The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-12-06
PRES. M'KINLEY'S MESSAGE
(Continued from First Page.)

nations heart profoundly. It is striking evidence of the boise and sturdy good sense distinguishing our | national character that this shocking blow, falling upon a generous people, already deeply touched by preceding | events in Cuba, did not move them to an instant desperate resolve to toler- | ate no longer the existence of a condi- tion of danger and disorder at our | doors that made possible such a deed | by Whomsoever wrought; yet the instinct of justice prevailed and the nation anxiously awaited the result of the searching investigation. The find ing of the naval board of inquiry es- tablished that the origin of the eXplo- sion was external by submarine mine, and only failed to fix the responsbil- ity.
 | The Crisis.
 l All these things carried conviction to the most thoughtful, even before l the finding of the naval court, that a | crisis in our relations was pending. So strong was the belief that it needed but a brief executive suggestion to the congress to receive immediate answer to the duty of making instant provision for the emergency of war, and the re- markable, almost unique, spectacle was presented of a unanimous vote of both houses on the ninth of March appro- priating $50,0O0,000 for the national de- fense to be expended at the discretion | of the president. That this act of | provision came none too soon was dis closed when the application of the fund was undertaken. Our coasts were practically undefended. Our navy needed large provision for increased ammunition and supplies and even 1 numbers to cope with any sudden at 1 tack from the navy of Spain, which comprised modern vessels of the high est type of continental protection. Our army also required enlargement of men and munitions. The details of the hurried preparation for the dread ed contingency are told in the reports of the secretaries of war and of the navy and need not be repeated here. It is sufficient to say that the outbreak of war, when 1t did come, found our nation not unprepared to meet the con- flict
 Nor was the apprehension of coming strife confined to our own country. It was felt by the continental powers, which on April C, through their ambas- sadors and envoys, addressed to the ex- ecutive hope that humanity and mod | eration might mark the course of this government and people and that further negotiations would lead to an agree | ,yI,i 1xrhil ha a n tenance of peace, would afford all nec- essary guarantees for the re-establish- men of order in Cuba. In responding to that representation I said that I shared the hope the envoys had eX- pressed that peace might be preserved in a manner to terminate the chronic condition of disturbance in Cuba so l menacing to our interests and tranquil ity as well as shocking to our sentt- ments of humanity; and, while appre- I ciating the humanitarian and disinter- | ested character of the communication they had made on behalf of the powers stated the confidence of this govern ! ment for it's part that equal apprecia- tion would be shown so its own earnest and unselfish endeavors to fulfill duty to humanity by ending situation, the indefinite prolongation of which had ! become insufferable.
 HOPING FOR A PEACEFUL OUT
 COME.
 Still animated by the hope of a peace ful solution and obeying the dictates of duty, no effort was relaxed to bring about a speedy ending of the Cuban struggle. Negotiations to this end continued actively with the government of Spain, looking to the immediate conclusion of a six months armistice in Cuba, with a view to effect the recognition of her peoples rights to independence. Be- sides this the instant revocation of the order of recommendation was asked, so that the sufferers, returning to their homes and aided by united American and Spanish effort might be put in a way to support themselves, and, by or derly resumption of the well nigh de- stroyed productive energies of the is- land contribute to the restoration of it's tranquility and well being. Negotia- tions continued for some little time at Madrid resulting in offers by the Span ish government which could not but be regarded as inadequate. It was propos- ed to confide the proposition of peace to the insular parliament yet to be convened. How and with what scope of discretionary powers the insular parlia- ment was expected to set about the preparation of peace did not appear. If it were to be by negotiation with the insurgents the issue seemed to rest or the one side with a body chosen by a fraction of the electors in the districts under Spanish control, and on the other with the insurgent population holding the interior country unrepresented in the so-called parliament and defiant at the suggestion of suing for peace.
 CONGRESS CALLED UPON TO ACT.
 Grieved and disappointed at this bar to reach a practical solution, I felt it my duty to remit the whole question to congress. In the message of April Il 1898, announced with this last over- ture in the direction of immediate peace in Cuba and it's disappointing receipt by Spain the efforts were brought to an end I again viewed the alternate courses which had been proposed con- cluding that the only one consonant with our firm set historical conditions was the intervention as neutral to ] stay the war and check the hopeless sacrifice of life, even though that resort involved hostile constraint upon both