Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1898-12-05

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in both houses were crowded. There
was good attendance Of senators and
members. The floral display was the
finest ever seen In both chambers.
TaE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
WARRINGTON, Dec. 5.-The P res
ident's message to congress is very long,
nearly $4,000 words, and consists in
large part of review of the war and
the incidents leading up to it. At the
outset the President says: "Notwith-
standing the added burdens Of the war
the people rejoice In the very satisfac-
tory and steadily increasing prosperity
evidenced by the largest volume of bnsi-
ness ever recorded. Every manufac-
ture has been productive; agricultural
pursuits have yielded abundant returns;
In the field of labor industry has been
better rewarded; the revenue legisla-
tion passed by the present congress has
increased the treasury's receipts to the
amount estimated; the finances of the
government have been successfully ad-
ministered and its credit advanced to
the first rank, while its currency has
been maintained at the worlds highest
standard. Military service under the
common flag and for righteous cause
has strengthened the national spirit
and served to cement more closely than
ever the fraternal bonds between every
section of the country"
The President then discusses at
length the futile efforts of Spain to re-
store peace In Cuba, the.steps taken by
this country, the condition of the suf-l
fering Cubans and the destruction Of
the battleship Maine. He says:
"The finding of the naval board of
inquiry established that the origin of
the explosion was external by sub
marine mine, and the board only halted
through lack of positive testimony to
ix the responsibility of its
authorship The President then
reviews the preparations begun
for the national defense though,
he still hoped peace might be preserved
In manner to terminate the chronic
conditions of disturbance in Cuba, but
"grived and disappointed at the barren
outcome of my sincere endeavors to
reach practicable solution, felt it
my duty to remit the whole question to
congress- He quotes his message of
April IL, and the memorable resolution
adopted nine days later as result Of
which the Spanish minister was order
ed by bis government to withdraw from
Washington, the Madrid government
regarding the act as equivalent to a
declaration af war.
After detailing the war measures
then taken the president then briefly
recites the salient features of the con-
fict that ensued. or Dewey's victory
at Manila on May he says:
Good Word for Dewey.
"The effect of this remarkable victory
upon the spirit of our people and upon
the fortunes of war was instant The
prestige of invincibility was thereby
attached to our arms which continued
throughot the struggle. Only reluc-
tsnce to cause the needless loss of life
and property prevented the early storm
ing and capture of Manila city and
geing there with absolute military &C.
cupancy of whole Philippine group.
The insurgents invested Manila from
the northern and eastern side but were
constrained by Admiral Dewey and
General Merritt from attempting an as
sault. Itwas fitting that whatever was
to be done In the way of decisive opera
tions in that quarter should be accom-
plished BY the strong arm of the United
States Alone"
Sampson and His Men
OF the naval engagement at Santiago,
July 3. he says: "Where all SO con-
spicuously distinguished themselves
from commodores to gnHners ana the
unnamed heroes in the boiler roems,
each and all contributing toward the
achievement of this astounding victory
for which neither ancient nor modern
history affords a parallel in the com
pleteness of the event and the marvel.
Gus disproportion Of casualties. it would
be invidious to single out any fer spe-
cial honor. Deserved promotion has
rewarded the more conspicuous actors
1.-The nations profoundest gratitude is
due all those brave men who By their
skill and devotion in few short hours
crushed the sea power of Spain and
wrought triumph whose decisiveness
and far-reaching effects can scarcely be
measured. Nor can we be unmindful
of The achievements of our builders
mechanics and artisans for their skill in
tbs construction Of our warships.
niles, ehaftar and merritt.
"The eapitulati0n Of Santiago followed
The individual vaIor of officers and
soldiers was never more strikingl,
shown than in the several engagement
leading 90 the surrender Of Eantiag.
willis tie prompt movement Of trsopl