The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-16
Digest of the Annual Message of
President Mckinley to the Con-
gress of the United States.
LARGELY A REVIEW OF he RECENT WAR.
The President Has only Words OF Praise
for Those Who brought the War tn a
Successful Conclusion. aud Looks For
ward Confidently To the Conclusion OF AN
Honorable Treaty OF Peace with spain.

hiAftN oNNOlN illfN1s=t, SUI
mitted 10 congress. contains about TO-
o0o words. Following is brief synop-
sis including some direct excerpts of
the more important features OF the
message:
TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVE rs: Notwithstanding
the adde burdens rendered necessary by
the war. our people rejoice IN a very sat-
isfactory and steadily increasing degree
OF prosperity evidenced hy the largest
volume OF business ever recorded. Manu-
features have been productive. agricul-
tural pursuits have yielued abundant re-
turns. labor In all fields Of industry is
better rewarded, revenue legislation
passed by the present congress has in
creased the treasurys receipts To the
amount estimated by its authors. the
nnances OF the government have been sue
cesSfully administered aud its credit adj
vanced TO the first rank. while It's cur
rency has been maintained atShe world
highest standard. Military sefvicc under
common flag and for righteous cause
has strengthened the national spirit. and
served TO cement more closely than ever
the fraternal bonds between every sec
ton of the country.
CONTRONER WITH SPAIN RE-
VIEWED.
In reviewing the controversy which led
up to the war with Spain, the president
takes up the thread or narrative where
II terminated in his last annual mes
sage He concluded. 1T WAS honestly
that she should be given a reasonable
chance 10 realize her expectations OF re-
form TO which she had become irreyoca-
bly, commit ed.
IL became evident. however. that the
proposed plans were barren Of good re-
suits. No tangible relief was afforded the
reconcentraOOs, among whom the rate
OF mortality frightfully increased. the
proIered eNpedient OF zones Of cgltiVa-
ton proved hiusory, and il was apparent
that nothing save the physical eNhaus-
ton of Spain or the Cuba Is and the prac-
teal ruin OF the island OF cuba could re-
suit from the struggle then IN progress.
DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE.
Al this critical 1uncture the destruc-
tion OF the battleship Maine occurred.
Concerning IL the president says
1T is a striking evidence OF the polse
and sturdy good sense distinguishing our
national character that this shocking
blow. falling upon "A generous people. al
ready deeply touched py preceding events
in Cuba, did not move them To an in
slant. desperate resolve TO tolerate no
longer the existence OF a condition OF
danger and disorder at our doors that |
made possible such deed, by whomso- |
ever wrought
Resuming the war narrative. the presi- |
dent directs attention f0 the measures, |
including the $4,000 Vu appropriation for |
national defense taken 10 place the /
country on "A war footinN and adds: 1T /
Is sufficient 10 say that the outbreak of /
war. when II did come, found our nation |
not unprepared 10 meet the conflict"
APPREHENSION BY EUROPEAN |
POWERS
Reference is made to the apprehension |
of coming strife by the continental pow
ers. voiced in the address 10 the presi- |
dent through their ambassadors and en-
voys. and TO the president reply thereto |
Still animated. however, BY the hope OF |
q peaceful solution of the difficulty and |
obeying the dictates Of duty, the presi- |
dent relaxed no effort TO bring about a |
speedy ending OF the Cuban struggle. Ne /
proved futile. far as practical results |
were concerned, and then II was the |
president presented the question 10 con-
gress- saying. In the name OF humanity,
In the name OF civilization in behalf OF /
endangered American interests, which 1
give the right and duty 10 sneak and
20 act. the war IN cuba must stop"
TIE DECLARATION OF COMPRESS.
The result Of this statement OF the case
vas ne adoption OF the memorable Joint |
resolution by congress. declaring the pur-
pose of the United States to intervene
between the Spaniards and Cuban. Fol-
lowing swiftly upon the enactment Of the /
resolution, came the severence OF diplo-
matte relations between the two coun- /
tries. the proclamation OF a blockade OF |
Cuban ports. the call for volunteers and |
the formal declaration Of the existence |
OF state Of war. Ali other governments 1
ence oftwar and each proclaimed neu-
traiity. 1T Is not among the least graft
Tying incidents Of the struggle that the
obligations Of neutrality were impartially |
discharged sy all, often under delicate
and difficult circumstances.
THE PREPARATION FOR WAR
The president reviews AZ length the
work Of preparation FOR war, referring
particularly 70 the enlistment OF the VOL /
unteers, to the material increase OF the
navy IN both men and ships, and to the
precautionary measures taken for the
protection of the seaboard coast and
cities. The aggregate number OF mines
placed vas l.s3O AZ the principal harbors
Referring to the difficult and i'm
portant character Of the work per-
formed BY the signal corps the president
says: This service was Invaluable to the
executive IN directing the. operations of
o9 o ary and tb hsy sss WIN ,S 19sa force
camp and Held, officers and men included.
only five"
which was taken entirely by small bid
ders, the president says This was "A
most encouraeing and significant result.
and the determination OF the peoyle to
uphold their country's honor
Taking up chronologically the events OF
fully. The first encounter was the she'll
Ing Of Matanzas on Apri' q. This was
followed by an engagement which was
''Destincd 70 mark a memorable epoch in
warfare
DEWEY's WONDERFUL VICTORY.
This was Commodore Dewcy's wonder
Pull victory at Manila. on May l. The ef-
feet OF this remarkable victory" says the
president, upon the spirit Of our people
stan,. A prestige Of invincibility thereby
attached TO our arms, which continued
throughout the StfugRle.
The president says that "Only reluc-
fancc 10 cause needless loss Of life and
prope rty prevented the early storming
and capture OF the city (Naniiab, and
Herewith the absolute military occupan-
cy of the whole group" Following the
trip Of the battleship oregon
from San Francisco to Key West. and the
bombardment OF San Juan and the forts
Of Santiago, to which special reference Ia
made. the president says:
LIEUT.. HOBSONS EXPLOIT.
~ he next act IN the war thrilled not
nlofe the hearts Of our counirymen. but
Che world. by IT. exceptional heroism ON
Che rt.shf OF June I.ieut HoDson, aided
by seven volunteers. blocked the outlet
from Santiago harbor by sinking the
collier Mcrrinac IN the channel. under
fierce fire from the shore batteries escap-
tnE with their lives AS by a miracle. but Z
falling into tho hands Of the spanarls.
IL Is n most EraiifyinT Incident Of the war
that the bravery ~ this little band OF he
rocs was cordially appreciated by the
SpawiS' admiral"
THE SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN
The campaign Of Santiago, resulting
IN the Investment and capture 81 that
city, - referred to rs a brilliant achieves
mcnt a brief review ~ then presented
OF the decisive naval combat ~ the war
OF July .. resulting III the complete de-
etfns tfon ~ ADMIRAL ,rcvcras fleet. Con-
cerntng ~ the president says. sWhcrp al
~ conspiCuousy distinguished tnpm-
30 NrY.4. a.