The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-12-06

sion OF the Fifty-hfth congress convened
today The attendance was very larg,
and many prominent foreigners we're II
the galleries. Shortly after the Assem-.
bling OF both houses President McKinley'i
message was presented. II follows In
part:
To the Senate and House Of Representa-.
tiyes:
Notwithstanding the added burdens
rendered necessary By tho war, our peo.
pie rejoice In a very satisfactory and
steadily Increasing degree Of prosperity
evidenced by the largest volume OF busl-
ness ever recorded. Every manufacture
has been productive, agricultural pursuits
have yielded abundant returns. labor In
the fields OF industry Is better rewarded,
revenue Legislation passed by the present
congress has increased the treasury's re-
ceipts to the amount estimated by It's
authors. the finances OF the government
have been successfully administered and
rs credit advanced 10 the first rank.
while its currency has been maintained
at the worlds highest standard. Mill
tary service under common flag and for
righteous cause has strengthened the
national spirit aud served 10 cement
moro closely than ever the fraternai
bonds between every section Of the coun-
try. A review Of the relations OF the
United States to other powers. always
appropriate. is this year OF primary I'M
poriance Ia view Of the mOmentous issues
which have arisen, demanding In one in
stance the ul,imaaa determination by
by arms. and involving far-reaching con-
sequences which require the earnest at
tention Of congress.
In my last annual message very full
consideration was given 10 the question
OF tho duty Of the government OF the
United States toward Spain and the Gu
ban rpvolution. as being By far the most
called upon to deal. The considerations
then advanced, and the exposition OF the
views therein expressed. disclosed my
sense OF the extreme gravity Of the situ-
alton. Setting aside. as logically un-
founded. or practically inadmlssable, the
recognition OF the Cuban insurgents as
beligerents, the recognition OF the in
dependence OF Cuba, neutral in
teryentlon to end the war by imposing
a rational compromise between the con-
testants. intervention In favor OF one or
the other party and the forcible annexa-
tlon OF the island concluded IL was hon
estly due to our friendly relations with
Spain that she should be given reo-
sonable chance TO realize her expectations
OF reform to which she had become ire
vocably committed, Within a few weeks
previously she had announced compre-
henslve plans which Il was confidently
asserted would be efiicacIous to remedy
the evils so deeply affecting our own
country. so injurious to the true interests
OF the mother country, as well as to
those OF Cuba. and so repugnant to the
universal sentiment OF humanity.
The ensuing months brought little sign
OF real progress toward the pacifcation
OF Cuba. The autonomous administrations
set up In the capital and some OF the
principal cities appeared not to gain the
favor OF the inhabitants nor be able to
extend their influence TO the large ex-
tent OF territory held by the insurgents.
while the military arm was obviously
unable to cope with the stll active rebel
lion, and continued many Of the most OBJ
jeetionable and offensive policies Of the
government that had preceded It. No
tangible relief was AFFORDED the vast
numbers of unhappy reconcentrados. de-
~, foA A.. l..
that regard and the amount appropriated
by Spain TO that end. The proffered ex-
pedlent OF zones Of cultivation proved
indeed, no less practical nor
more deluslve promises OF succor could
we'll have been rendered to the exhausted
and destitute people, stripre OF all that
made life and home dear and herded in
a strange region among unsympathetic
strangers hardly less necessltous than
themselves,
BY the end OF December the mortality
among them had frightfully increased.
Conservative estimates from Spanish
sources placed these distressed people at
over 10 per cent from the time General
weylers decree Of recontration was en-
forced, With the acquiescence of the
Spanish authorities scheme was adopted
for relief by charitable contributions
raised In this country and distributed un-
der the direction of the consul-general
and the several consuls, by noble and
earnest Individual efforts through the
organized agencies of the American Red
Cross. Thousands Of lives were thus
saved, but many thousands more were
Inaccessible to such forms OF aid.
The war continued on the old footing
without comprehensive plan, developing
only the same spasmodic encounters,
barren of strategic result, that had
marked the course Of the earlier ten
years rebellion as well as the present
insurrection from It's start. No alterna-
tive save physical exhaustion Of either
oombatant and therewlthal the practical
ruin of fthe island. lay In sight, but how
far distant no one could venture to con-
lecture.
DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE.
At this juncture, on the 18th OF Febru-
ruary last, occurred the destruction of
the battleshlp Maine. while rlghtfully
lying In the harbor Of Havana on a mis-
sion Of international courtesy and good
will, a catastrophe the suspicious nature