The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-12-07
The following is synopsis of the

message:
To the Senate and House Not
wishstanding added burdens, render
ed necessary by war, our people
rejoice in very satisfactory and
steadily increasing degree of pros
perity, evidenced by the largest
volume of business ever recorded
and labor, in all fields of industry. is
better rewarded.
The revenue legislation Of the pres
ent congress increased the treasury's
receipts to an amount estimated by
authors on finances aud the govern
ment has been successfully admins
tered, and It's credit advanced to the
first rank while its currency has been
maintained to the worlds highest
standard. The military service, under
a common flag for righteous cause,
has strengthened the national spirit
and served to cement more closely
the fraternal bonds between every
section of the country.
Ny last message was very full OF
consideration given TO the question
of the duty OF this government to.
wards SpaiD's Cuban insurrection as
being by far the most important
problem which we were then called
.uuon to deaf with The ooneidera'
tions then advanced, the exposition
of views therein expressed, disclosed
nv sense of the extreme gravity
of the situation. Notwithstanding
SPANS promise of a plan to suppress
the insurrection, Cuba continued
fighting and there was no prospect of
peace except the physical exhaustion
of either comtatant in sight, when
the Maine was blown up last Febru-
ary under circumstances of suspl
cious nature. The horror stirred the
nations heart profoundly.
It is evidence of the sturdy good
sense of the people, already deeply
touched by preceding events in
Cuba, that did not move them to an
instant and desperate resolve, but
they patiently awaited the finding of
the court of inquiry. Matters con-
yinced the people that a crisis was at
hand and it needed but brief note
to congress for the needed prepara-
tions for any emergency whereupon
tha. body appropriated fifty million
dollars for national defense. The
outbreak of war found the nation
unprepared
The message here referred to
efforts through diplomatic negotia-
tions to bring about a settlement of
the question !; the adoption of an
ultimatium to Spain ; the withdrawal
of the Spanish minister; Woodford's
final uitimatium demanding the relin
quishment of Cuba ); its refusal of
the blockade of Cuba April 22d the
call for volunteers and their prompt
response /; the addition of hundred
and three vessels to the navy by
purchase one presented one leased
and che chartering Of the St Paul,
s. Louis. New York and Paris the
creating of an auxiliary navy; !; the
prompt organizing Of the signal SER
vice, and then to the provision of
congress on July Is for popular
bond loan Then follows brief
narration, chronologically, of all en-
gsgements and bombardments, com
nending special acts of bravery
Ee reviews Spain's note of inquiry
concerning terms of peace which
was announced substantially in the
protocol and spein's vague inexplicit
suggestion which was rejected Cam
bon final authorization to sign the
protocol the suspension OF. hostili
ties. and the appointment Of peace
commissioners, whose negotiations
has made such hopeful progress as to
trus, that be vii! soou be able to lay
u definite treaty Of peace before the
senate He does 30. discuss the
future government of the new pos.
sessions, which will come as results
of war, as sukh a discussion will be
appropriate after the treaty is ratified.
In the meantime or until congress
shal! legislate otherwise it will be
our duty to continue the military
governments
The summaries of the total casual
ties of the war are as follows
Officers killed, 2S privates. PSI /;
officers wounded, ll3; privates,
1864
Navy Killed. II; wounded. 81 ;
died of the result of wounds, l in
valided, 6 The message observed
that the total loss was ] 1,668 killed
and wounded. and we did not lose
guu, fort, transport or ship, with the
exception of the Merrimac he
praises the Red Cross and remembers