Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-12-08
The President Sends a COmmunica-
ton to Congress.
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE.
srhe Declaration OF War with spRIn and the
Military Movements Of tho United
states--O vertures for Peaeo-Our
Foreign RelattonS-rreasury
Matters-AfaIrs OF the
Army aud Navy,
Etc, Etc.

The HlGty-ntJn congress hIJer NC ndu
been informed by committees that the
senate and house awaited any com
munication he wished to make to
them:
To the Senate and House OF Representatives;
Notwithstanding the added burdens rendered
necessary by the war, our people rejoice In
very satisfactory ana steadily increasing de-
gree OF prosperity evidenced by the largest
volume OF business ever recorded Every man.
ufacture has been productive, agricultural pur-
suits have yielded abundant returns, labor In
tho fields OF industry Is better rewarded, rev.
'enuo legislation passed by the present congress
mas increased the treasury's receipts to the
amount estimated by It's authorities, the
ninances OF tho government have been sue
cessfully administered and its credit advanced
% the first rank, while its currency has been
maintained at the worlds highest standard
Military service under common flag and for n
righteous cause has strengthened tho national
spirit and served to cement more closely than
ever the fraternal bonds between every section
of the country, A review Of the relation
of the United States TO other powers,
always appropriate, is this year Of primary Inn
.portance In view Of the momentous issues
which have arisen. demanding In one instance
the ultimate determination by arms and in
WOVlnH IhT-EBHOnlnB COnSbQubuC5S WnlUu Will
require the earnest attention Of the congress-
the Cuban InsurreotiOn.
In my last annual message very full consld-
GRAFTON was given to the question Of the duty
of tho government OF the United States toward
Spain and tho Cuban insurrection as being by
Gar the most important problem with which we
were then called upon TO deal The considera-
lions then advanced, and the exposition OF the
views therein expressed, disclosed my sense OF
che extreme gravity OF tho situation, Setting
aside. Us logically unfounded or practically In
admissible, the recognition of the Cuban in
surgents us belllgerents, the recognition OF the
independence Of Cuba neutral intervention to
end the war by imposing rational
compromise between the contestants in
nervention In favoru0f one or the other
party and iorolble annexation OF the
Asland, concluded II was honestly due to our
friendly relations with Spain that she should
be given u reasonable chance to realz3 her ex-
pectations OF reform TO which she had become
Arrevocably committed Within few weeks
previously she had announced comprehensive
plans, which II was confidently asserted would
ibe eGicacious to remedy the evil so deeply
affecting our own country, so injurious TO the
true interests Of the mother country as well as
TO those Of Cuba, and so repugnant to the uni
versal sentiment OF humanity The ensuing
month brought little sign Of real progress
toward the pacIflcation OF Cuba The auton-
,Omous 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 extend their influence TO large
extent Of territory held by the insurgents while
the military arm, obviously unable TO cope
with the still active rebellion continued many
of the most Objectionable and offensive policies
of the government that had preceded IT, No
tangible relief was afforded the vast numbers
of unhappy reconcentrados despite the reitor-
ated professions made In that regard and the
amount appropriated by Spain to that end.
The proner I'd expedent Of zones Of cultivation
proved illusory; indeed, no less practical nor
more delusivo promises OF succor could
we'll have been rendered to the ex-
hausted and destitute people, stripped
of oil that made life and home dear and herc,3d
in strange region among unsympathotic
strangers hardly less necessltous than them
selves BY the end OF December the mortality
among them had frlghtfully increased, Con-
servative estimates from Spanish sources
placed the deaths among these distressed poo
pie at over 40 per cent from the time Gen
Weyler's decree OF recommendation was en-
forced With the acqulescence Of the Spanish
authorities scheme was adopted for relief by
charitable contributions raised In this coun-
CONSUL general and the several con-
'Suls, by noble and earnest individual
effort through the organized agencies OF the
American Red Cross Thousands OF lives were
thus saved, but many thousands more were In
accessible to such forms Of aid The war con-
2inued on the old footing without comprehen-
slve plan. developing only the same spasmodic
encounters barren Of strategic resultthat had
marked the course OF the earlier ten years re-
bellion as well as the present insurreotion from
hts start No alternative save physical ex-
Ehaustion Of either combatant and therewlthAl
the practical ruin OF the island, lay In sight,
but how far distant no one could venture to
conjecture.
The Destruction Of the BattleshIp Maine.
At this juncture, on the 18th OF February
last, occurred the destruction Of the bnttleship
Maine, while rlghtfully lying in the harbor OF
Havana on mission Of international courtesy
and good villa catastrophe the suspicious
nature and horror OF which stirred the nations
heart profoundly. 1t Is striking evidence OF
poise and sturdy good sense distinguishing
our national character that this shocking blow,
failing upon generous people, already deeply
touched by preceding events in Cuba did not
move them to an instant, desperate resolve to
tolerate no longer the existence of O condition
vof danger and disorder at our doors that made
possible such deed by whomsoever wrought.
Vet the instinct Of justice prevailed aud
the nation anxiousy awaited the re-
suit Of the searching investigation at once set
on foot. The finding Of the naval board OF in
quiry established that the origin OF the explo-
sion was external by a submarine mine and
only halted through lack OF positive testimony
to fix the responsibility OF It's authorship. 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 were at hand, So strong was
this belief that 1t needed but brief executive
suggestion to the congress to receive immediate
answer to the duty Of making instant provision
for the possible and perhaps specially proba-
bile emergency OF war; and the remarkable al
most unique spectacle was presented OF a unan-
tmous vote OF both houses on the 9th Of March,
appropriatlng t5l0)J.0OO "for the national de-
Gense and for each aud every purpose connected
Hherewlth, to be expended at the discretion of
the president"
That this act OF provision came none too soon
was disclosed when the application OF the
FUNDS was undertaken Our forts we're prao-
Hically undefended Our navy needed large pro-
vision tor increased ammunition. supplies, and
even numbers to cope with any sudden attack
from the navy OF Spain, which comprised mod
ern vessels OF the highest type OF continental
perfection Our army also required enlarge
ment OF men and munitions. The details OF
the hurried preparation for the dreaded con-
Itingeney Is told in the reports OF the score
ttaries of war and OF the navy and need not be
repeated here 1t is SUFFICIENT to say that the
outbreak Of war, when 1t did come, found our
nation not unprepared to meet the conflict
Grieved and disappointed at this barren out
come Of my sincere endeayOrs to reach prncti-