Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-12-14
PROBLEMS OF STATE
The President Sends His Annual
.@ Message to Congress.
A HISTORY OF THE WAR WITH SPAIN
recommendations for the Future
Government IL Deferred Until
After the Ratification of the
Peace Treaty-Other Matters,


message read at the opening of the last
session Of the Fifty-frst congress:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
yves: notwithstanding the added burdens
rendered necessary by the war. our people
rejoice in very satisfactory and steadiiv
increasing degree of prosperity evidenced
by the largest volume of business ever re-
corded Manufacture has been productive,
agricultural pursuits have yielded album
oant returns, labor in the fields of industry
Is better rewarded, revenue legislation
passed by the present congress has in
creased the treasury's receipts to the
amount estimated by its authors, the
finances of the government have been sue
cessfully administered and its credit ad-
yya va SS to the first rank while its currency
mas been maintained at the worlds highest
STANDARD. Military service under a COM
mon nag and for righteous cause has
se1rengthened the national spirit and served
ternal bonds between every section of the
country: A review Of the relation Of the
Unl1ea states to other powers. always ap-
lance In view of the momentous issues
which have arisen, demanding in one in
and involving far-reaching consequences
which will require the earnest attention
of the congress.
The War with Spain.
The president begins his history of the
wal Will D. review OIL the events leaQlnS
up to it, in which he cites the suggestions
made In his message on the Cuban subject
one year ago, the destruction of the Maine
and the action of congress up to the adop-
ton OF the resolution which Spain accepted
as declaration of war and which caused
the breaking off of diplomatic relations.
War Ii Declared.
Spain having thus denied the demand of
the United States and initiated that com
plete form of rupture of relations which
attends q state of war the executive now
ers authorized by the resolution were at
ono once used by me to meet the enlarged con:
claimed blockade of the northern coast of
RST Baa FIJI coast be-
Cuba; and on he Esd called ' Tor ro yoiu1 1l
te e e1e S Re E % the reso
gress was informed Of the situation and
recommended formal declaration Of the
ct state Of war the
act approved April IS. 1858. declaring the the
e eS enc Of such war from and including
provision of the resolution of April 20, di-
recting the president to use all the armed
effect. Due notification of the existence of
war as aforesaid was given April Is by
telegraph to all the governments with
In order that their neutrality might be as,
sured during the war The various GOV
esnm tre1tty responded with proclamations of
It is lot among the least gratifying Incl.
dents Of the struggle that the obligations
of neutrality were impartially discharged
e ny al, often under delicate and difficult
In further fulhllment of International
duty. I issued April 26 a proclamation an
accorded to vessels ana their o cargo s1 as
to blockade, contra band, the exercise Of
neutral nags and neutral goods under enc
myS h ia ;na similar proclamation was
conduct Of Festivities the rules Of the dec
resort of privateering, have accordingly
been observed by both belligerents, al
though neither was party to that dec
Response to Call for Volunteers.
Our country thus. after an interval Of
half q century Of peace with all nations.
found itself engaged in deadly conflict with
a reg e enc Every neTXe was strained
the, initial cali for 125.Ooo volunteers was
instant and complete; as was also the result
ditional volunteers. The ranks of the reg ae-
ular army were increased to the limits
provided by the act of April 26. The enlisted
when it reached it's maximum, numbered
A,12S men and apprentices: One hundred
and three vessels were added to the navy
government, one leased, and the four yes
sells Of the Intern national Navigation COM
pany, the St. Paul, ST. Louis. New York and
Paris, were chartered. In addition to these
the revenue cutters and lighthouse tenders
were turned over to the navy department
and became temporarily part of the aux
Uary navy.
Strength Of the Navy.
The maximum effective fighting force of
the navy during the war, separated into
classes, was as follows: -Four battleships
Of the first class, one battleship of the sec
defense monitors, one armored ram, IL
protected cruisers, three unprotected
sraise II torpedo Soat II o oia T "xas% Of
larry navy: Auxiliary cruisers. Is converted
hers, is revenue cutters, four lighthouse
tenders and IS miscellaneous vessels.
War Revenues.
The national defense under the So, 600, 900
fund was expended in large part by the
t was used are fully Shown in the reports
Of the several secretaries. 1t was most
timely appropriation, enabling the govern
preparatiens greatly needed in case Of War.
This fund being inadequate to the require
ments of equipment and for the conduct of
me IiG var, the patriotism OF the congress pro.
June 13, by authorizing three per cent,
popular loan net to exceed $500 o0o, 900 and
w I0fy1H& duUlLlOudl 1lupOSCS ana taxes.
Of the authorized loan, $500 900, 900 were Of
tered and promptly taken. the subscrip-
lions SO far exceeding the call as to cover
It many times over. while, preference be-
Ing given to the smaller bids, no single allot-
ment exceeded $1,000. This was most en-
eorraging and significant result, showing
determination Of the people to uphold their
cQuntry's honor. ~ 800,
Brief History of the War.
X It is not within the province OF this mes
sage to narrate the history of the jex-
kraordinary war that followed the Spanish
declaration Of April q, but a brief recital
$Df its more salient features is appropriate.
The first encounter fof the war In point of
late took place April II, when detach-
ment OF the bfockading squadron made q
in force at Matanzas,
1helled the harbor forts and demolished
several new works In construction:
Dewey's Victory EN-
i The next engagement was destined to
mark q memorable epoch In maritime war.
Fare. The Pacific fleet, under Commodore
George Dewey, had lain for some weeks at
Hong-Kong. Upon the colonial proclama-
kion Of neutrality being issued and the
"a hours notice being given.it
repaired to Mrs bay, near H0ng-kong,
whence 1t proceeded to the Philippine is;
lands under telegraphic orders to capture
brdestroy the formidable Spanish Meet then
assembled at Manila At daybreak on the
III OF May the American force entered Ma
mont effected the total destructto OF the
f@tn1t <ey1