The state herald., 1898-12-09
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
FULL DISCUSSION OF NATIONAL
ISSUES.
A Careful Review of the Conflict with
Spain and It's CRuses-Urgca Withdraw
nj of Some Forms of Currcnoy-ASks
for Rn Increase In tho Army aud Navy.


gins as follows:
ITO the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives: Notwithstanding the add
ed burdens rendered necessary by the
war, our people rejoice In n very salts
factory and steadily increasing degree
of prosperity evidenced by the largest
volume of business ever recorded. Ev-
cry manufacture has been productive,
agriculturalpu pursuits yielded abun'
dant returns, revenue legislation passed
by the present Congress has In
creased the treasury receipts TO the
amount estimated by the authorities,
the finances of the government have
been successfully administered and Its
/ credit advanced TO the front rank, while
its currency has been maintained mt the
worlds highest standard. Military ser
vice under II common flag and for II
righteous cause has strengthened the
national spirit and served to cement
more closely than ever the fraternnl
bonds between every section of the
country. A review 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-
mcntous issues which have risen, de-
manding in one instance the ultimate
determination by arms and involving
far-reaching consequences which Will
require the earnest attention of the
Congress"
The President launches at once into
full recital of the events leading up
10 the war with Spain, and details at
some length the leading features of
the campaign.
Regarding the preparations for the
war he says:
our country thus, after an intervalof
half century of peace with all ma
tons, found itself engaged in deadly
conflict with Il foreign enemy. Every
nerve WAS strained TO meet the emery.
cncy. Fhc response 10 the initial call
for l25Ooo volunteers was instant and
complete, as was also the result OF the
second call OF May Tth for 1000 addi-
tlonal volunteers. The ranks Of the
regular army Were increased TO the
limits provided 10y the act Of April
%. The enlisted force OF the navy.
on the 18th nf August, when II reached
its maximum. numbered ~. .l2S men
and apprentices. one hundred and
three vessels were added to the navy
by purchase. one was presented To the
government, one leased and the four
vessels OF the International Navigation
Company, the 81. Paul. st. Louis. New
York and Paris. were chartered. In
addition 10 these the revenue cutters
and lighthouse tenders were turned
over 10 the Navy Department and be
came temporarily a part OF the auNil.
larry navy.
The maximum effective fighting
force Of the navy during the war Sepa.
rated Into classes was as follows:
-Four hattlcshipS OF the first class.
one ha;tlcshlp of the second class. two
armorcd cruisers. six coast defense
monitors, one armored ram. twelve
protected cruisers. eighteen Eunhlats,
one dynamite cruiser. eleven torpedo
boats. fourteen old vessels u the old
navy, including monitors. Auxiliary
navy: Auxiliary cruisers. tweuty-eishi
converted yachts, twenty-seyeu c,Nn-
vertcd tugs, nineteen converted collicrs.
four revenue cutters, four lighthouse
tenders and nineteen miscellaneous vt-s-
sells.
The national defense. under the
S50eNoop fund. was expended 10
large part by the army and navy. and
the objects for which Il was used are
fully shown In the representations ol
the several secretaries. II was
most timely appropriation. enabling
the government 10 strengthen its de
fensc and to make preparations great.
ly needed In ease Of war. This fund
being Inadequate 10 the requirements
of equipment and for the conduct of
the war. the patriotism Of Congress
provided the means In the war rrv,.-
nue act Of June by authorizing a z
per cent. popular loan not 10 exceed
sfn0 nnn,nno and by levyine additional
Imports and taxes. Of the authorized
loan s2nocn.ono wss offered and
promptly taken. the subscriptions 80
far exceeding the call as 10 cover II
many times over. while, preference b..
Ing given 10 the smaller bids. no sin.
Gle allotment exceeded 5000 This
was most encouraging and signlh.
cant result. showing the vast r,-
sources Of the nation and the deter.
mlnation OF the people 10 uphold their
cOuniry's honor"
Concerning the casualties of the war
the President says:
The total casualties In killed and
wounded In the army during the war
was as follows: Officers Killed. n:
enlisted men Killed, 25T: total. 80: OH
cen wounded. ii3: enlisted mon
wounded. i.4G4. total. 1877: Of the
navy. killed IL, wounded. GT: died a.
result ~ wounds. /. lnvalldcd from
service, d; total. gl.
1T will be- observed that while our
navy was engaged In two great bat.
ties aud In numerous pcrilous under.
tnkiugs In the hlockadcs and bonn.
hardmcnis. and more than SOeso Of
our troops were transported to distant
lands, and engaged In assault aud
siege and battle. and many skirmIshcs
In unfamiliar territory. we lost In both
arms OF the service total of l.GBS
Killed and wounded. and In the entire
campaign by land and sea we aid not
lose n gun or n nag. or transport or
a ship, anG with the exception of the
crew Of the Mcrrlmnc. mot soldier or
sailor was taken prisoner.
"on August Tth. forty.slx days from
the date OF the landing OF General
Shafier's army In Cuba. nnd twenty.
NhN $50 AAfAN Wv HNAANAffN VI FNAH
,ineo, the United States troops com.
mcnccd cmhnrkniiou FOR home, and
our entire force was returned 10 ,h.
United States ns early as August 2ith
/ They were absent from the United
staics only two months,
1t IL fitlng that should bear icsil.
mony 60 the patriotism and devotion
Of that large portion Of our army
which, although eager TO hc ordered
to the post ~ greatest exposure, foriu.
natcly was not required outside ~ the
United States. They iid their whole
duty, and, like their comrades ut the
front, have earned the gratitude of the
nation. In like manner. the officer.
and men ~ the army and " the navy
who remained In their departments
Hnd stations ~ the navy, performing
most important duties connected with