Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-12-08
ANNUAL MESSAGE
Important Features Of
the Presidents
Address.

To the Senate and House of Representa-
aives: Notwithstanding the added burdens
rendered necessary by the war, our people
,.feJoice In very satisfactory and steadily
INCREASING degree of prosperity, evidenced
Vpy the largest volume OF business ever
recorded. Every manufacture has been
productive, agricultural pursuits have
yielded abundant returns, labor in the
sields of industry is better rewarded, rev.
",fnue legislation passed by the present
D. congress has increased the treasury's re-
teipts to the amount estimated by its
authors. the finances of the government
nave been successfully administered and
sNts credit advanced 10 the first rank, while
Tits currency has been maintained at the
Worlds highest standard. Military serv-
lice under a common flag and for
Righteous cause has strengthened the
national spirit and served to cement more
,rlosely than ever the fraternal bonds be-
Tween every section of the country.
4: A review of the relations of the United
States to other powers. always appropri-
;, ate is this year of primary importance
En View OF the momentous issues which
shave risen, demanding in one instance the
ultimate determination by arms and in
a$olvng far-reaching consequences when
e will require the earnest attention or the
q tongress.
= In my last annual message. very full
!. Consideration was given to the question
limited States toward Spain and the Gu
pan instruction as being BY far the
-.most important problem with which we
ufwere called upon to deal. The consdera-
, 9ons then advanced. and the exposition
;. Spf the views therein expressed, disclosed
my sense Of the extreme gravity OF the
Situation.
Il Setting aside as logically unfounded
. tor practically inadmissible. recogni-
,tion of the Cuban insurgents as belliger-
Tents, recognition of the independence
5of Cuba neutral intervention to end the
d war by imposing rational compromise
Between the contestants. intervention in
flavor of one or the other party and the
sforcible annexation of the island, l con-
stcluded 1t was honestly due to our friendly
t.rela tons with Spain that she should De
,Sgiven a reasonable chance TO realize her
Expectations of reform to which she had
Become irrevocably committed.
81 Within a few weeks previously she
sshad announced comprehensive plans
(which 1t was confidently asserted would
BE efflcac,ous to remedy the evils SO
Ndeeply affecting our own country. SO IN
5jurious to the true interests OF the
3mother country. as we'll as to those OF
ECuba and so repugnant to the universal
ssentiment Of humanity.
4 Destruction Of the Maine.
+ At this tuncture on the 18th of Febru-
larry last. occurred the destruction Of the
tbatte-ship Maine. while rghtfully lying
..ln the harbor of Havana on mission OK
international courtesy and good WILL
Scatastrophe the suspicious nature and
.horror of which stirred the nations heart
PROFOUNDLY. 1t is striking evidence OF
1the pose and sturdy good sense distin-
4 guishing our national character that this
Shocking blow. falling upon a generous
.ipeople already deeply touched by pre-
jceding events in Cuba. did not move them
ITO desperate resolve to tolerate no longer
the existence of condition OF danger and
idsorder at our doors that made possible
3such deed by whomsoever wrought.
llYet the instinct of justice prevailed, and
4the nation anxiously awaited the result
4 of the searching investigation at once set
\ on foot The finding of the naval board
\ of inquiry established that the origin of
the explosion was external by a subma-
rine NINE and only halted. through lack
! of positive testimony, to fix the response
biity of its authorship.