The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-12-07

Movement ondition of tho Treasury.
President McKinley's message was
submitted to Congress last Monday.
The war is carefully reviewed from be-
ginning to end and the president feels
grateful over the result. Our new
possessions and their future govern
~ ments, as well as the history of the
war are considered in the following
me ssage:
Washington, December 5.-The Pres
ident's message was sent TO Congress
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives:
Notwithstanding the added burdens
rendered necessary by the war our
people are in a very satisfactory and
steadily increasing degree of prosper
ity, evidenced by the largest vol
ume OF business ever recorded.
Manufacture has been produce
tive. agricultural pursuits have
yielded abundant returns. labor In all
fields of industry Is better rewarded,
revenue legislation passed by the pres
ent Congress has increased the treas-
ury's receipts to the amount estimated
by its authors; the finances of the gov
ernment have been successfully admin
istered and its credit advanced TO the
first rank; while its currency has been
maintained at the worlds highest
standard. Military service under
common flag and for a 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 review Of the relation of the
United States to other powers, always
al propriate, is this year of primary
Importance in view of the momentous
issues which have arisen, demanding
In one instance the ultimate determin-
alton by arms and involving far-reach
ing consequences which will inspire
the earnest attention of the Congress
In my last message very full consid-
Grafton was given to the question of
the government of the United States
toward Spain and the Cuban insurrec-
tion as being by far the most impor-
tant problem with which we were then
called upon to deal The considerations
then advanced, and the exposition of
the views therein expressed, disclosed
my seEse of the evtreme gravity of the
situation. Setting aside, as logically
unfounded or practically inadmissible,
the recognition of the Cuban insurg-
ents as belligerents. the recognition of
Cuba, neutral Intervention to end the
war by imposing a rational compro-
mise between the contestants, inter-
vention in favor of one or the other
party, and forcible annexation Of the
island-I concluded il was honestly due
to our friendly relations with Spain
that she should be given a reasonable
chance to realize her expectations of
reform to which she had become ire
vocably committed. Within afew weeks
previously she had announced compre-
hensive plans which II was confidently
asserted would be efficacious to reme-
dy the evils so deeply affecting our
country, so injurious to the true in
terests of the mother country as we'll
as to those of Cuba, and so repugnant
to the universal sentiment of human
ity
The ensuing month brought little
sign of real progress toward the pacit-
cation of Cuba. The autonomous adj
Ininistration set up IN the capital end
some of the principal cities appeared
not to gain the favor of the inhabitants
nor to be able to extend their influence
to the large extent of territory held by
the insurgents. while the military arm,
obviously unable to cope with the still
active rebellion, continued many Of the
most Objectionable and offensive poll
Cies of the government that had pre-
forded the vast numbers of unhappy
reconcentrados, despite the reiterated
professions made in that regard and
the amount appropriated by Spain to
that end. The proffered expedient OF
zores of cultivation proved illusory
indeed, no less practical nor more de-
luslve promises of succor could well
have been rendered to the exhausted
and destitute people, stripped Of all that
made life and home dear, and herded
I'm a strange region among unsympa-
thetic strangers hardly less necesstou:
than themselves.
MEETING A CRISIS.
BY the end of December the mortal
ity among them had frightfully in
creased. Conservative estimates from
Spanish sources placed the deaths
among these distressed people at over
10 per cent from the time Gen. Wey-
ler's decree of recommendation was en-
forced. With the acquiescence of tho
Spanish authorities a scheme was
adopted for relief by charitable contri.
buttons, raised in this country and dis
tributed, under the direction of the
consul general and the several consuls
by noble and earnest Individual effort
through the organized agencies of tht
American Red Cross. Thousands oi
sands more were inaccessible to such
forms Of aid.
The war continued on the old footing
without comprehensive plan, develop
ing only the same spasmodic encount
ers, barren of strategic result, that haC
marked the course Of the earlier ter
years rebellion as well as the presen
insurrection from its start. No altern
ative save physical exhaustion O
either combatant. and therewithal tn,
practical ruin Of the island, lay il
sight, but how far distant no one coult
venture to conjecture.
At this juncture on the 18th of Feb
ruary last, occurred the destruction o
the battleship Maine, White rightfull!
lying in the harbor of Havana on ;
mission of international courtesy ant
good villa catastrophe the suspicion
nature and horror of which stirred tn
nations heart profoundly. Ii is
striking evidence of the poise ant
sturdy good sense distinguishing ou
national character that this shocking
blow, falling upon a generous people
already deeply touched by preceding
events In Cuba, did not move them L