The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-09
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.
Congress- Appropriation of Fifty MIL.
lions for National Defense.

All those things carried conviction to
the most thoughtful even before the
finding of the naval court, that crisis
in our relations with Spain and toward
Cuba was at hand. ST. strong was this
belief that it needed but a brief execu-
tive suggestion to congress to receive i'm
mediate answer to the duty of making
instant provision for the possible and per-
haps speedily probable emergency of war,
and the remarkable, almost unique, spec
tacle was presented of a unanimous vote
of both houses the 9th of March ap
propriating s5O,OOO000 for the national de-
fense and for each and every purpose con-
nected Herewith, to be expended at the
discretion of the president"
That this act of provision came none
too soon was disclosed when the applica-
tion of the fund was undertaken. Our
ports 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 mod
ern vessels of the highest type of conti-
mental perfection. Our army also re-
quired enlargement of men and NUM-
tions. The details of the hurried prepa-
rations for the decided contingency is told
in the reports of the secretaries of war
and of the navy, and need not be repeated
here.
1t is sufficient to say that the outbreak
of war, when it did come, found our ma
tion not unprepared to meet the conflict
nor was the apprehension of coming strife
confined to our own country. 1t was felt
by the continental powers which. on April
g. through their ambassadors and ENJOYS
addressed to the executive an expression
of hope that humanity and moderation
might mark the course of this govern
ment and people, and that further nego-
tiations would lead to an attempt which
while securing the maintenance of peace
would affirm all necessary guarantees for
the re-establshment of order in Cuba
Proposal of an Armistice.
Still animated by the hope of a peace
full solution and obeying the dictates of
duty, no effort relaxed to bring about
a speedy ending of the Cuban struggle.
Negotiations to this effect continued
actively with the government of Spain
looking to the immediate conclusion of a
six months armistice in Cuba with
view to effect the recognition of her peo-
pies right to independence. Besides this,
the instant revocation of the order of re-
concentration was asked, so that the suf-
ferers, returning to their homes and
aided by united American and Spanish
effort might be put in a. way to support
themselves, and by orderly resumption of
the well-nigh destroyed productive ener-
gies of the island contribute to the res
toration of its tranquility and well-being
Authority to Intervene.
Grieved and disappointed at this barren
outcome of my sincere endeavors to reach
a practicable solution, felt it my duty to
remit the whole question to congress. In
the message of April II, 1898, 1 announced
that with this last overture in the direc-
tion of immediate peace in Cuba and it's
disappointing reception by Spain the eff
fort of the executive was brought to an
end. I again reviewed the alternative
course of action which 1 had prepared,
concluding that the only course consonant
with International policy and compatible
with our firmly set historical traditions
was Intervention as a neutral to stop the
war and check the hopeless sacrifice of
life, even though that resort involved
'hostile constraint upon both parties to
the contest, as well to enforce truce as
to provide for eventual settlement"
In view of all this congress was asked to
authorize and empower the president to
take measures to secure a full and dnal