The leader., 1898-12-14
MESSAGE TO
LAWMAKERS
President M'Kinley Addresses
Congress on War and
Other Problems.
FOR MONETARY REFORMS

Increase of the Standing Army to
100000 Men and the Temporary
Continuance of Military Rule In
New Possessions Favored.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Son the converting
of congress today, President Mckinley
transmitted his annual message, which
follows:
To the Senate and House Of Representa-
tivesi
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-
ductive, 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
its credit advanced to the first rank, while
Its currency has been maintained at the
worlds highest standard.
MlllUdTN StTNlCb COLnlllOu nag
for a righteous cause has strengthened
the national spirit and served to cement
more closely than eyer the fraternal bonds
between every section of the country. A
review of the relations of the Clited
States to other powers, always appropri-
ate, is this year of primary Importance in
view of the momentous issues which have
arisen demanding in one instance the Ill
| dat IN of ion Inv mud iDvOly-
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 the government of the
United States towards Spain and the Gu
ban instruction as being by far 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 the extreme gravity of the situa-
ton.
Setting aside as logically unfounded or
practically advisable the recognition OF
the independence of Cuba, neutral inter
vention to end the war by imposing a ra,
ants, Intervention in favor of one or the
other party, and forcible annexation OF
the island, / concluded it was honestly
due to our friendly relations with Spain
that she shonld be given a reasonable
chance to realize her expectations of re-
form to which she had become irreyoca-
bly, committed.
The ensuing month brought little sign
of real progress toward the pacification
of Cuba. No tangible relief was afforded
the vast numbers of unhappy reconcen-
trados despite the reiterated professions
made in that regard and the amount APP
propriated by Spain to that end BY the
end of December the mortality among
them had frightfully increased. Consery-
alive estimates from Spanish sources
placed the deaths among these distressed
people at over 40 per cent from the time
General Weyler's decree of reconcentra-
ton was enforced
The war continued on the old 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
lion, as well as the present instruction
from its start. No alternative save phys
ical exhaustion of either combatant and
therewithal the practical ruin of the
island lay in sight, but how far distant no
one could venture to conjecture.
Blowing Up of the Maine.
At this juncture, on Feb. Is, last, oc-
Cured the destruction of the battleship
Maine. while rightfully lying in the har-
| Dor of Havana on a mission of interna-
tional courtesy and good villa catastro.
| nha the SngpirjOna and bprrnr of
which stirred the nations heart pro-
foundly. 1t is striking evidence of the
poise and sturdy good sense distinguish.
ing our national character that this shock
ing blow, falling upon our generous peo-
pie already deeply touched by preceding
events in Cuba, did not move them to an
| instant, desperate resolve to tolerate no
! longer the existence of condition of dam
| ger and disorder at our doors that made
| possible such deed by whomsoever
| wrought. Yet by instinct of Justice pa.
| thence prevailed and the nation anxiously
| awaited the result of the searching inves-
| tigation at once set on foot The finding
of the naval board of inquiry established
| that the origin of the explosion was ex.
| ternal by a submarine mine and only
halted through lack of positive testimony
to fix the responsibility of it's 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 it needed but brief executive
| suggestion to the 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 a unanimous
vote of both houses on March appropri.
ating $50, 600 for the national defense
and for each and every purpose connected
Herewith, to be expended at the discre-
ton of the president"
Still animated by the hope of peaceful
solution and obeying the dictates of duty.
no effort was spared to bring a speedy
ending of the Cuban struggle
Grieved 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.
The congress was asked to authorize and
empower the president to take measures
to secure full and final termination of
hostilities between Spain and the people
of Cuba.
After nine days of earnest elaboration,
during which the almost unanimous SEN
timent of your body was developed on
every point save as to the expediency of
coupling the proposed action with for
NAL recognition of the republic of Cuba
the true and lawful government of that
island-a proposition which failed of adop,
tion-the congress, on April 10, by a vote
OF AZ to 35 in the senate and 3ll to in the
house of representatives. passed the mem
orable joint resolution declaring the peo-
pie of Cuba free and independent, de-
handing that Spain at once relinquish
authority over the island and empowering
the president to use the entire land and
sea forces of the United States to that
end.
This resolution was approved by the