The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-12-07
HIS MESSAGE.
President Mckinley Sent 1t
to Congress To-day.
Events Leading Up to the War
with Spain are Given
at Length.
LeglsIatiOn Is Asked for to Increase
the Strength of the Army 70 IOO,.
900 Men, Also 70 Provide a
Form of Government for
Hawaii-No Fixed Co.
lOniRl Policy il
Suggested.

Cuk6CotOue
To the Senate and House Of Represen-
tatives: Notwithstanding the added bur-
dens rendered necessary by the war, our
people rejoice In very satisfactory ana
steadily increasing degree of prosperity
evidenced by the largest volume OF busi-
ness ever recorded.
Manufacture has been productive, agri-
cultural pursuits have yielded abundant
returns, labor In all 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-
vanced to the first rank; while its cur
rency has been maintained at the worlds
highest standard.
Military service under a common flag
and for righteous cause has strength
ened the national spirit and served to
cement more closely than ever the fra
ternal bonds between every section OF the
country.
A review of the relation OF the United
States to other powers, always appro-
priate Is this year of primary Importance
In view Of the momentous issues which
have arisen, demanding in one instance
the ultimate determination by arms and
involving far-reaching consequences,
which will require the earnest attention
OF the congress ~
80 Duty 10 Cuba. ~
In my last annual message very fur
consideration was given to the question
OF the duty Of the government, Of the Unit
ed States toward Spain and the Cuban in
surrection. as being by far the most i'm
portant problem with which we were then
called upon to DEAL with considerations
then advanced, and the exposition OF the
views therein expressed disclosed my
sense of the extreme gravity of the situ-
alton.
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 10 years rebellion
as well as the present insurrection from
its start.
No alternative save physical exhaustion
of either combatant, and therewlthal the
practical ruin of the island, lay in sight.
hut how far distant no one could venture
90 conjecture.
The Maine Disaster.
At this juncture, on Feb. 10 last, oc-
CURED the destruction of the battleship
Maine, while rightfully lying in the harbor
of Havana, on mission OF international
courtesy and goood villa catastrophe
the suspicious nature and horror of which
stirred the nations heart profoundly
Yet the instinct of justice prevailed and
the nation anXiously awaited the result
of the searching investigation at once sci
on foot
The finding of the naval board of in.
Quiry established that the origin of the
explosion was external, by submarine
mine. and only halted, through lack OF
positive testimony, to fix the respo1sibili
ties of it's authorship.
All these things carried conviction to the
most thoughtful, even before the finding
of the naval court that q crisis in oul
relations with Spain and toward Cubs
was at hand
SO strong was this belief that It needed
but a brief executive suggestion to tn,
congress to receive immediate answer t
the duty of making instant provision fol
the possible and perhaps speedily proba
BILE emergency Of war, and the remarka
BILE. almost uniform, spectacle was pre-
sented of a unanimous vote Of botf
houses, on the 9th of March, approprlat
ing 900 for the national defense ant
for each and every purpose connected
Herewith, to be expended at the dlscre
ton of the president"
our coasts were practically undefended
Our navy needed large provision for in
creased ammunition and supplies ant
even numbers to cope with any suddel
atteck from the navy of Spain. which com
prised modern vessels OF the highest typ
OF continental perfection. Our army ais
required enlargement Of men and mum
tions. t-A t
still animated by the hope of a peace
duty. no effort was relaxed to bring abou
sneedy ending Of the Cuban struggle
NEGOTIATIONS continued for some littl
time at Madrid resulting in offers by tn
Snanish government which could not bu
be regarded as inadequate:
Grieyed and disappointed at the barre
outcome of my sincere endeavors to reac
a practicable solution, felt 1t my duty t
remit the whole question to the congress
The response of congress, after min
davs of earnest deliberatlon, during whlc
the almost unanimous sentiment of you
hody was developed on every point, saw
as to the expediency OF coupling the pro
posed action with formal recognition Q
the republic Cuba as the true and lawfu
government of that island-a proposltlo
which failed of adoption-the congress
after conference, on April 49, by vote G
"a TO 35 in the senate, and 3ll to in tn
house of representatives, passed tn
memorable Joint resolution
This resolution was approved by tn
executive on the next day, April 20.
COPY was at once communicated to tn
.Snanish minister at this capital VIII
forthwith announced that his continuanc
In washington had thereby become i'm
POSSIBLE. and asked for his passport.
which were given him after the instruc
tIon reached Gen. Woodford In Madrid o
the morning OF April Il, but before h
state notified him that upon the pres
dents approval OF the Joint resolution, tn
Madrid government, regarding the act a
equivalent to an evident declaration c
war" had ordered its minister In Wash
ington to Withdraw, thereby breaking OF
diplomatlcl relations between the tw'
countries and ceas.ng all official commu
nication between their respective govern
ments.
Spain having thus denied the demand o
the United States and initiated that com
plete form of rupture of relations whicl
attends state Of war, the executive pow
ers authorized by the resolution were a
once used by me to meet the enlarge
contingency Of actual war between sover
cign states On April % proclaimed
blockade OF the north coast of Cuba.
BY my message of April 25, the con
gress was informed OF the situation an
recommended formal declaration Of tn
existence OF a state OF war between tn
United States and Spain. The congress
accordingly voted on the same day, tn
act approved April 25, 1898, declaring tn
existence Of such war from and includin
the 2lst day of April
Our country thus, after an interval Q
half century OF peace with all nation!
found itself engaged in deadly confllt
with foreign enemy. Every nerve wa
strained to meet the emergency.
Every precaution was taken to preveT
possible injury to our great cities lyin
were provided. drawn from the stat
militia; infantry and light batteries wel
drawn from the volunteer force. Abou
12,000 troops were thus employed. Th
coast signal service was established, an
the llfe-savlng and lighthouse services Ct
operated. which enabled the navy d.
partment to have all portions of the A
lantio coast from Maine to Texas undt
observation.
The auxiliary navy was created undo
authority OF congress and was ofilcere
by the naval militia of the several state
Under the direction Of the chief OF Ell
gineers, submarine mines we're place
at the most exposed places. The aggr,