New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
4 REVIEW or THE OPERATIONS or
THE WAR WITH SPAIN.
INCREASES OF THE ARMY AND NAVY
URGED-THC COUNTRY CONGRATU.
LATED ON IT'S PROSPERITY AND
HIGH CREDIT-FOREIGN AND
DOMESTIC AFFAIRS

10 the senate ana house or representatives.
Notwithstanding the added burdens rendered
necessary by the war. people rejoice in
very satisfactory and steadily increasing degree
Of prosperity evidenced by the largest volume
OF business recorded. Manufacture has
been productive. agricultural pursuits have
yielded abundant returns. labor in all fields Of
industry is better rewarded revenue legislation
passed by the present Congress has increased
the Treasurys receipts TO the amount estimated
by its authors. the finances Of the Government
have been successfully administered. and its
credit advanced TO the first rank. while its cur
rency has been maintained at the worlds high
est standard. Military service under a common
flag and for a righteous has strengthened
the National spirit and served TO cement moro
closely than 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 importance. in view Of tho
momentous issues which have arisen. demand
ing in one instance the ultimate determination
by arms and involving far-reachlng conse-
quences which will require the earnest attention
Of the Congress.
In my last annual message very full consid-
Grafton was given TO the question Of the duty Of
the Government Of the United States toward
Spain and the Cuban insurrection as being by
ldl lHt HIOsl important pTODlem with Wnlcn We
have been called upon to deal. The considera-
tons then advanced and the exposition OF the
views therein expressed disclosed my sense OF
the extreme gravity OF the situation Setting
aside as logically unfounded or practically In
admissible the recognition Of the Cuban in
surgents as belligerents the recognition OF the
Independence of Cuba, neutral Intervention 70
end the war by imposing rational compromise
between the contestants, intervention in favor
Of one or the other party. and forcible annexa-
ton Of the island. | concluded it was honestly
due TO our friendly relations with Spain that
she should be given reasonable chance to real
ize her expectations Of reform to which she had
become rrevocably committed. Within a few
weeks previously she had announced compre-
hensive plans which it confidently asserted
would be efcacous 70 remedy the evils so deep
ly affecting our own country 50 Injurious to tho
true interests OF the mother country as well as to
those OF Cuba, and 50 reDugnant 70 the universal
sentiment Of humanity.
LITTLE PROGRESS IN AUTONOMY
me ensuing month brought little sign ot real
progress toward the pacGcation OF Cuba Tho
autonomous administrations set up in the cap
ital and some OF the principal cities appeared
not 70 gain the favor of the inhabitants nor 10
be able TO extend their influence 10 the large ex-
tent pA Nt4 N'iy HriN 'g t44c INSURGENTS, Wnlle
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 il. No tangible
relief afforded the vast numbers Of unhappy
reconcentrados. despite the reiterated protesta-
tons made in that regard and the amount ap-
propriated by Spain 10 that end The protessed
expeGlent Of zones Of cultivation proved usory.
indeed no less practical nor more delusve prom
ises Of succor could we'll have been rendered to
the exhausted and destitute people. stripped OF
all that made life and home dear and herded in
a strange region among unsympathetic stran-
gers hardly less necessitous than themselves.
BY the end Of December the mortality among
them had frightfully increased. Conservative
estimates from Spanish sources placed the
deaths among these distressed people AT over 40
per cent from the time General Weylers decree
Of RECOMMENDATION was enforced. With the
quiescence of the Spanish authorities a scheme
was adopted for relief by charitable contribu-
tions raised in this country and distributed un-
der the direction Of the Consul General and the
several Consuls by noble and earnest individual
effort throughout 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 continued on the old footing without
comprehensive plan, developing only the same
spasmodic encounters. barren OF strategic result.
that had marked the course OF the earlier ten
years rebellion as well as the present insurrec-
ton from its start No alternative save physical
exhaustion of either combatant and therewithaI
the practical ruin Of the island. lay in sight, but
how far distant no one could venture TO con-
lecture
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE.
occurred the destruction OF the battle ship
Maine while rightfully lying in the harbor OF
Havana on a mission Of international courtesy
and goodwill catastrophe the suspicious
nature and horror OF which stirred ths
Nations heart profoundly. II is strik-
ing evidence Of the poise and sturdy good
sense distinguishing our National charac-
ter that this shocking blow. falling upon
a generous people. already deeply touched by
preceding events in Cuba. did not move them to
an instant desperate resolve 10 tolerate no
longer the existence of condition Of danger and
disorder at our doors that made possible such a
deed by whomsoever wrought. Yet the instinct
of Justice prevailed. and the Nation anxiously
awaited the result Of the searching investiga-
ton at once set on foot. The finding OF the
Naval Board OF Inquiry established that the
origin OF the explosion was external. by sub
marine mine and only halted through lack OF
nositive testimony TO fix the responsibility OF its
authorship.
All these things carried conviction to the most
thoughtful. even before the finding OF the naval
court that a crisis in our relations with spain
and toward Cuba was 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 speedily prooanie
emergency OF war. and the remarkable. almost
unioue spectacle was presented OF unanimous
vote OF both houses on the 9th Of March. appro-
nr,a,inr Atty million dollars for the national
.,.so a,d for each and every purpose con-