Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-12-09
MESSAGE TO
LAWMAKERS
President M'Kinley Addresses
Congress on War and
Other Problems.
FOR MONETARY REFORMS

Increase OF the Standing Army TO
100000 Men aud the temporary
Continuance OF Military Rule In
New Possessions Favored.
s wAsHNGroy. Dec. 5.--On the converting
OF congress today, President Mckinley
transmitted his annual mcsslge, which
{. follows: -
To the Senate aud House OF Representa-
tives:
Notwithstanding the added burdens
rendered necessary by the war our people
rejoice in very satisfactory and steadily
increasing degree Of prosperity evidenced
by the greatest volume of business ever
recorded Manufacture has been pro-
ductivc, agricultural pursuits have
yielded abundant returns, labor In the
fields OF industry Is better rewarded. rev.
enue legislation passed by the present
congress has increased the treasury's re-
ceipts to the amount expected by Its au.
thors, the finances OF the government
have been successfully administered and
it's credit advanced to the first rank. while
its currency has been maintained mt the
worlds highest standard.
Military service under commo flag
for righteous cause has strengthened
the national spirit and served to cement
more closely than ever the fraterual bonds
between every section of the country. A
review OF the relations of the u. tied
States to other powers. always nppropri-
ate, Is this year OF primary Importance In
view OF the momentous issues which have
arisen, demanding In one instance the ul-
innate determination by arms and involv.
ing farreaching consequences which will
require the earnest attention OF the con-
gress
First steps In the War.
In my last annual message very full
consideration was given TO the question
OF the duty Of tho government of the
United States towards Spain and tho Gu
ban instruction ms being 10y far the most
important problem with which we were
then called upon TO deal The considera-
tions then advanced aud the exposition OF
the views therein expressed disclosed my
sense OF the extreme gravity OF the situa-
ton.
Setting aside as logically un'ounded or
practically advisable. tho recognition OF
the Independence OF Cuba neutral inter.
veniion TO end the war by imposing ara
tlonnl compounds between tire contest.
ants, Intervention In favor OF one or tho
other party, and forcibls annexation of
the island, concluded IL was honestly
due to our friendly relations with Spin
that she should be given reasonable
chance to realize her expectations OF re-
form To which she had become irrcv0ca.
bly, c, mmitted.
The easuing month brought little sign
OF real progress toward the paeillcaton
OF Cuba No tangible relief was afforded
the vast numbers OF unhappy reconccn-
TRADES despite the reiterated professions
made In that regard and the amount mp
propriated by Spain to that enl. Dy'tho
end CT December the mortality among
them hal frightfully increased. Conscrv'
alive estimates from Spanish sources
placed the deaths among thess distressed
people nj over ~ per cent from the timc
tion was enforced.
The war continued on the cid footing
without comprehensive plan, developing
only the same spasmodic encounters. bar,
rem OF strategic result that had marked
the course OF the earlier ten years rebel
lien, as well as the present instruction
from It's start. No alternative save phys.
zeal exhaustion Of either combatant aud
therewlthsl the practical ruin Of tho
island, lay ~ sight bnt how far distant no
enc could venture to con lecture. -a
II, Blowing Up Of the Maine.
At this jnnciure. en- Feb. i5 last, oc-
Cured the destruction OF the battleship
Maine. while rightfully lying in the har.
Dor or HAVANA on n mission OF intcrna.
tiounl courtesy anil good willis catastro.
phe the suspicious nature aud horror OF
which stirred the nations heart pro.
foundly. 1t il n striking evidences OF tho
poise and sturdy good sense distinguish
ing our national character that this shock
-lng blow, falling upon our generous peo-
pie already deeply-scuchsd by preceding
events In Cuba, did not move them to an
instant, desperate resolve 70 tolerate no
longer the existence OF condition OF dan,
ger and disorder nc our doors that made
possible such deed by whomsoevcr
wrought Yet by instinct OF justice pa
tience prevailed and the nation anxiously
awaited the result OF the searching invess
tigation nc once set on foot The finding
of the naval board of inquiry established
that the origin OF the explosion was ex-
tcrnal by submarine mine. and only
halted through lack OF positive testimony
TO fix the responsibility Of It's authorship.
All these things carried conviction to
tho most thoughtful. even before the
finding OF thcnaval court, that crisis In
our relations with Spain and toward
Cuba was at hand. So strong was this
belief that it needed but brief executive
, suggestion to tho congress to receive i'm
mediate answer TO the duty Of making In
slant provision for the possible and per
haps speedily probable emergency Of war.
and the remarkable almost unique.
spectacle was presented OF = unanimous
vote Of both houses on March appropri-
atina 80. ooo. 900 for the national dclonss
and for each and every purpose connected
Herewith, to be expended at the dfrcrc-
zion Of the uYesitlentu '..I|