The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-09
ANNUAL MESSAGE
Important Features of
the Presidents
Address.
OUR LATE WAR A FEATURE
No Suggestions Made Regarding the
Government of Our New Territories
Foreign Relations Generally Salts
factory-Hawaiian Annexation.

To the Senate and House of Representa-
tives: Notwithstanding the added burdens
rendered necessary by the war, our people
rejoice in very satisfactory and steadily
increasing degree of prosperity, evidenced
by the largest volume of business ever
recorded. Every manufacture has been
productive agricultural pursuits have
yielded abundant returns, labor in the
fields of industry is better rewarded, rev.
enue legislation passed by the present
congress has increased the treasury's re-
ceipts to the amount estimated by its
authors, the finances of the government
have been successfully administered and
its credit advanced to the first rank; while
it's currency has been maintained at the
worlds highest standard. Military serV-
ice under a common flag and for a
righteous cause has strengthened the
national spirit and served to cement more
closely than ever the fraternal bonds be-
tween every section of the country.
A review of the relations of the United
States to other powers, always approprl-
ate is this year of primary Importance,
in view of the momentouS issues Whlcn
have risen, demanding in one instance the
ultimate determination by arms and in
volving far-reaching consequences 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 tne
United States toward Spain and the Gu
ban insurrection, being by far the
most important problem with Whlch we
were called upon to deal. The consldera-
tions then advanced, and the exposition
of the views therein expressed, disclosed
my sense of the extreme gravity OIL the
situation.
Setting aside, as logically unfounded
or practically inadmissible, recosnl-
tion of the Cuban insurgents as peIleer
ents, recognition of the independence
of Cuba, neutral Intervention to END the
war by imposing a rational compromise
between the contestants, Intervention III
favor of one or the other party and the
forcfble annexation of the island, L con-
cluded 1t was honestly due to our friendly
relations with Spain that she should De
given a reasonable chance to realize her
expectations of reform to which she mad
become irrevocably committed.
Within a few weeks previously sne
had announced comprehensive plans
which 1t was confidently asserted would
be eff1cacious to remedy the evils so
deeply affecting our own country, SO IN
furious to the true Interests OF the
mother country, as well as to those OF
Cuba, and so repugnant to the universal
sentiment of humanity.
Destruction of the Maine.
At this juncture on the 18th of FebTu-
ary last occurred the destruction OF the
pa ttie-snip lMaine. While ,srik IA lL1sy iyihs
In the harbors of Havana on MISSION OF
International courtesy and good Will,
catastrophe the suspicious nature ano
horror of which stirred the nations heart
profoundly. It is a striking evidence OF
the poise and sturdy good sense o1stln-
gushing our national character tnat thls
shocking blow falling u<on a generous
people already deeply touched by pre-
ceding events in Cuba, did not move them
to desperate resolve to tolerate no longer
the existence of a condition of danger and
disorder at our doors that made possible
such 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 subma-
rine mine, and only halted, through lack
of positive testimony, to fix the response
bility of its authorship.