The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-12-09
CONGRESS
IN SESSION.
President Submits a Long
Message.
Tue WAR AND IT'S RESULTS
Occupy Nearly Half of the Document -
Construction of Nicaraguan Canal, In
crease of Army and Various Other
Recommendations Made.

The closing session of the Fifty
fifth Congress of the United States
was begun last Monday in Washing
ton. The opening day of the session
was characterized by scenes par
ticularly spectacular and brilliant,
but aside from the reading Of the |
long message of President MeKin-. !
ley, little business was done.
The message is one of the longest
and most tedious documents that
has ever emanated from the White
House, containing about 2l, 900 words
and filling about twenty columns OF
the average newspaper.
Nearly one half of the message is
| devoted to a review of the cOntro
versy leading up to the war with
Spain, the quick succession of events
which caused Spain to seek peace
and subsequent developments. Less
space is devoted to departmental af-
fairs than in any other annual mes
sage, with the single exception Of
the famous tariff message of Grover
! Cleveland.
In his review of the trouble with
Spain, the President says of the de-
struction of the battleship Maine:
1T is striking evidence OF the
poi5e and sturdy good sense distIn-
gushing our national character that
this shocking blow, falling upon a
generous people, already deeply
touched by preceding events in
Cuba, did not move them to an in
stant, desperate resolve to tolerate
| ~ lnnnnr tha axyistnnnn of nnnni-
tion of danger and disorder at our
doors that made possible such a
deed, by whomsOver wrought"
The first encounter was the she'll
ing of Matanzas, on April 24. This
was followed by an engagement
which was destined to make a
t memorable epoch in maritime war
fare This was Commodore Dew
ey's wonderful victory at Manila on
May |.
t The effect of this remarkable vic.
t tory" says the President, upon the
> spirit of our people and upon the
fortunes of the war, was instant. A
prestige of invincibllity thereby at
tached to our arms, which cOntin'
ued throughout the struggle"
!. The President says that "Only re
luctance to cause needless loss oi
life and property prevented the ear
: ly storming and capture of the city
C (Manila), and Herewith the abso
. lutte military occupancy OF tht
- whole group
Il The next act in the war thrilled
$ not alone the hearts of our country
8 men, but the world by it's eXcep
l. tional heroism. On the night o
June 3, Lieut.. Hobson, aided b,
the narrow outlet from Santiag
l. harbor sinking the collier Merrima,
ss in the channel, under fierce fir
from the shore batteries, escapin
20 with their lives as by miracle, bu
Ic falling into the hands Of the Spar
e iards. 1t is most gratifying inc
IA dent Of the war that the bravery {
this little band of heroes was col
'e daily appreciated by the SPANS
at Admiral
e. Concerning the complete destruC
r. tiOn of Admiral Cervera's fleet, tn
President says:
Where all 50 conspicuously dit
p tinguished themselves, from tn
n commanders to the gunners and tt
;, unnamed heroes in the bOiler-rOOm
each and all contributing towar
vi the achievement of this astOundin
re victory, for which neither anciel
n, nor modern history affords a pa
re allel in the completeness of I'll
event and the marvellous dispropo
ne tion of casualties, it would be invi
20 ious to single out for a speci
as honor"
ho Nor should we alone rememb
the gallantry of the living. III
as dead claim our tears, and our loss
by battles and by disease must cloI
any eXultation at the result an
no teach us the awful cost of war, hoy
ever rigntful the cause or signal &
ne victory"
to The President bears testimony al
IA he pays fitting tribute Ito the patti
ho otism and devotion of that lar
"0 portion Of our army which, althOuI
as eager to be ordered to the post
We greatest exposure, fortunately Y W
m not required outside of the Unit
ri States"
f, The military government esta
he lished in our new possessions W
en- be continued until Congress b
th legislated on the subject.
% The President trusts soon to
Va able to lay before the Senate de
mite treaty of peace, and defers l
til that time the discussion of
ga government of the new pOssessic
.od acquired by the war.