The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-12-06
Recommends Increase of Stand
ING Army and Navy---PraiseS
our War Heroes.
The President Urges Legislation For
the Redemption Of the United
States Notes.
The Anniversary of the Founding of the
Permanent National Capital at Wash
ington-HiS Maritime Policy
and Other Topics.
OUR WAR WITH SPAIN.

OUR WAR WITH SPAIN.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
Notwithstanding the added burdens rendered
necessary by the people rejoice in
very satisfactory and steadily increasing de-
gree of prosperity, evidenced by the largest
volume of business ever recorded. Manufac-
ture has been productive agricultural pursuits
have yielded abundant returns, labor in the
fields Of industry is better rewarded revenue
legislation passed by the present congress has
increased the treasury'S receipts TO the amount
estimated by its authors; the finances of the
government have been successfully adj
ministered and it's credit advanced
to the first rank; while its 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
review of the relation of the United States to
other powers. always appropriate. is this year
of primary Importance in view of the mOmen-
Ious issues which have arisen. demanding in
one instance the ultimate determination by
arms and involving far-reaching consequences
which will require the earnest attention of the
congress.
n my last annual message very full cOnsid
Grafton given to the question of the duty
OF the government of the United States toward
Spain and the Cuban instruction as being by
far the most important problem with which
we were then called upon to deal The con-
SiderationS advanced and the exposition of the
views therein expressed. disclosed my sense of
the gravity of the situation Setting aside, as
logically unfoundcd or practically inadmiSSi-
bic. the recognition of the Cuban insurgents as
belligerentS. the recognition OF the independ-
ence Of Cuba. neutral intervention to end the
war by imposing a rational compromise be-
tween the contest ants, intervention in favor
OF one or the other party. and forcible annex
alton of the island, L concluded it was honest
~ due TO our friendly relations with Spain
that she should be given q reasonable chance
10 realize her expectations of reform to which
she had become irrevOcably committed. With
in a few weeks previously she had announced
comprehensive plans which it confidently
asserted would be clficacious to remedy the
evils so deeply affectir- our own country. so
injurious TO the true interests of the mother
country as well as TO those Of Cuba ind so re-
pugnant TO the universal sentiment of humani-
ty
The ensuing month brought little sign of real
progress toward the pacifcatiOn of Cuba. The
autonomous administrations set up in the cap
ital and some of the principal cities appeared
not to gain the favor of the inhabitants nor to
be able 70 extend their influence TO the large
extent OF territory held by the insurgents
while the military arm. obviously unable to
core with still active rebellion. con-
tinued many of the most OBJ
jectionabe and offensive policies of
the government that had preceded It. Ne
tangible relief afforded the vast numhe-o
of unhappy recOnc2ntrIdOS despite the reltcr-
ated professions made in that regard and the
amount appropriated by Spain TO that end
The proffered eXpedient of zones of cultiva-
tiOn proved illuSory; indeed. no less practical
more deluSlve promises of succOr could
well have been rendered TO the exhausted and
destitute people, stripped of all that made life
and home dear and herGed in a strange region
among unSympathetic strangers hardly less
necesSitouS than themselves.
BY the end Old ecember the mortality among
them had frightfully increased. Conservative
estimates from Spanish sources placed the
deaths among these distressed people at over
30 per cent. from the time Gen. Weylers de-
cree of RECOMMENDATION was enforced With
the adolescence of the Spanish authorities q
scheme was adopted for relief by charitable
contributions raised in this country and dis
tributed. under the direction of the consul
general and the several conSuls, by noble and
earnest individual effort through the organized
agencies OF the American Red Cross. Thou
sands of lives were thus saved. but many
thousands more were inaccessible to such
forms of aid.
The war continued on the old footing without
comprehensive plan. developing only the same
spasnodic encounters. barren of strategic re-
suit that had marked the course of the earlier
ten years rebellion well as the present in
surrection from its start No alternative save
physical exhaustion of either combatant. and
therewithal the practic Il ruin OF the island.
lay in sight. but how far distant no one could
venture to conjecture
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE.
At this juncture. on the 18th of February,
last. occurred the destruction of the battle
ship Maine while rightfully lying in the har-
Dor of Havana on a mission of international
courtesy and good villa catastrophe the SuS-
picious nature and horror OF which stirred the
nations heart profoundly. 1t is striking
evidence OF the pOise and sturdy good sense
distinguishing our national character that this
shocking blow, falling upon generous people.
already deeply touched by preceding events IN
Cuba did not move them to an instant, deS-
perate resolve to tolerate no longer the exist
ence of n condition of danger and disorder at
our doors that made possible such a deed. by
vhomsoeyer wrought. Yet the instinct of JUS
tice prevailed and the nation anXlouSly await
ed the result of the searching investigation al
once set on foot. The finding OF the naval
hoard of INQUIRY established that the origin OF
tbe explosion was external. by submarine
mine and only halted. through lack Ct positive
testimony, to fix the responsibility OF ltS au-
thorship.
All these things carried conviction 10 the
most thoughtful. even before the finding OF the
naval court, that crisis in our relations Win
Snain and toward Cuba was at hand. Sc
strong was this belief that it needed but orlei
executive suggestion to the congress to receive
immediate answer to the duty OF making IN
slant provision for the possible and perhaps
sneedily probable emergency OF war. and inc
remarkable almost unique. spectacle was pre-
Sented of a unanimous vote of both houses on
the 9th of March, appropriating fifty million
dollars for the national defense ano
for each and every purpose con,
nected Herewith. to be EXPENDED a.
the discretion of the president Inat sni'
set of provision came none TO soon was oiso'oS