The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-09-15
WHAr HAs BEEN DONE.


 as our chief executive. What a his- tory these eighteen months present! What momentous and stirring events have taken place. Our tariff laws have been revised, and deducting the expenses of the government on account of the war we show surplus, Instead of deficit, of some nine millions. The business of the country shows an ad- vance in various directions, and indi- cations of increasing prosperity are plainly visible In the early part of the present administration, before the declaration of war, numerous demands were made upon congress to grant belligerent rights or to declare for the independence of Cuba. l think that time has demonstrated that congress did right in granting neither, for the occurrences on the Island of Cuba dur ing the last few months fully demon- strate that 1t would have been bad pol icy and impossible for the insurgents of Cuba to have gained their independ- ence without assistance from other powers The inhuman treatment of the Cubans by the Spaniards, the de- struction of the Maine, with the loss of some 300 of our brave sailors, and the serious damage to our business and commercial relations, consequent upon the conflict on Cuban soil, induced President Mckinley to send message to congress which passed deelara- tion of war and declared for stable and humane government for Cuba. | Congress also immediately and unani- mously voted to place fifty millions in the hands of the president that he might at once put our country on a war footoing. With what results this money was expended let the wisdom | judgment and ability displayed by the administration answer Measure after measure was passed by congress aid ing the president in every possible way, granting both men and money to carry on the war to a successful ter l mination.
 WAR TAX.
 | A war revenue bill was passed to raise money to meet the expenses | growing out of the war. It was here | that our silver democrats and popu- | lists expected to gain a great adVan- tage over the sound money adherents. 1 They urged their silver schemes on the one hand and greenbacks on the other, as the only way of raising sufficient money to meet the expenses of the war, but through the aid of the republicans and sound money democrats their plans failed to mature. They failed as igno- miniously in this matter as when they i attempted to pass In the house the Tel Ter resolution, which had passed the senate, to secure the coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. It was the first e..sa vor of sound money administered to the silver men in the house during the session.
 REMOVING DISABILITIES.
 During all this time the administra- tion of Mckinley was straining every nerve to put the country on a war foot ing; ships were being purchased muni- tions of war of all kinds were being con- tracted for an army was being raised the president was appointing army off, cers without regard to parties He was | looking for fighting men of ability and courage. Among these In the party op- posed to him on general party lines he | found such men as Generals Lee, Wheel CT and Gordon. He declared that the war was not party war Democrats and populists were importuning the president for appointments, and he re- ceived them all In the same gracious manner as those of his own political faith. He treated all with cordiality and sincerity and to-day in view of his patriotism, sound wisdom and ability, he stands as one of the most honored and beloved presidents that ever occu- pied the presidential chair. war be- ing upon us, demanding that we show an unbroEen front, by unanimous vote, the political disabilities of those who were in rebellion against the gov ernment from '61 to '65 were removed. In my judgment this act alone will be worth to us all the war will cost. Let us In Connecticut act in such a way that the new fraternal bonds may be strengthened and our union made stronger than ever Then our national emblem will be brighter and more glo- rious, when we are in fact as we'll as in name, one people.
 BANKRUPTCY ACT.
 Then there is another subject that this congress has disposed of. one that has interested and has been urged upon the attention of our country for years. ] allude to the national bankruptcy act. This subject was disposed of by the passage of an act, which I trust will meet the demands of our commercial and business people, so that our busi- ness relations in all the states of the Union can be conducted in accordance with a reliable, safe and just code of Flaws. Let us hope it will meet, as 1 be- lieve it will the full expectations of our people.
 HAWAII.
 Among other questions this congress had to meet and dispose of was the an nexation of Hawaii. This matter had been before congress for consideration for years. After due deliberation the senate and house of representatives de- cided by a large majority to make Ha- waii dependency of the United States thus consummating that which the American people have for years looked forward to with earnest desire. Con- necticut has more than ordinary inter- est in this matter of annexation, fol the part we took in civilizing Hawai- adds renown to our state.
 There are many other points I mght allude to, but those I have mentioned ] think will suffice to show you, as re publican delegates of Connecticut, that your senators and representatives have