The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-06

Washington, D. c., Dec. 5.-The pres
idents message, sent to congress today,
Is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Represen- /
tatives:
Notwithstanding the added burdens
rendered necessary by the war, our
people rejoice in a very satisfactory
and steadily increasing degree of pros
perity, evfdenced by the largest vol
ume of business ever recorded. Every
manufacture has been productive, agri-
culture pursuits have yielded abundant
returns. labor in the fields Of industry
is better rewarded. revenue legislation
passed by the present congress mas in
creased the treasury's receipts to the
amount estimated by its authorities.
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. Military
service under a common nag and Tor q
righteous cause has strengthened the
national spirit and served TO cement
more closely than ever the fraternal
bonds between every section OF the
country.
4 review of the relation of the United
States TO other powers, always apDro-
pirate, is this year Of primary import
ance, in view of the momentous issues
which have risen, demanding in one in
stance the ultimate determination by
arms and involving far-reaching con-
sequences which viii require the ear
nest attention of the congress.
In my last annual message, very full
consideration was given to the ques-
tion of the duty OF the government of
the United States toward Spain and
the Cuba insurrection, as being by far
tie most important problem with
which we were called upon to deal. The I
considerations then advanced, and the /
exposition OF the views therein eX- !
pressed, disclosed my sense of the eX- |
treme gravity Of the situation. Set
ting aside, as logically unfOunded, or
practically inadmissible, the recogni-
/, ton Of the independence of Cuba, neu- !
trail Intervention to end the war by i'm
posing a rational compromise between (
the contestants, intervention in favor
of one or the other party and the for
cible annexation Of the island, / con-
cluded ii was honestly due to our
friendly relations with Spain that she
should he given a reasonable chance to
realize her expectations of reform to
which she had become irrevocably COM
mitted. Within a few weeks previous
" she had announced comprehensive
plans, which it was confidently asserted
would be eIicacious to remedy the evils
SO deeply affecting our own country,
as well as to those of Cuba, and so
repugnant to the universal sentiment
Of humanity.
CONDITIONS BECAME WORSE.
The ensuing months brought little
sign of real progress toward the Daci-
fication OF Cuba. The autonomous ad-
,4s,T
some Of the principal cities appeared
not TO gain the favor OF the inhabit-
ants nor to be able to extend their in
duence to the large extent Of territory
held by the insurgents, While the mill
tary arm, obviously unable to coDe
with the still active rebellion, continued
many of the most objectionable and Of
fensive policies of the government that
had preceded it. No tangible relief was
afforded the vast numbers of unhappy
reconcentrados, des1ite the reiterated
professions made in that regard, and
the amount appropriated by Spain TO
that end.
The proffered expedient of zones of
cultivation proved illusory; indeed. no
less practical nor more delusive prom
ises Of succor could well have been ten
dered to the exhausted and destitute
people, stripped of all that made life
Z and home dear and herded in a strange
y
harCIy less neceSsftous Unan 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 10 per cent
from the time General Weyler's de-
cree for the concentration of re-
concentrates was enforced. With
the acquiescence of the Spanish author
tiles, a scheme was adopted for relief
by charitable contributions raised in
this country and distributed under the
direction Of the consul general and the
several coaSulS. by noble and earnest
individual effort, through the organized
agencies Of the American Red Cross.
Thousands of lives were saved, but
many thousands more were inaccessible
TO such forms Of aid.
The war continued on the old footing
without comprehensive plan, develop
ing only the same spasmodic encoun-
ters, barren of strategic result, that
had marked the course OF the earlier
ten years rebellion, as well as the pres
ent insurrection of either combatant,
and therewithal the practical ruin of
the island lay in sight, but how far
distant no one could venture to con-
lecture.
DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE.
At this juncture on the 18th of Feb
rudry last, occurred the destruction OF
the battleship Maine, while rightfully
lying in the harbor Of Havana on u
mission of international courtesy and
goodwill, a catastrophe the suspicious
nature and horror of which stirred the
nations heart profoundly. 1t is a strik-
ing evidence of the poise and sturdy
good sense distinguishing our national
character that this shocking blow, fall
ing upon generous people, already
deeply touched by preceding events in
Cuba, did not move them to desperate
resolves to tolerate no longer the exist
ence os a condition Of danger and dis
order at our doors that made possible
sucn a deed, by whomsoeVer wrought. /
Yet the instinct of justice prevailed,
and the nation anxiously awaited the
result OF the searching investigation at
once set on foot. The finding of the
naval board of inquiry established that
the origin Of the explosion was external
by a submarine mine and only halted
through lack Of positive testimony to