Middletown transcript., 1898-12-10
PRESIDENT MESSAGE

( atives:
Notwithstanding the added burdens
rendered necessary by the war our peo-
pie rejoaea in very satisfactory and
steadily increasing degree Of prosperity.
evidenced by the largest volume of busi-
ness ever recorded. Manufacture has
been productive, agricultural pursuits
nave yielded abundant returns, labor In
all fields of industry is better rewarded,
revenue legislation passed by the pres
snt congress has increased the treasu-
ry's receipts to the amount estimated
ny Its authors, the finances of the gov
rnment have been successfully admin
stored and its credit advanced to the
irst rank, while its currency has been
maintained at the worlds highest stand
ard. Military service under common
flag and for a righteous cause has
strengthened the national spirit and
served to 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 appro-
pirate, is this year of primary impor-
tance in view of the momentous issues
which have arisen, demanding in one
instance the ultimate determination by
arms and involving farreaching conse-
| auences, which will require the earnest
attention Of the congress.
! In my last annual message very full
consideration was given to the ques-
ton Of the duty Of the government of
! the United States toward Spain and the
| Cuban insurrection as being by far the
most important problem with which we
have been called upon to deal. The con-
siderations then advanced and the ex-
position Of the views therein expressed
disclosed my sense of the extreme grav-
lty Of the situation.
Spain's Due.
Setting aside as logically unfounded
Or practically inadmissible the recog-
nition Of the Cuban insurgents as bell
| Iigerents, the recognition of the inde-
pendence Of Cuba, neutral intervention
to end the war by imposing rational
compromise between the contestants,
Intervention in favor of one or the
other party and forcible annexation
| Of the island, I concluded 1t was
honestly due to our friendly relations
with Spain that she should be given
reasonable chance to realize her expec-
tations of reform, to which she had be-
some irrevocably committed. Within
| few weeks previously she had an
nounced comprehensive plans which 1t
was confidently asserted would be effica-
sious to remedy the evils so deeply af-
Iecting our own country, 80 injurious to
the true interests of the mother coun-
try as well as to those Of Cuba, and so
repugnant to the universal sentiment
If humanity.
The ensuing month brought little sign
If real progress toward the paci1cation
| If Cuba. The autonomous administra-
| lion set up in the capital and some Of
The principal cities appeared not to gain
the favor Of the inhabitants nor to be
able to extend their Influence to the
large extent of territory held by the In
surgents, while the military arm, OBJ
viously unable to cope with the still
active rebellion, continued many Of the
most Objectionable and offensive poll
.ies of the government that had preced-
ed it.. The war continued on the old
| footing without comprehensive plan,
| developing only the same spasmodic en-
counters, barren Of strategic result,
that had marked the course Of the ear
| Her ten years rebellion as well as the
present insurrectidn from its start. No
alternative save physical exhaustion Of
either combatant and therewithal the
practical ruin of the island lay in sight,
but how far distant no one could ven
ture to conjecture.
The Names Destruction.
i At this juncture, on the 18th of Febru-
ary last, occurred the destruction Of the
battleship Maine while rightfully lying
In the harbor of Havana on a mission
Of international courtesy and good will
"a catastrophe the suspicious nature
and horror of which stirred the nations
heart profoundly. Yet the instinct of
justice prevailed, and the nation anx-
lously awaited the result of the search
ing investigation at once set on foot.
The finding of the naval board Of in
quiry established that the origin Of the
explosion was external, by submarine
mine, and only halted through lack Of
positive testimony to fix the response
bility of its authorship.
All these things carried conviction to
the most thoughtful, even before the
finding Of the naval court, that a crisis
In cur relations with Spain and toward
Cuba was at hand. So strong was this
belief that IL needed but a brief exec
utive suggestion to the congress to re-
ceive immediate answer to the duty Of
making instant provision for the possi-
BILE and perhaps probable emergency of
war, and the remarkable, almost unique,
spectacle was presented Of unanimous
vote of both houses on the 9th Of March
appropriating $50,000.000 "for the ma
tional defense and for each and every
purpose connected Herewith, to be ex-
pended at the discretion of the presi-
dent"
That this act Of provision came none
too soon was disclosed when the appli-
cation Of the fund was undertaken.
Our coasts were practically undefend-
ed. Our navy needed large provision
for increased ammunition and supplies
and even numbers to cope with any
sudden attack from the navy Of Spain,
which comprised modern vessels Of the
highest type of continental perfection.
Our army also required enlargement of
men and munitions. The details of the
hurried preparation for the dreaded
contingency are told in the reports of the
secretaries Of war and Of the navy and
need not be repeated here. It Is suffi-
cient to say that the outbreak Of war
when it did come found our nation not
unprepared to meet the conflict.
Peaceful Solution Sought.
Still animated by the hope of peace
full solution and obeying the dictates of
duty, no effort was relaxed to bring
about a speedy ending Of the Cuban
struggle. Negotiations to this object
continued actively with the government
of Spain. . Grieved and disau-
pointed at the barren outcome Of nv
sincere endeavors to reach practicable
solution, felt 1t my duty to remit the
whole question to the congress. In the
message of April IL, 1898, announced
that with this last overture in the direc-
ton Of immediate peace in Cuba and
Its disappointing reception by Spain
the effort Of the executive was brought
to an end.
4 In view Of all this the congress was
asked to authorize and empower the
Beats the Klondike.
Mr.. A. O. Thomas, of Marysyille. Texas.
has found more valuable discovery than
has yet been made In the Klondike. For
Il S n 4 r