The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-12

WASHINGTON, ID. c., April 1.-THE
President to-day sent the following mes
sage to the Congress Of the United
States:
Obedient TO that precept OF the consti-
tuition which commands the President to
give from time to time to the Congress.
information OF the state of the Union, and
90 recommend to their consideration such
measures as he shall judge necessary and
expedlenl II becomes my duty now to
address your body with regard te tho
grave q s.s ..a1t ms risen in the rela-
tions of the United States with Spain by
reason of the warfare which has for
more than three years ragged Ia the neigh
boring island Of Cuba.
| do SO because Of the Intimate connec-
tion OF the Cuban question with the States
Of our own Union and the grave relation
to our course which it IS now incumbent
upon the nation TO adopt must needs he
the traditional policy Of our government
il II IS to accord with the precepts laid
down by the founders OF the Republic and
relgiously observed by succeeding admin
istrations to ,he present day.
EFFECT OF REVOLUTIONS.
Tho present revolution Is but the sue
cessor OF other similar instructions
which have occurred in Cuba against the
dominion OF Spain. extending over pc
riod OF nearly half century, each of
which has subjected the United States to
great effort and expense in enforcing
It's neutrality lays, caused enormous
losses 10 American trade and commerce
caused irritation. annoyance and disturb
ance among our citizens and by the ex-
ercise OF cruel barbarous and civilized
practice OF warfare shocked the sensi-
biities and offended sympathies OF our
people.
PRESENT REVOLUTION.
Since the present revolution began In
February 1886 this country has seen the
fertile domain at our threshold ravaged
by fire and sword in the course OF n
struggle uncqualed IN the history OF the
island and rarely paralleled as TO the
number OF the combatants and the bitter
ness OF tho contest By any revolution or
modern times where "A dependent people
were striving for independence. oppressd
~ the power OF the sovereign state. our
people have beheld a once prosperous COM
munity reduced 20 comparatively want.
its lucrative commerce virtually paralyzed.
its exceptional productiveness diminished.
It's felds laid waste, its mills In ruins ana
It's people perishing by tens OF thousands
from hunger ana destiiution.
We have found ourselves constrained In
the observance OF that strict neutrality
which our laws enjoin and which the law
Of nations commands 20 police our own
waters and watch our own seapoIts in
prevention OF any unlawful action In aid
OF the Cubans.
Our trade has suffered: the capital in
vested BY our citizens I'm Cuba has been
largely lost and the temper and forbear-
ance OF our people have been So sorey
tried as 10 beget a perilous unrest anouE
our own citizens. which has ineytaoiy
found its expression from time 10 ums
in the National Legislature 20 that Is
sues wholly external to our body polite
engross attention and stand in the wav
OF that close devotion 20 domestic ad-
yancement that becomes self-contaia-
ed Commonwealth whose primal maxim
has been the avoidance OF all foreign en-
tangiements.
All this must needs awaken and has.
indeed. aroused the utmost concern on tns
part OF this government as well during
my predecessors term as In my own.
CLEVELAND'S EFFORTS.
In April, lsgb. the eNls Hom Nhich our
country suffered through tho Cuban war
became so onerous that my predecessor
made an effort TO bring about peace
through the mediation OF this government
i'm any way that might tend 10 an hon
orable adjustment OF the contest between
Spain and her revolted colony on the
basis OF some effective scheme OF self
government for Cuba under the nag and
sovereignty OF Spain. IL failed. through
the refusal OF the Spanish government
then I'm power 20 consider any form Of
mediation. or. indeed any plan OF settle
ment which did not begin with the actual
submission OF the Insurgents 10 the
mother country and then only on such
terms as Spain herself might sec NJ 10
grant.
The war continued unabated. Tho re-
slstance Of the insurgents was IN no.
CONTINUED on Sixth Pagsl