The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-06
THE PRESIDENT TO CONGRESS.
HIS MESSAGE GIVES A HISTORY OF
THE WAR WITH SPAIN.

Except With Spain Our Foreign Re-
Iations Have Been PleRsant-MRt-
tiers Relating TO New Possessions
Left to CongresS-RecOmmen In
crease of the Army and Navy-Cur-
rency Reform Nceded-Greenbacls
should He Provided fOr-AH De-
partments Discussed.
The Presidents annual message 10 Con-
gress, addressed to the Senate and House
of Representatives, was read in both
bodies to-day. The message is as follows:
Notwithstanding the added burdens rem
dered necessary by the war. our people
rejoice in a very satisfactory and stead
ny increasing degree of prosperity evil
denced by the largest volume of bust
ness ever recorded. Manufacture has
been productive, agricultural pursuits have
yielded abundant returns, labor in all
fields of industry is better rewarded, rev.
enue legislation passed by the present
Congress has increased the treasurys re-
ceipts to the amount estimated by its au-
ghors the finances of the government have
been successfully administered and its
credit advanced to the first rank while
its currency has been maintained at the
worlds highest standard. Military serv-
ice under a common flag and for a right
sous cause has strengthened the national
spirit and served to cement more closely
than ever the fraternal bonds between
every section of the country.
review of the relation of the United
states to other powers, always appropri-
ate in this year of primary Importance
in view of the momentous issues which
nave arisen, demanding in one instance
the ultimate determination by arms and
involving far-reaching consequences,
which will require the earnest attention
Of the Congress.
In my last annual message very full
consideration was given to the question
of the duty of the government of the
United States toward Spain and the Gu
ban instruction, as being by far the most
important problem with which we were
then called upon to deal. The consider
ations then advanced, and the exposition
Of the views therein expressed disclosed
my sense of the extreme gravity of the
situation. Setting aside, as logically I'M
founded or practically inadmissible, the
recognition of the Cuban insurgents as
belligerents, the recognition Of the indie
pendence of Cuba, neutral Intervention to
end the war by imposing a rational COM
promise between the contestants, interven-
ton in favor of one or the other party
and forcible annexation of the island, I
concluded it was honestly due to our
friendly relations with Spain that she
should be given a reasonable chance to
realize her expectations of reform to which
she had become irrevocably committed.
Within a few weeks previously she had
announced comprehensive plans which it
was confidently asserted would be effica-
cious to remedy the evils so deeply affect
ing our own country, so injurious to the
true interests of the mother country as
well as to those of Cuba, and so repug-
nant to the universal sentiment Of hu-
mainly.
The ensuing month brought little sign of
real progress toward the pacification of
Cuba The autonomous administrations
set up in the capital and some of the prin-
cipal cities appeared not 10 gain the favor
of the Inhabitants nor 10 be able to eX-
tend their influence to the large extent Of
territory held by the insurgents, while the
military arm, obviously unable to cope
with the still active rebellion, continued
many of the most Objectionable aud often
sve policies of the government that had
preceded it, No tangible relief was af-
forded the vast numbers of unhappy recon-
centrados, despite the reiterated profess
sions made in that regard and the amount
appropriated by Spain to that end. The
proffered expedient of zones of cultivation
proved illusory; indeed no less practical
nor more delusive promises of succor could
well have been rendered to the exhausted
and destitute people. stripped of all that
made life and home dear, and herded in
strange region among unsympathetic
strangers hardly less necessitous than
themselves
BY the end of December the mortality
among them had frightfully increased.
Conservative estimates from Spanish
sources placed the deaths among these dis
tressed people at over 40 per cent from
the time Gen. Weyler's decree of recon-
cenTation was enforced. With the ac-
qujescence of the Spanish authorities
scheme was adopted for relief by charit-
able contributions raised in this country
and distributed, 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. Thousands 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 spasmodic encounters, bar
rem of strategic result. that had marked
the course of the earlier ten years re-
beilion, as well as the present insurrec-
ton from it's start No alternative save
physical exhaustion by either combatanl,
and therewlthal the practical ruin of the
island, lay in sight, but how far distant
no one could venture 10 conjecture.
Destruction of the Maine.
At this juncture, on the 18th of February
last, occurred the destruction of the bat
''eship Maine. while rightfuliy tying in
the harbor Of Havana on a mission Of in
ternational courtesy and good villa ca
tastrophe, the suspicious nature and horror
OF which stirred the nations heart pro-
ioundly. II is a striking evidence OF the
poise and sturdy good sense distinguish
ing our national character, that this shock
ing blow, falling upon a generous people,
already deeply touched by preceding events
IN Cuba, did not move them 20 an instant.
desperate resolve 10 tolerate no longer the
existence Of a condition of danger and dis
order al our doors that made possible such
a deed by whomsoever wrought. Yet the
instinct of justice prevailed. and the nation
anxiously awaited the result Of the search
ing investigation al once set on foot. The
finding of the naval board of Inquiry es-
fnblfghod that "a NrfPiN ~ he avnInafor,