Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-12-12
'I'IE!] MZII<}jSA(1IE1
To the Senate and House of Representa-

steadily increasing degree OF pros peTII9,
evidenced by the largest volume Of busl-
ness ever recorded. Manufacture has
been productive, agricultural pursult2
have yielded abundant returns, Iapor IN
oil fields OF industry is better rewarded,
revenue Legislation passed by the present
congress has increased the treasury
receipts to the amount estimated by us
authors; the finances of the government
have been successfully administered ana
its credit advanced to the uTSt rank.
while its currency has been maintained
at the worlds highest standard. Mill
tary service under q common fag and fer
a righteous cause has streng thened the
national spirit and served to cement more
closely than ever the frateTral bonds be-
tween every section Of the country
In my last annual message, very tuII
eonSiderat ton 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. The cons1dera-
tons then advanced. and the exposition
Of the views therein expressed. disclosed
my sense Of the extreme gravity OF the
situation. Setting aside, as logically
unfoUnGed or practically lnadmlssapIe
the recognition OF the independence of
Cuba. neutral intervention to end the
war by imposing a rational compromise
between the contestants. intervention in
favor of one or the other party, and
fOrcible annexation of the island. con-
~ 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 q few weeks previously she had
announced comprehensive plans which 1t
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-
r1TIo n universal
humanity.
The ensuing month brought little sign
Of real progress toward the pacifcatiOn
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-
tinued 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-
pedient of zones Of cultivation proved
nlusory; indeed, no less practical nor
more delusive promises of succo~ could
well have been rendered to the exhausted
made life and home dear herded in q
strange region among unsympathetic
strangers hardly less necessitous than
themselves.
By the end Of December the mortality
among them had frightfulIy increased.
The war continued on the old footing
without comprehensive plan, developing
only the same spasmOdic encounters.
barren of strategic result that had
marked the course Of the earlier 10
years rebellion as we'll as the present in
surreCtiGn 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 10 one would venture to con-
lecture.
At this juncture, on Feb. Is last, oc-
Cured the destruction of the battIeship
Maine, While rightfully lying in the har-
Dor of Havana on a mission of interna-
tional courtesy and good villa catas-
trOphe the suspicious nature and horror
Of which stirred the nations heart pro-
foundry It is a striking evidence Of the
noise and sturdy good sense distinguish
ing cur national character that this
shocking blow. falling upon generous
people, already deeply touched by pre-
eedirg 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 whonso-
ever wrought. Yet the instinct of Justice
prevailed and the nation anXiously
awaited the result of the searching in
vestigation at once set 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 it's authorship.
All these things carried conviction to
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 it 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 a unanimous
vote of both houses on March ap-
propriating $50, 0O00 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-
lion 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-
ffons. 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 it did come
found our nation not unprepared to meet
me conflict.
Grieved and disappointed at this barren
outcome of my sincere endeavors to
reach a practicable solution, I felt it my
duty to remit the whole question to con-
gress. In the message of April II, 1898
1 announced that with this last overture
Ia the direction of immediate peace in
Cuba and its disappointing reception by