Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-12-08

Oeut MCKINNEY, IN MS aH1ludl message
| to congress yesterday, said among
other thiHgs that, notwithstanding the
! added burdens rendered necessary by
| the war, our people rejoice in a very
satisfactory and steadily increasing
| degree OF prosperity as is evidenced by
the largest volume of business ever
! recorded. Manufacture has been pro-
ductive; agricultural pursuits have
yielded abundant returns; labor in the
! tleldS Of industry are better rewarded;
the revenue legislation passed by the
present congress increased the treas
ury's receipts to an amount estimated
/ by its authors; the finances Of the gov
eminent have been successfully adj
ministered and its credit has been adj
vanced to the first rank; while its cur
rency has been maintained at the
worlds highest standard. Military
/ service under a 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. A view of the relations of
the United States to other powers, al
ways appropriate, is this year of pri-
mary importance in view of the mo-
mentous issues which have arisen, de-
handing in one instance an ultimate
determination by arms and involving
far-reaching consequences which will
| require the earnest attention Of con-
gress. The president then speaks of
the paragraph in his last annual mes
sage in reference to our relations with
Spain and Cuba; to the futile efforts of
Spain to conquer the Island; to the
failure OF the autonomous government
! set up in the island; to the suffering
| OF the reconcentradoS and to the, evil
dent inability of Spain to end the war
successfully. The message next takes
up the destruction Of the Maine, which
aroused such indignation in the hearts
of the American people, and to the ap-
pointment ana work of the naval
BOARD of inquiry which established
that the origin of the explosion was
external by submarine mine and
only halted through positive testimony
to Xix the responsibility of it's author
ship" Continuing the message says
| these things convinced the most
thoughtful that a crisis in our relations
with Spain and towards Cuba was at
| hand and it needed but brief execu-
! tive session OF congress to receive an
immediate answer to the duty of max
lug instant provision for war and the
almost unique spectacle was pre-
scented of a unanimous vote OF both
houses on the 9th of March appropri-
ating $5O,00O,0OO for the National de-
Tense" The president declared that
this provision came none too soon as
our forts were practically undefended;
our navy needed large provision for
Increased ammunition and supplies
and even numbers to cope with any
sudden attack from the navy OF Spain
| which comprised modern vessels OF
the highest type of continental perfec-
/ ton; and the army also required en-
largement OF men and munitions. Re-
ferrrng congress TO the reports OF the
secretaries OF war and the navy for de-
| tails, the preSi.enG says: 1T is Sufh-
cient to say that the outbreak Of war
when it olu come found our nation not
uuprepared 60 meet the cOnnict." Ref-
erence is made 20 the apprehension OF
| coming strife felt by the continental
powers and voiced in an address to
/ the president through their ambasSa-
doris and ENJOYS, and to the preSl-
dents reply thereto. Still animated,
however, by the hope of peaceful So
luton OF the dit1culty and oDeylng the
dictates OF duty, the presloenl relaxed
no enort to bring about the speedy
enalng Of the CUBAN struggle. Nego-
tiations with the Madrid government
/ proved futile so far as practical re-
suits were concerned, and then it was
that the president presented the ques-
ton TO congress, saying: ln the name
OF humanity, in the name OF civlllza-
ton, in behalf OF endangered Amerl-
can interests which give us the right
and DUTY TO speak and act, the war in
Cuba must STOP" The result OF this
| statement of the case was the adoption
| of the memorable joint resolution by
congress declaring Fhe purpose OF the
united States TO intervene between
the SpaniardS and CuDanS. Following
swiftly upon the enactment OF this
resolution came the severance OF dip
| lomatic relations between the two
countries, the proclamation OF the
blockade of cuban ports, the call for
| volunteers anu the formal declaration
oI the existence or state OF war. All
other governments were Immediately
/ nouneu OF the existence OF war and
each proclaimed its neutrality. 1T is
not among the least gratifying Incl
dents OF the struggle that the obllga-
tions Of neutrality were lmpartlally
discharged by ALL says the president,
often under dellcate and difficult cir
cumstances.' The president reviewed
at length the work of preparation for
war, referring particularly to the en-
listment Of the volunteers, to the ma
terial increase in the navy in 10Th men
and ships and to the precautionary
measures taken for the protection OF
the seaboard aud coast cities. The
aggregate number of mines placed was
1885, at the principal harbors from
Maine to California.
Taking. up chronologically the events
Of the war the president reviews them
carefully. The first encounter was the
! Smelling of Matanzas April q. This
was followed by an engagement 'des-
tined to mark a memorable epoch in
maritime warfare, This was Comma