Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-01-05
IT'S RECORD MADE Up
EPlTONEof SPANISH MEXICAN MAR.

EPi1oH Il i SPANISH MEXICAN NAR.
Important Aetiens Of Congress- u
Great Year for Trade--An Ont.
line Of History Made In Many
Foreign Lands.
The year 1898 WIN always be one Of the
most memorable in the history of the
United States. It was the year of victory
IN war with foreign nation and the year
In which the republic ,relinquished Its iso-
lated position and entered upon its career
as world power. It is unnecessary to re-.
view in close detail the swiftly occurring
events OF the war with Spain, as they are
fresh In the memory Of every reader. 1t be-
gan IN the interests Of humanity and for
the protection Of American Interests; It
| mas closed with the extinguishment Of the
colonlal sovereignty of Spain and tee ex-
tension or the area Of the United States
bringing with it new duties and RESPONSE
ollltles. To-day the stars and stripes wave
over CUBA, Porto Rico, the Philippines and
Tue Ladrones. Looking at the struggle
prleny. war existed when the battlesnip
maine was blown up in Havana harbor.
feoruary 10. On the 9Th of March con-
saess voted unanimously and without de-
! o Dale aeIense fund of $50, 0,00G On the
2Oth OF April it passed a Joint resolution de-
manding that Spain relinquish its authority
a ..1ith government in the island of Cuba and
WaInoraW It's land and naval forces from
Cuba and Cuban waters: On the 25th of
April the president stated in his message
~ co eohslsss the causes Of war which con-
s sn 1,, aalready declared to have existed
since April II, and announced the severance
o. diplomatic relations with Spain. Events
now moved swiftly. April % congress
emharz tae e volunteer army bill and voted an
u the president called for 125.00O voli,n-
te M,s,t and nd April Spain declared war
NAV he s upena5l0ns actively ensued. They
destruction of the Spanish fleet at Manila
M gay l; destruction Of the Spanish fleet of
fn S1.'ago ,n July 3; surrender Of Santiago
On the 26th Of July Spain. throurh NJ
Cambon, the French ambassador, asked
| er elaboration the president replied. de-
m man the evacuation of Cuba, the cess
sion nd OF Porto Rico and one Of the Ladrones
to be settled by a joint commission. On the
18th Of August the protocol was signed and
nos ,lnae We're suspended September q
and s its
seven months and 10 days after the
declaration of war. Rarely has war been
than this. The treaty viii undoubtedly be
| ratified within few weeks and then this
country Will take its seat at the council
| pared to execute the new duties imposed
upon 1t. Rarely also has war been fought
with Wits 50 little comparative loss. No official
but the total casualties upon the American
side were as follows: Ofacers killed, 2s;
enlisted men killed, 257: total. $50: officers
! total. 1871. OF the navy: Killed, IL: wound
ed, 81; died of result Of wounds, 1; invalided
from service; 8: total. 81 Spain lost IS war
Oft the he war to the United States was about
S222 500, 900: to Spain, about 81. O75 OGO OOO We
nave gained 12O.11O square miles of territory
yet.
Work OF Congress-.
So much Of the time Of congress was
taken up by the discussions which preceded
the war and the legislation which it neces-
fol other subjects. OF >the war measures,
aside from the joint resolutions demanding
me NEE evacuation ae1 At OF Cuba, which We're fol-
were the war revenue law and the act for
the temporary increase Of the army. That
war revenue law, with its stamp taxes and
statute books for year at least. Under
that, law three area oo per en- cent. bonds to the
The other notable events in congress were
the annexation OF Hawaii and the enact
ment of bankruptcy law. The necessary
the ratification Of the treaty for the an an.
nexation of Hawaii. but after the war with
Spain began no difficulty was found in
islands 9 part Of the United states. The
bankruptcy act. which provides for both
voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy, is
1878. 1t will be In full force after this date.
The less important measures of the SEES
sion were the creation Of an industrial COM
manufacture and business: the prohibition
of the killing of fur seals in the North Pa
c!fic and the importation Of sealskins; the
enactment of an Alaskan homestead and
the RIGHT Of way to encourage the construc-
ton Of railroads, and the prohibition Of the
CARRYING Of merchandise, directly or indi-
elgn vessels. $500 30 - - ~
Great Year for Trade.
The development of American trade and
commerce conn during the last twelvemonth has
Of vse oE
exports in 1887 was s., 099, 714,0OO. Last year
it was 81 ,2oo, 0oo, 600. The silver exports viii
add ABOUT ABOUT ss 9 to that imposing total
1897. This was due partly to the heavy i'm.
portations In the last-named year in antici-
law. But aside from that the fact is an
self more and more of the goods it used
to buy abroad, and that the Importation Of
foreign manufactures must continue to de-
crease. The exports were so large last year
because the demand for American wheat
supplying over 50 per cent. Of the European
ropeans who began purchasing as American gI can
corn in 1897 found that it was a most de-
sirab bde commodity and kept on buying it
and because the newly-discovered ability
Of the American iron and steel manufacture
ers to undersell the rest of the world en-
again Of those metals and their products
last year as in the preceding year.
The supremacy Of the United States II.
is conceded now. The Americans have not
only beaten their English competitors in
neutral markets. like Australia, India and
and undersold the Englishmen at home.
getting contracts for iron pipe. to be laid
in English cities and steel rails for English
last year, but the indications are that it
will be even more prosperous in 1899. The
output of pig iron last wear was II 5O0 mn