The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-12-06
War With Spain and Its Out.
come the Principal Topic
Discussed.
Recommendations Regarding Our
New Possessions Will Be
Made Later.
Increase in Army and Navy-.Nic
aragua Canal-Currency
Legislation.

To the Senate and House OF Representa-
tives:
notwithstanding the added burden.
rendered necessary by the war, our people
rejoice in a very satisfactory and steadily
increasing degree Of prosperity evidenced
hv the largest volume of business ever 70
corded. Manufacture has been productive
agricultural pursuits have yielded abund
ant returns, labor In the fields Of industry i.
better rewarded. revenue legislation passed
by the present congress has increased tn.
trcasury's receipts to the amount esti
mated by ita authors; the finances Of the
government have been successfully ad.
ministcrcd and its credit advanced to the
first rank, while its currency has been
maintained Mt the worlds highest stand
ard. Military service. under a common
flag and for u righteous cause, has
strengthened the national spirit and
served Ia cement more closely than ever
the fratcrnal bonds between every section
Of the country.
A review Of the relations of the
United States to other powers. always ap-
propriatc. Is this year Of primary impor.
lance In view Of the momcntous issues
which have arisen demanding In one in
stance the ultimate determination by
arms and involving far reaching conse-
qucnces which will require the earnest at
tcntion Of the congress.
In my last annual message very full
consideration was given to the question
Of the duty Of the government OF the
United States towards spain and the Gu
ban insurrection ns being by far the most
important problem with which we were
then called upon tn deal.
The considerations then advanced and
the exposition Of the views therein ex-
pressed. disclosed my sense OF the extreme
gravity of the situation. Setting aside as
logically unfOunded, or practically mad
missible, the recognition of the Cuban in
surgents as bclligcrcnts, the recognition
Of Independence Of Cuba, as neutral inter.
vcntion to end war by imposing n rational
compromise between the contestants, In
tervention In favor Of one or the other
party and forciblc annexation Of
the island, l concluded 1t was
honestly due to our friendly relations
with Spain hat she should be given u
reasonable chance to realize her expecta-
tions Of reform to which she had be-
come ~irrevocably committed. Within n
few weeks previously she had announced
comprehensive plans which 1t was conn
IDENTIFY asserted would bc cfficAciOus to
remedy the evils 40 deeply affecting our
own country. ~ injurious to the true
interests Of the mother country. rs we'll
as to those Of Cuba. and so rcpugnant to
the universal sentiment Of humanity.
IAttlo Sign of Real Progress.
The ensuing months brought little sign
Of real progress toward the ~pacifcation OF
Cuba. The destruction Of the Maine In
Havana harbor and the suspicious nature
OF the catastrophe made OF
the existing conditions impossible. New
'rthcless, the instinct Of Justice prevailed
and the nation awaited the result OF the
searching investigation set on foot. Inc
result of this investigation was antici-
iatcd, ever before the finding OF the naval
court had been made public. and 1t needed
out a brief executive suggestion lor the
congress to appropriate oO,OOO,ooo 'ior
the national defense and for each ana
every purpose connected Herewith, TO De
expended Mt the discretion Of n prcs''
dent"
The president then details the ncgotia'
lions with Spain to tho end that wal
might be avertcd and the attempt to ro-
lieve the distress In Cuba.
Negotiations continued for somo little
time at Madrid, resulting in offers ~ the
Spanish government which could not 0ut
To regarded - ~tnadvqua 3. Grieved n
disappointed ct this barren outcome OF my
sincere endoavors to reach a practicable
solution, I felt It my duty to remit tno
whole question to the congress.
again reviewed the alternative course
OF action which I had proposed. conciuo-
ing that the only one consonant Win IN
'ernational policy and compatible WIN
our flrm.set historical traditions was IN
t~ervention asa neutral to stop the war
and check the hopeless sacrifice OF iiie'
even though that resort involved "hostile
constraint upon both tho parties TO tne
contest ~ we'll to enforce u truce as 10
guide the eventual settlement
Grounds OF justification.
The grounds justifying that step were
The interests OF humanity; the duty 10
protect life and property Of our citizens
iAuha; the right to check injury to our
commerce and people through the devas-
.atlon Of the island, and, most Important,
inc need OF removing at once and forever
tho constant n and the burdens en-
tailed upon our government by tho uncer-
1'inties and perils Of the situation causeu
W the uncomfortable disturbance IN Oupa.
IN view OF all this tho congress WAS