The Holly chieftain., 1898-12-09
ANNUAL MESSAGE.
President Mckinley to the Closing
Session of Fifty-Fifth Congress.
Writes of the War with spain from Its In
csption-Probiems That Came with
yIctory-Gov.rnm~nto OF New
Territorisa.

Washington, Dec. 5.-President Nc
kinley sent the following message to
the Fitty-ffth congress after he had
been informed by committees that the
senate and house awaited any COM
munication he wished to make to
them:
To the Senate and House OF Representatives:
Notwithstanding the added burdens rendered
necessary by the war, our people rejoice In a
very satisfactory and steadily increasing de-
gree Of prosperity evidenced by the largest
volume OF business ever recorded Every man
uiacture has been productive, agricultural pur-
suits have yielded abundant returns labor in
the fields of industry Is better rewarded. rev.
enue Legislation passed by the present congress
has increased the !rcasurys receipts to the
amount estimated by its authorities, the
finances OF the government have been
rcssiully adminlstra' ed and its credit advanced
to the first rank, while its currency has been
maintained at the worlds highest standard
Military service under common flag and tor
righteous cause has strengthened the national
spirit and served to cement more closely than
ever the fraternsl bouds between every section
Of the country
The president here takes up the his
tory Of the. Cuban insurrection, the
failure of Spain to successfully cope
with affairs in the island and the un-
successful efforts of this country for a
peaceful solution of the matter. He
refers to the destruction of the battle
ship Maine, "a catastrophe the sus-
picious nature and horror of which
stirred this nations heart profoundly"
The initiatory steps leading up to the
war are recounted, the unanimity of
congress in passing needed legislation
to strengthen the executive is praised
and the facts regarding the declara-
tion of war are told anew. The presi-
dent then recites the salient features
OF the war, paying a glowing tribute
to Americas heroes on land and sea;
refers to Dcwey's remarkable victory
a, Manila, to the military movements
in Cuba and finally to the destruction
of Ceryera's fleet and the capitulation
of Santiago. Continuing, he says:
| Spanish Oyertures tor Peace.
The annihilation Of Admiral Cervera's feet
followed oy the capituatlon OF Santiago. hay-
ing brought to the Spanish government real
iziuE sense of the h0pelessness OF continuing
struggle now becoming wholly unequal, IL
made overtures Of peace through the French
ambassador. Accordingly, on the afternoon of
August Il. NJ Cambon. the plenipotentlnry
OF spain and the secretary Of state. as the
plenipotentlary OF the United States, signed
protocol
Immediately upon the conclusion of the pro-
tocOl. issued proclamation of August l..
suspendlng hostiiIties on the par. OF the United
States The necessary orders to thlt end were
at once given by telegraph The blockade OF
the ports of Cuba and San Juan de Porto Rico
was in like manner raised, ON August IS the
muster out Of lUJ. 90 volunteers or as near that
number as was found to be practicable was
ordered The military committees to superin-
tend the evacuation OF Cuba Porto Rico and
the adjacent Islands were forthwith appointed
The Peace Commission.
Pursuant to the fifth article OF the protocol
l appointed William r. Day. lately secretary
OF state CuShman h Davis William =. Frye
and George GRAY senator's OF the United States
and Whitelaw Reid, to be the peace commits
sioners on the part OF the United States Pro-
ceedins In due season to Paris they there
met on the lst OF October Ave commissioners
| similarly appointed on the part o. Spain The
negotiations have made hopeful progress. so
that trust soon TO be able to lay definite
treaty Of peace before the senate. with re-
view Of the steps leading to its signature
Miitarv Govern mentA for n time.
do not discuss at this time the government
or the future OF the new possessions which will
come to us the result Of war with Spain. Such
a dis ussiOn Will be appropriate after the
treaty Of peace shall be ratified. In the mean
time and until congress has leRislated other
wise. it will be my duty to continue the mill
tary governments which have existed since our
occupation and give Its people security in life
and property and encouragement under u just
and bpucticent rule
In" SirarsCus Canal Com mmi~sion.
The Nicaragua canal commission. under the
ch mponShlp OF X ar Admiral John G. Walker
appointed July - 1897, act OF June of that
year, has nearly completed its labors, and the
results OF its exhaustive inquiry into the
proper route, the feasibility. and the cost OF
construction OF an inter-oceanic canal by n
Nicaraguan route will be laid before you In
the performance OF its task the commission re-
ceived all possible courtesy and assistance from
the governments OF Nicaragua and Costa Rica
which thIs testified their appreciation of the
importance OF giving speedy and practical
outcome to the great project that has for so
many years en,rossed the attention Of the re-
spectiye countries.
Ih- Paris Expedition.
There is now every prospect that the par,ici-
patton Of the United States In the universal ex-
position to be held in Paris in 1870 will be on n
scalr comm gnsurate with the advanced posi-
tion held by our products and industries in the
worlds chief mHrts BY provision in the
Sundry civil appropriation act Of July l. 1898
sum not TO exceed s65 % % was allotted for the
organization OF o commission to care for the
proper preparation and installation of
American exhibits and for the display of
suitable exhibits by the several executive de-
par ments, particularly by the department of
agriculture. the fish commission and the Smith
government OF the United States Pursuant
to that enactment appointed MIR. Ferdinand
W. Peck. OF Chicago. commissioner general.
with IN assistant commissioner general and
secretary.
Relations with Great Brltsin.
Our relations with Great Britain have con-
tinucd on the most friendly footing Asserting
to our request, the protection OF Americans
and their interests in Spanish Jurisdiction was
assumed by the diplomatic and consular repre-
sentntives OF Great Britain. who fulfilled their
delirate and arduous trust with tact and zeal.
eliciting high commendation.
1t Will give me special sat tsfaction II shall
be authorized to communicate to you n favor
able conclusion OF the pending negotiations
with Great Britain in respect to the Dominion
OF Canada 1t Is the earnest wish OF this gov
ernment to remove all sources of dscord aud
irritation in relations with the neighboring do.
minion The trade between the two countries
is constantly increasing and 1t is important to
both countries that all reasonable facilities
should be granted for its development
III" Ann'xtt'nn OF tn- HawAii'n Islanda
Pending the consideration by the senate of
the treaty signed June i6 1897. by the pleni-
potentiaries OF the United States and the re-
public OF Hawaii. providing for the annexation
OF the islands. joint resolution TO accomplish
the same purpose by accepting the on red ces-
sion and Incorporating the ceded territory into
the union. was adopted by the congress and
approved July Z, 1898 I thereupon directed
the United States steamer Philadel-
phia to convey Rear Admiral Miller
to Honolulu and entrusted to his
hands this important legislative act to
with whom the admiral and the United States
| hnr md ffu nl-a Wis Dts