The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-04-12

WASHINGTON, April 12.-The presi.
dent sent the following message to the
congress Of the United States:
Obedient to the precepts OF the conStitu.
ton which commands the president to
give from time to time to congress the in
formation of the state Of the Union. and
to recommend to their consideration such
measures a. he shall Judge necessary and
%expedient. it becomes my duty now to adj
Scess your body with regard TO the grave
)isis that has arisen in the relations Of
the United states to Spain by reason of
the warfare that for more than three years
has ragged i'll the neighboring island of
Cuba. ~ 50 because OF the intimate re-
lation of the Cuban question with the
state Of our own union. and the grave re-
lution the course which it IS now incum-
bent upon the nation TO adopt. must
needs bear TO the traditional policy OF Il
government ii it Is To accord with the pre-
ccptS laid down by the founders OF the re-
public and religiouslv observed by suc-
Cttuing administrations to the present
DAY.
Successor of other Revolutions.
The present revolution is the successor
OF other similar Instructions which have
occurred in Cub against the dominion OF
Spain. extending over a period OF nearly
half a century. each Of which during its
progress has subjected the nited states
to great effort aud expense in enforcing
its neutrality laws. caused enormous
losses 10 the American trade and COM
mtrce. caused irritation. annoyance and
disturbance among our citizens. and by
the exercise Of cruel. harbarou> II IN
civilized practices of warfare shocked the
scnsibilities and offended the humane
~svmpathies of our people.
since the present war began in Feb
ruary. 1875, this country has seen the fer
tile domain at our Threshold
Eavased by Fire and sword,
II the course of a struggle u~ncqualled in
the history of the island and rarely par
alleled as to the number OF the combat.
ants and the bitterness of the confess. by
any revolution OF modern times, where 4
dependent people, striving to be free, hay,
been opposed by the power OF the sover
eign state. Our people nave beheld Il once
prosperous community reduced to com
parative want, its virtually
paralyzed; it exceptional productivene>-
diminished: its fields laid waste; its mill,
in ruins and its people perishing by tens
OF thousands from hunger and do,titu'
ton. We have found ourselves con
strained in the Observance OF that strict
neutrality which u laws enjoin, and
which the law of nations command, tC
police our own waters and watch our
eaports in prevention Of any unlawfu'
act in aid Of the Cubans. our trade ha.
suffered; the capital invested by our citi
Zens in Cuba has been largely lost Il tht
temper and forbearance Of our people
have been so ,orely tried a, to beget Il
ieriious Unrest Among Our Citizens,
which has inevitably found It's cXpres-ic,
from time TO time in our national lcgis
laturc. 50 that issues wholly external t
Il * body polite engross attention
and stand in the way Of that close devo
ton 10 domestic advancement that be
comes a -~tlt-contcntcd commonwealth
whose primal maxim has been the avoid
ance Of all foreign acknowledgements. AL
this must needs awaken and has indeel
aroused the utmost concern on the par
OF this government 4, Well during III,
predecessors administration "a NY own