF
the republic Cuba as the true and lawful
government Of that island-a proposition
which failed Of adootion-the congress,
after conference, on April 10, by vote o.
~ to 80 in the senate, and 81 10 in the
house of representatives, passed the
memorable Joint resolution.
This resolution was approved by the
ha Arr
CnDy was at once communicated to the
Spanish minister at this capital who
in Washington had thereby become i'm
possible. and asked for his passports,
which were given him after the instruc-
ton reached Gen. Woodford in Madrid on
the morning OF April 21 but before he
could present It the Spanish minister OF
state notified him that upon the pres'-
dents approval of the Joint resolution, tha
Madrid government. regarding the act as
equivalent to an evident declaration az
war" had ordered its minister in Wash
inston to withdraw, thereby breaking oil
diplomatic relations between the two
countries and ceaS.ng all official cOmmu-
mcation between Their respective govern
ments.
Spain having thus denied the demand Of
the United States and initiated that com
pete form of rupture Of relations which
attends a state of war. the executive pow.
era authorized by the resolution were at
once used by me to meet the enlarged
contingency Of actual war between sover-
"A
blockade OF the north coast OF Cuba.
BY my message of April 25 the con-
gress was informed of the situation and
recommended formal declaration of the
existence of a state OF between the
United States and Spain. The congress
accordingly voted on the same day, the
act approved April 70. 1888, declaring the
existence of such war from and including
the 2lst day of April
Our country thus, after an interval OF
half a century o: peace with all nations
found itself engaged in deadly conflict
with foreign enemy. Every nerve
strained to meet the emergency.
Every precaution was taken to prevent
possible injury TO our great cities lying
along the coast. Temporary garrisons
we're provided drawn from the state
militia; infantry and light batteries were
drawn from the volunteer force. About
l2GDO troops were thus employed. The
coast signal service was esta blished, and
the lfe-savine and lighthouse services CO.
operated. which enabled the navy de-
partment to have all portions of the At
lantlc coast from Maine to Texas under