Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-12-12


dent Mckinley, in his annual message
to congress yesterday, said among
other things that, Notwithstanding the
added burdens rendered necessary by
the war, our people rejoice in very
satisfactory and steadily increasing
degree of prosperity as is evidenced by
the largest volume Of business ever
recorded. Manufacture has been pro-
ductiVe; agricultural pursuits have
yielded abundant returns; labor in the
fields Of industry is better rewarded;
the revenue legislation passed by the
present congress increased the treas
ury's receipts to an amount estimated
by its authors; the finances of the gov
eminent have been successfully adj
ministered and lis credit has been adj
yanced to the first rank; while it's cur
rency has been maintained at the
worlds highest standard. Military
service under a common flag and for
a righteous cause has strengthened the
national spirit and served to cement
more closely than ever the fraternal
bonds between every section Of the
country. A view of the relations OF
the United States to other powers, al
ways appropriate, is this year of pri-
mary Importance in view of the mo-
mentous issues which have arisen, de-
handing in one instance an ultimate
determination by arms and involving
far-reaching consequences which will
require the earnest attention Of con-
gress. The president then speaks Of
the paragraph in his last annual mes
sage in reference to our relations with
Spain and Cuba; to the futile efforts of
Spain to conquer the island; to the
failure Of the autonomous government
set up in the island; to the suffering
of the reconcentrados and to the evil
dent inability of Spain to end the war
successfully. The message next takes
up the destruction of the Maine, which
aroused such indignation in the hearts
of the American people, and to the APP
pointment and work of the naval
board of inquiry which established
that the origin of the explosion was
external by a submarine mine and
only halted through positive testimony
to fix the responsibility of its author
ship" Continuing the message says
these things convinced the most
thoughtful that a crisis in our relations
with Spain and towards Cuba was at
hand and it needed but brief execu
tive session of congress to receive an
immediate answer to the duty Of MAX
ing instant provision for war and the
almost unique spectacle was pre-
sented of a unanimous vote of both
houses on the 9th of March appropri-
ating $50,00O,OO0 for the national de-
Tense" The president declared that
our forts were practically undefended;
our navy needed large provision for
increased ammunition and supplies
and even numbers to cope with any
sudden attack from the navy of Spain
which comprised modern vessels of
the highest type of continental perfec-
ton; and the army also required en-
largement Of men and munitions. Re
ferring congress to the reports of the
secretaries of war and the navy for de-
tails, the president says: 1T is suffi-
cient to say that the outbreak of war
when it did come found our nation not
unprepared to meet the conflict" Ref
erence is made to the apprehension Of
coming strife felt by the continental
powers and voiced in an address to
the president through their ambassa-
doris and ENJOYS, and to the presi-
dents reply thereto. Still animated,
however, by the hope Of a peaceful So
luton of the difficulty and obeying the
dictates of duty, the president relaxed
no effort to bring about the speedy
ending of the Cuban struggle. Nego-
tiations with the Madrid government
proved futile so far as practical re-
suits were concerned, and then it was
that the president presented the ques-
ton to congress, saying: In the name
of humanity, in the name of civiliza-
ton, in behalf of endangered Ameri-
can interests which give us the right
and uuty to SPEAK and act, the war in
Cuba must stop. The result of this
statement of the case was the adoption
of the memorable joint resolution by
congress declaring the purpose of the
United States to intervene between
the Spaniards and Cubans. Following
swiftly upon the enactment of this
resolution came the severance of dip
lomatic relations between the two
countries, the proclamation of the
blockade O. Cuban ports, the call for
volunteers and the formal declaration
of the existence of state war. All
other governments were Immediately
notified of the existence of war and
each proclaimed it's neutrality. 1t is
not among the least gratifying incl
dents of the struggle that the obliga-
lions of neutrality were impartially
discharged by all" says the president,
"often under delicate and difficult cir
The president reviewed
at length the work Of preparation for
war, referring particularly to the en-
listment of the volunteers, to the ma
terial increase in the navy in both men
and ships and to the precautionary
measures taken for the protection Of