The Somerset reporter., 1898-12-08
THU MESSAGE
To the Senate and House of Representa-

tiVes:
Notwithstanding the added burdens
rendered necessary by the war. our peo-
pie rejoice in "A very satisfactory ana
steadily increasing degree OF prosperity
evidenced 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
revenue legislation passed by the preseh1
congress has increased the treasury
receipts to the amount estimated by Its
authors; the finances of the government
have been successfully administered and
its credit advanced To the first rank.
" lille its currency has been maintained
at the worlds highest standard Mill
tary service under common flag and Tor
a righteous cause has strengthened the
national spirit and served 10 cement more
closely than ever the fraternal bonds be-
tween every section of the country.
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 insurrection as being by far the most
important problem with which We have
been called upon to deal me eonsldera-
lions then advanced. and the exposition
OF the views therein expressed. disclosed
my sense of the extreme gravity OF the
situation. Setting aside. as logically
unfounded or practically inadmissa Bile
the recognition of the independence OF
Cuba. neutral Intervention TO end the
war by imposing rational compromise
between the contestants. Intervention In
favor of one or the other party. and
forcible annexation of the island. con-
Guided IL was honestly due To our friend
ly relations with Spain that she should
be given a reasonable chance to realize
her expectations of reform to which she
had become irreNocably 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 af-
feCting our own country. so injurious to
the true interests of the mother country
as we'll as to those of Cuba, and so re-
pugnant to the universal sentiment Of
humanity.
The ensuing month brought little sign
Of real progress toward the paclfcation
of Cuba
The autonomous administration set up
in the capital and some of the principal
cities appeared not to gain the favor
of the inhabitants nor to be able to eX-
tend their influence to the largest extent
of territory held by the insurgents while
the military arm, obviously unable to
cope with the still active rebellion. con-
tnued many of the most Objectionable
and offensive policies of the government
that had preceded it. No tangible relief
was afforded the vast numbers of I'M
happy reconcentrados, despite the re-
iterated protestations made in that re-
gard and the amount appropriated by
Spain to that end The preferred ex
pedent of zones of cultivation proved
tlusory; indeed no less practical nor
more deluslVe promises of succor could
We'll have been rendered to the exhausted
and destitute people. stripped of all that
made life and home dear herded in n
strange region among unsympathetic
strangers hardly less necesstous than
themselves.
BY the end of December the mortality
among them had frightfully increased
The war continued on the old footing
without comprehensive plan. developing
only the same spaSmodie encounters,
barren Of strategic result, that had
marked the course of the earlier 10
years rebellion as we'll as the present in
surrection from its start No alternative
save physical exhaustion of either com
Blatant and Herewith the practical ruin
Of the island. lay In sight. but how far
distant no one would venture to con-
lecture.
At this juncture, on Feb Is last, oc-
CURED the destruction of the battleship
Maine. while rghtfully lying in the har-
Dor Of Havana on mission OF interna
tional courtesy and good villa catas-
trophe the suspicious nature and horror
Of which stirred the nations heart pro-
foundly. 1t is a striking evidence of the
noise and sturdy good sense distinguish
ing our national character that this
shocking blow falling upon generous
people. already deeply touched by pre-
ceding events in Cuba. did not move them
to an instant desperate resolve to tolerate
no longer the existence of a condition of
danger and disorder at our doors that
made possible such a deed, by whomso-
ever wrought. Yet the instinct of Justice
prevailed. and the nation anxiously
awaited the result of the searching in
vestigation at once set on foot The
finding of the naval board of inquiry
established that the origin of the ex-
plosion was external by a submarine
mine, and only halted, through lack OF
positive testimony, to fix the RESPONSE
bility of its authorship.
All these things carried conviction 10
the most thoughtful, even before the
finding of the naval court, that a crisis
in our relations with Spain and toward
Cuba was at hand. So strong was this
belief that ii needed but brief executive
suggestion to the congress to receive i'm
mediate answer to the duty of making
instant provision for the possible and
perhaps. speedily probable emergency of
war and the remarkable. almost unique.
spectacle was presented of unanimous
vote of both houses on March an
propriating $50 900. 900 for the national
defense and for each and every purpose
connected Herewith, to be expended at
the discretion of the president"
That this act of provision came none
too soon was disclosed when the applica-
ton of the fund was undertaken. Our
coasts were practically undefended Our
navy needed large provision for increased
ammunition and supplies and even num-
bers to cope with any sudden attack
from the navy of Spain which comprised
modern vessels of the highest type of con-
tinental perfection. Our army also re-
quired enlargement of men and NUM-
lions The details of the hurried prep
aration for the dreaded contingency are
told in the reports of the secretaries of
war and of the navy and need not be re-
peated here 1t is sufficient to say that
the outbreak of war, when 1t did come.
found our nation not unprepared to meet
the conflict
Grieved and disappointed at this barren
outcome of my sincere endeavors to
reach a practicable solution, | felt 1t my
duty to remit the whole question 10 con-
gress. In the message of April II, 1898,
| announced that with this last overture
In the direction of immediate peace in
Cuba and its disappointing reception by
Spain, the effort of the executive was
brought to an end | again reviewed the
alternative course of action which had
been proposed concluding that the only
one consonant with international policy
and compatible with our frm-set his
torlcal traditions. was Intervention as a
neutral to stop the war and check the
hopeless sacrifice of life even though
that resort involved hostile constrant
upon both the parties to the contest. as