Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-06
The MESSAGE.


To the Senate and House Of Representa-
tVes:
Notwithstanding the added burdens
rendered necessary by the war. our peo-
pie rejoice in a very satisfactory ana
steadily increasing degree of prosperity
evidenced by the largest volume OF busi-
ness ever recorded. Man!liaeturs nas
have yielded abundant returns. labor n
all fields of industry is better rewarded,
revenue legislation passed by the present
Congress has increased the treasury re-
ceipts to the amount estimated by its au-
thors; the finances of the government
have been successfully administered ana
its credit advanced to the first rank
while its currency has been maintained AT
the worlds highest standard. Military
service under "A common flag and Tor Il
righteous cause has strengthened the ma
tional spirit and served to cement more
closely than ever the fraternal bonds pc
tween every section of the country:
A review of the relation OF the Unitci
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 ultimate determlnatlon by arms ,ss,, ana
which will require the earnest attention
of the Congress.
In my last annual message. very full
consideration was given to the question
of the duty of the government of The
United States toward Spain and the Gu
ban insurrection as being by far the most
important problem with which we have
been called upon to deal. The consider
ations then advanced, and the exposition
of the views therein expressed, disclosed
my sense of the extreme gravity of the
situation. Setting aside, as logically I'M
founded or practically inadmissihle, the
recognition of the independence of
cuba. neutral intervention to end
the war by imposing rational COM
promise between the contestants. inter-
yention in favor Of one or the other party,
and forcible annexation of the island, l
concluded it was honestly due to our
should be given a reasonable chance to
realize her expectations of reform to
which she had become irrevocably COM
mitted Within a few weeks previously
she had announced comprehensive plans
which it was confidently asserted would
be efficacious to remedy the evils SO
deeply affecting our own country, so m
furious to the true interests of the
mother country, as we'll as to those of
Cuba and so repugnant to the universal
sentiment of humanity, The ensuing
month brought little sign of real progress
toward the real .pacification of Cuba.
The autonomous administrations set up
in the capital and some of the principal
cities appeared not to gain favor OF The
influence to the large extent OF territory
held by the insurgents. while the mill
tary arm, obviously. unable to cope with
the still active rebellion, continued many
of the most objectionable and offensive
policies of the government that had pre-
ceded it, No tangible relief was afforded
the vast, numbers of unhappy reeoncen-
trados, despite the reiterated protesta-
tons made in that regard and the
amount appropriated by Spain to that
end. The preferred expedient of zones
of cultivation proved illusory; indeed, no
less practical nor more delusive promises
of succor could we'll have been rendered
TO the exhausted and destitute people,
stripped OF all that. made life and home
md 1Ad
among unsympathetic strangers hardly
less necessitous than themselves.
By the end of December the mortality
among them had frightfuly increased.
Conservative estimates from Spanish
sources placed the deaths among these
distressed people at over 40 per cent;
from the time Gen. Weyler's decree of
concentration was forced. With the &C
quiescehce of the Spanish authorities
scheme was adopted for relief by charl-
table contributions raised in this country
ana distributed. under the directions of the
consul general and the several consulS, by
noble and earnest individual effort
throughout the organized agencies of the
American Red Cross. Thousands OF lives
were thus saved, but many thousands
more. were inaccessible to such forms OF
aid. sss
The war continued on the old footing
without comprehensive plan, developing
only the spas mOdic encounters, barren OF
result, that had marked the course of the
earlier 10 years rebellion as well as the
present instruction from its start. No
alternative save physical exhaustion OF
either combatant and there wthal the
practical ruin of the island, lay in sight,
but how far distant no one could venture
TO conjecture.
AT this juncture on the 18th OF F'ebru-
airy last. occurred the destruction of the
battleship Maine while rightfully lying
in the harbor of Havana on mission of
International courtesy and good villa
catastrophe the suspicious nature and
horror of which stirred the nation heart
profoundly. 1t is striking evidence OF
the poise and sturdy good sense distn
gushing our national character, that this
shocking blow. falling upon generous
people, already deeply touched by pre-
ceding events in Cuba, did not move them
to an instant desperate resolve to tolerate
no longer the existence of = condition OF
danger and disorder at our doors that
made possible such q deed, by whomso-
ever wrought. Yet the instinct of justice
prevailed and the nation anXiously await
ed the result of the searching investiga-
ton ut once set on foot. The findlng OF
the naval board of inquiry established
that the origin of the explosion was ex-
ternal, by submarine mine, and only
halted, through lack of positive testi-
mony, to fix the responsibility OF its au-
thorsnp.
All these things carried conviction to
the most thoughtful, even before the lind
ing of the naval court, that crisis ~
our relations with Spain and toward CUBA
was at hand So strong was this belief
that il needed but brief Executive Sug-
gestion to the Congress to receive lmme-
date answer to the duty of making m
slant provision for the possible ana per
haps speedily probable emergency of war
and the remarkable, almost unique. spec
tacle was presented of a unanimous vote
of both houses, on the 9th on March. APP
proprating $50, DOC. 900 for the national
defence and for each and every purpose
connected Herewith, to be expended al
the discretion of the President.
That this act of provision came none
too soon. was disclosed wh%n the appl-
cation OF the fund was undertaken. our
coasts We're practically undefended. ouT
navy needed large provision for increased
ammunition and supplies ard even num-
hers to cope with any sudden attack from
the navy of Spain, which comprised mou-
ern vessels of the highest type OF CONT
mental perfection. our army aiSo r.
quired enlargement of men ana mum
tons. The details of the hurried prepa-
ration for the dreaded contingency are
told in the reports OF the secretaries 81
war and of the navy and need not De re
peated here 1t is sufficient to say that
the outbreak of war when it dld come
found our nation not unprepared to meet
the conflict.
Nor was the apprehension of coming
strife confined TO our own country; II
was felt by the continental powers. which
on April g. through their ampasSaQots
and ENJOYS. addressed to the executive
and moderation might mark the course oil
this government and people, ana that
further negotiations would lead 70 an
maintenance of peace, would afIofa an
necessary guarantees for the re-estae-
)jSbmept Of order in Cuba In respond