Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 December 1898 — PRESIDENTS MESSAGE [ARTICLE]

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

Sb'tte Scute ata Htate «f Rcswsrat*tiws: Fotwittadantaw the tadedl rendered necessary by the «r. o«r prop&e reWis X a eery satisfactory ata steadily facre-asiug degree' of pr««(»eri!ty evidenced >7 the Urges: volntne of ever retarded. Manufacture has tee* petalsflee, agricultural pursuits haw ywHdedi abundant returns. labor to the fields of tadustry is better reward'd- rercaae Segtotetion passed by tte presesst Cu.aKgress has tacreased the treasury's recesjes to the ■mount estimated i*y »I* a ! rs. the laances of tte Goveras»nt have keen aace«*sfully adtaaisiered, ata »t» credit tavanced to tte first rant been maintained at the awif» testest standard. Military sertW otaer a ■c»-0.-mon flag and far a tightens raxse has Strengthened the Miteaal sjar.t astel reread to cement more <-W»ely »ham ever the fraternal tends Itawran every «•'-=■ » « the country- A review «rs the retells of the United States to other r*»*TK aß«aj* appropriate, is this year of priwasy tance, ia view es the aa-wneasoEs. Which have arisen. tematatoc in -ae «- Stance the ultimate detem»a®at»-.» uy- t”* and involving far-reaching < •■<«*«*'*» which will require the earnest atteawa of the Congress. Failure of *■!««•’ i- Catwin my last annwal message very -« *«►. aidersti«n was given to the «i»esti , duty of the. troverntxeiui of the I nsutta States toward Spain and the On ’ -» jm-sar-rectior, as being by far the b*« imre-rtrat ’problem with which we w-roe the. <u2ed upon to deal I re.taltata it W»« Wxestfy due to our friendly wsth; Spans that she should te given a rea- nut|.oe chance to realize her evpertatiwxs of reform to which she had W.-oaae arrewaW cotnniitted. The ensuing in.wnth briomght Elite «gta irf. real progress toward tie patificati" m of Cuba by the aai«Bon*Bs ndssnsuissrati-w. No tangible relief was affvtaed tte vast ■umbers of unhappy tre-nreais*'--- 1 - ar-1 by th* end of Oeretoter the among them had frightfully _to -el-■<. With the acquiescenri of tte Sg'O'StisN authorities a wixtme » as ad-gdta for relief by charitable remitibutions rated -tn t-ims country. Thousands of Eves were Jtbns Saved, hut Ihc war rectisswd «■ tie «dd tooting witheat eotoptetenrive plan. No alternative save physical exha'nsn. a of either coTOhat-ant and ttere-witlhal tte practical ruin of the island lay to sag SoDeatroctien of the Water. At this juncture, *»* tte 15th off 1 ebnsarv la<t, occurred tte of the, battleship Maine, while rightfcilly lyias! tn the harbor of Havana—a the susj>i<-i«us nature ata terror «f whsrib stirred the nation's heart jcoffoutally. Yet the instinct of justice pri-vasSed and the nation anxiously awaited the resnslt *1 the searching investigation al oxco-set em f..«at. The finding of t he naval bsamd <rf aaqirity •st ablishcd that the oriipa off the exj>tes®*B was external by a tehmariae wriae. aa-i only halted throwigh lad off jwoatiwe testimony to fix the Tcsponsability of its atsßa<arship. All these things carried ownvartina t» the most tbc.nghtfal. even before the findings of the naval court, that a crisis ia sur relations with Spaia and l«.waind Cnsba was at hand. So strong was this beffirf that it needed bnl a. brief exeewtire saasggestion to the Crrngress t« iwv-jve riamediate answer to the duty of makuaig isisitaiat provision for the jawsaHe and perhaps speedily probable emergt <n<y off war. The detaiis of the hurried pSeywraric-a ff« the dreaded contingency is toM ata the t*p«>irts es the Secri'iarics of War aaadl ■eff the Navy, It i<-utfiei-ful to ssy that the M«stbreak of war. when it did <c<i®ae, fewsstd •ur nation not to meet the conflict.

Xet«'litiMß with Fpaiau Still snimatefl i.y tte tepees a peaceful •oluTb.-n an-1 ots-ying durtalrs of dety, «o effort w rvlaxta to bring epeeCy ctaitg of lite Outa® si«o±jtle- Negotiations to This object-voaatammta actively with the Go'x-rtateat of Spate, loakteff to the immediate remrimsic® «*f a tax months’ arefisji- in Cuba, with a view to effect tte recogniti. ■!> off tar peogde's right to indep<-n<i< iio<-. N-goi-u' :■«» esmttamed for soar little time at Madrii. tesmUlteff tn offers by the Spt-aite Govermunemt which rould »<.t Iran te 'regarded as inadequate. Griev-ed and disajj*»<mied at tkte barren outcome of my riawvtv etaearora to teach a practical swl'trtaoa. I ffe®t it sny duty to remit tte wteJe qmerttem to tteCongress. In tte iro-ssage es April 11. 1898. I reviewed tte* ahemative coarse of action which I had pr>p«ao4. •aainrliadteiE that the only one -censomamt with teternational policy aad cwnapatiMe with <omr firmnet historical traditic®* was a-alervemti..*® as a neutral to stop tte war ataxteefc tte hopeless »crifice of life. In view of aB this, tte Comgreta was nnked to authorize and etnpewer tte- President to take mea-suies to -secure a flail and final tennteatiem of tataihities between Spain at»d the people of Cata. ata to secure in the island tbe ertahlista&ewt «f a stable government. Concresw Declare* War.

The response es tte CWgtesa. after adne days of earnest dehteratiom. dating which tte alrourt nnaatetoas rewtiaaent es your body was dm-kptd «i evtrj ptent eave as to the expedScwcy es comySaff tte proposed action with a formal reemgniffion of the Reputdac of Cuba as tte tree ata lawful yoveraroeat of that island—a proposition which failed es adofKiwn—tte Congress, after comfetewce. April 191 by a vote of <2 te 35 to tte Senate ata 311 to I it tte House «f Representative®, passed tte memorable jteat restamitira. detdaring war. This resolutioa was approved by tte executive on the next day. April 301 A espy was at once < smmawiratta to tbe Hiaaiwh minister at thia capital, who forth with announced that taa rontianamee to Washington had ttetvlqr teirome ianpMffible. and asked ter h» passports, which were given him. He tbreecpoa withdrew toman Washington, leaving tte protection as Spaaish interests to tte United States to the French aanbaasador aad the Aanwtth ka esnsreanirattoa tn tte Slptxteffi ■riadater, Gen. Wetaftad, tte American ■Meter at Madrid, was ftlrgrephtd cvmffirreaftea es the text es tte jeiat remainWa -v ** - Sa ** - «■■■ ■■ <• CWMNBiOIIP U I® ffito Gareraaaewt es Spate, ariih tte ftermal deaaata that it at eace rvßtepaith it* anttarity ata twnaaW te the latata es Assisi aad withdraw tta fsreen Ihuifii—-

e-MtpXittg this demand with announcements of the intentions of this Government as to the future of the island, in conformity with the fourth clause of the resolution, and giving Spain until noon of April 23 t® reply. i; _ The demand, although, as above shown, officially made known to the Spanish envoy here, was not delivered at Madrid. After the instruction reached Gen. Woodford »n the morning of April 21. but before he rotxld present it. the Spanish minister of state notified him that upon the Presitient's approval of the joint resoltitioa the Madrid Government, regarding the act as to an evident declaration of war." had ordered its minister in Washington to withdraw; thereby breaking off diplomatic relations between the two evUtitries. and ceasing all official coßttmttßiention between their respective representatives. Gen. Vi'oodfnrd thereffijioa demanded his passports and quitted Madrid the same day. Sspaitt having thus denied rhe demand of the United States and initiated that eona-plete form of rupture of relations whieh attends a state, of war. the executive powers authorized by the resolution were at once used by hie to meet the enlarged contingency of actual war between Spam'aad the United States, April 22.1 pr»datm»"d a blockade of the northern eoast »f Cuba, ami on the 23d I called tot volunteers to execute the purpose of the rrisidsttio®. By my message of April 25 the Congress was informed of the situa■ti«>n. and I recommended formal declara- ■ tiwn of the existence of a state of war be- ' tween the United States and Spain. The Congress accordingly voted on the same day that act approved April 25. ISOB, deelatiag the existence of such war. from and tmduding the 21st day of April, and re-ernretetl the provision of the resolution off April 3X directing .'.the President to use aM the armed forces of the nation to carry that act into effect. Due notification of the existence of war as aforesaid was given April 25 by telesrapA to aB the governments with which I the United States maintains relations. In further fulfillment of international duty I issued zhpril 2d a proclamation anue iineing the treatment proposed to be aevurded to vessels ami their eargmis as • to bfexAnde. contraband, the exercise of I the right »f subjects and the immunity of uetstral flags and neutral goods under enemy's flag. A similar proclamation ! was made by the Spanish Government. Preparations for the AVar. Our country thus after an interval of : half a century of pence with all nations ; fo-tin.il itself engaged in deadly conflict with a foreign enemy. Every nerve was siraiiiieti to meet the emergency. The rw“sp..Q S eto the initial call for 125?**> voluntet'iry was instant and complete, as was also the n s-tlt of the- second call of May 25 for 75jOW> additional volunteers. The ranks of the regular .army were increases! ts> the limits provided by the act of April 2>*. The enlisted force of the navy ou the 15th of August, when it reached its maximum, ntmtltereil 24.123 men and apprentices. One htindred ami three vessels were added to the navy by purchase, one was presented to the Government, «Mie leased and the four vessels of the Interttational Navigation t'ornpany—the St. I l“aal. St. letnis. New York and Paris—were chartered. In addition to these the ne-rettite cutters and lighthouse tenders were- turned over to the Navy ItepartjnieEst and bci-ante temporarily a part of the auxiliary navy. . . Mm h alarm was felt along our entire Atlantic-seaboard lest some attack might be made by the enemy. Every prei-au-tiw® was taken to prevent possible injury , tn> our great cities lying along the coast, j The auxiliary navy patrolled the coast aod performed the duty of a second arm ®f defense. Under the direction of the chief of engineers submarine mines were placed at the most exposed points. The i aggregate xnmkr of mines placed was 1.535. at the principal harbors from Mane to CaEfonria. Th* Signal Corps was promptly organized and performed service of most diffienlt and important character. Its operatiens during the war covered the electrical connection of all coast fortifications, , the establishment of telephonic and telegraphic facilities for th«/camps at Manila, Santiago an tin Udrto Ri< < There were- evostructed 3tK> >ailes of line- at ten !■ great vamps, thus facilitating military Etsv.vv-n'ents from those points in a manner Wrotofore unknown in military administration. With a total force of over 1,300 I the bsss was. by disease in camp and fiel-I. oflicers and men included, only five. The natiwsal defense SSO,OOO.<riO fund was expended in large [girt by the army and navy, and the objects for which it was rased are fully shown in the reports of the- several secretaries. This fund, bctng ioadeqsate to the requirements of equipment and for the conduct of the ■ war. the patriotism es the Congress provided the means in the war revenue act ' of Jtsae 13 by authorizing a 3 per cent, popular loan not to exceed S4<H>.tMM),OOO, i aad by levying additional imposts and i taxes.

Salient Features of the M ar. I* is not within the province of this atesrac* to narrate the history of the ex-trai-xrdimary war that followed the Spaih ish deviaratien of April 21. but a brief recital of its more salient features Is appropriate. The first en<-onnter of the war to po«at of date took place April 27. when a detachaaent of the blockading squadron made a reconnaissance in force at Matanzos. shelled the harbor ami forts and de-no-dished several new works in constructiea. Tbe next engagement was destined to mark a memorable epoch in maritime warfare.. The Pacific fleet, under Commtaore George Ib-wey, had lain for some week* at Hong Kong. Upon the colonial proetemation of neutrality being issued the cnstomary twenty-four hours’ notice being giveti. it repaired to Mirs Bay, near Hong Kong, whence it proceeded to the Philippine Islands under telegraphed orders to capture or destroy tbe formidable Spanish fleet then assembled at Manito. At daybreak on the Ist of May the American force entered Manila Bay. ata after a few hours’ engagement effected the total destruction of the Spantsh Meet, consisting of ten warships and a traasport. besides capturing the naval station ata forts at Cavite, thus annihilatiaz tbe Spanish naval power in the Pacific Ocean and eompletely controlling the Bay of Manila, with the ability to take tte city at wilt. Not a life was lost on onr ships, the wounded only numbering seven, while not a vessel Was materially tojwivd. The effect of this rt-ni ark able victory npow the wparit of our people and upon the fortmes cf the War was instant. A practice of inrimfibility thereby attached to ocr arms, which continued throughout tte draggle. Re-enforcement* wwe hurried to Manila under the command of Major General Merritt and firmly established within sight of the capital, which lay kelpie— before our guns. Only relnctanee to cause needless loss «f life ata property prevented the early ■tomi—T ata rapture of th* city, and

therewith the absolute military occupancy of the whole group. The insurgents meanwhile had resumed the active hostilities suspended by the uncompleted truce of December, 1897. Their forces invested i Manila from the northern and eastern i side, but were constrained by Admiral ’ Dewey and General Merritt from attempting an assault. It was fitting that whatever was to be done in the way of decisive operations in that quarter should ■ be accomplished by the strong arm of the United States alone. Following the comprehensive scheme of general attack, powerful forces were assembled at various points on our coast to invade Cuba and Porto Rico. Meanwhile naval demonstrations were made at several exposed points. May 11 the cruiser Wilmington and torpedo boat Winslow were unsuccessful in an attempt to Nilence the batteries at Cardenas and Alatanzas. Worth, Bagley and four seamen falling. Meanwhile the Spanish naval preparations had been pushed with great vigor. A powerful squadron under Admiral Cervi ra. which had assembled at the Cape Verde Islands before the outbreak of hostilities, had crossed and by its erratic movements in the Caribbean Sen delayed our military operations while baffling the pursuit of our fleets. Not until Admiral Cervera took refuge in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba about May 9 was it practicable to plan a systematic military attack upon the Antillean possessions of Spain. Several demonstrations occurred on the coast of Cuba and Porto Rico in preparation for the larger event. On May 13 the North Atlanic squadron shelled San Juan <le Porto Rico. On May 30 Commodore Schley’s squadron bombarded the forts guarding the mouth of Santiago harbor. Neither attack had any material result. Hobson’s Paring Act. The next act in the war thrilled not alone the hearts of our countrymen, but the world, by its exceptional heroism. On the night of June 3 Lieutenant Hobson, aided by seven devoted volunteers, blocked the narrow outlet from Santiago harbor by sinking the collier Merrimac in the channel, under a tierce fire from the shore batterie-s. escaping with their lives as by a miracle, but falling into the hands of the Spaniards. They, were subsequently exchanged July 7. By June 7 the cutting of the last Cuban cable isolated the island. Thereafter the invasion was vigorously prosecuted. On June 10, under a heavy protecting fire, a landing of 00 marines from the Oregon, Marblehead and Yankee, was effected in Guantanamo Bay. where it had been determined to establish a naval station. Thus important and esesntial port was taken from the enemy after severe fighting by the marines, who were the first organized force of the United States to land in Cuba. The position so won was held despite desperate atempts to dislodge our forces. By June 111 additional forces were landed and strongly intrenched. On June 22. the advance of the invading army under Major General Shafter landed at Baiquiri, about fifteen miles east of Santiago. This was accomplished under great difficulties, but with marvelous dispatch. On June 23 the movement against Santiago was begun. On the 24th the first serious engagement took place, in which the First and Tenth arid the First United States Volunteer Cavalry. General Young’s brigade of General AVheeler’s division, participated, losing heavily. By nightfall, however, ground within five miles of Santiago was won. The advantage was steadily, increased. On Jaily 1 a severe battle took place, our forces gaining the outwork of Santiago; on the 2d El Caney and San Juan were taken after a desperate idiarge, and the investment of the city was completed. The navy co-operated,by shelling the town and coast forts. Itestruction of Cervcra’s Fleet. On the day following this brilliant achievement of our land forces, July 3, iH-eurred the decisive naval combat of the war. The Spanish fleet, attempting to leave the harbor, was met by the American squadron, under command of Commodore Sampson. In less than three hours all the Spanish ships were destroyed, the two torpedo boats being sunk and the Maria Teresa, Almirante Oquendo, Vizcaya and Cristobal Colon driven ashore. The Spanish admiral and over thirteen hundred men were taken prisoners, while the enemy’s loss of life was deplorably large, some 6(X) perishing. On our side but one man was killed, on the Brooklyn, and one man seriously wounded. Although our ships were repeatedly struck, not one was seriously injured. Where all so conspicuously distinguished themselves, from the commanders to the gunners and the unnamed heroes in the boiler-rooms, each and all contributing toward the achievement of this astounding victory, for which neither ancient nor modern history affords a parallel in the completeness of the event and the marvelous disproportion of casualties, it would be invidious to single out any for especial honor. Deserved promotion has rewarded the more conspicuous actors — the nation’s profoundest gratitude is due to all of those brave men who by their skill and devotion in a few short hours crushed the sea power of Spain and wrought a triumph whose decisiveness and far-reaching consequences can scarcely be metumred. Nor can we be unmindful of the achievements of our builders, mechanics and artisans for their skill in the construction of our warships. With the catastrophe of Santiago Spain’s effort upon the ocean virtually < eased. A spasmodic effort toward the end of June to send her Mediterranean fleet under Admiral Camara to relieve Manila was abandoned, the expedition being recalled after it had passed through the Suez Canal. Capitulation of Santiago. The capitulation of Santiago followed. The city was closely U sieged by land, while the entrance of our ships into the harbor cut off all relief on that side. After a truce to allow of the removal of non-combatants, protracted negotiations continued from July 3 until July 15, when, under menace of immediate assault, the preliminaries of surrender were agreed uwn. On the 17th General Shafter occupied the city. The capitulation I'inbraced inc entire'Eastern end of Cuba. The number of Spanish soldiers surrendered was 22,000, all of whom were subsequently conveyed to Spain at the charge of the United States. The story of this successful campaign is told in the report of the Secretary of War, which will be laid before you. The individual valor of officers and soldiers was never more strikingly shown than in the several engagements leading to the surrender of Santiago, while the prompt movements and successive victories won instant and universal applause. To those who gained this complete triumph. which established tlhe ascendency of the United States u[>on land, as the fight off Santiago had fixed our supremacy on the seas, the earnest and lasting gratitude of the nation is unsparingly due. Nor should we alone remember the gallantry of the living; the dead cfaim our tears, and our losses by battle and disease must cloud any exultation ait the result and teach us to weigh the awful cost of war, however rightful the cause or signal the victory. Occupation of Porto Rico. With the fall of Santiago, the occupation of Porto Rico became the next strategic necessity. General Miles had previously been assigned to organize an expedition for that purpose. Fortunately, he was already at Santiago, where he had arrived the 11th of July, with re-enforce-ments for General Shafter’s ariny. With these troops, consisting of 3,415 infantry and artillery, two companies of engineers

'and one company of the signal corps, General Miles left Guantanamo July 21, having nine transports convoyed by the fleet under Captain Higginson, with the Massachusetts (flagsfliip), Dixie, Gloucester, Columbia and Yale, the two latter tarrying troops. The expedition landed nt Guanica July 25, which port was entered with little opposition. The Major General commanding was subsequently re-enforced by General Schwann’s brigade of the Third Army Corps, by General Wilson, with a part of his division, and also by General Brooke, with a part of his corps, numbering in all 1G,973 officers and men. July 27 he entered Ponce, one of the most important ports of the island, from which he thereafter directed operations for the capture of the island. With the exception of encounters with the enemy at Guayama, Hcrmigueres, Coamo and Yauco, and an attack on a force landed at Cape Sail Juan, there was no serious resistance. The campaign was prosecuted with great vigor, and by the 12th of August much of the island was in our possession, and the acquisition of the remainder was only a matter of a short time. • The last scene of the war was enacted at Manila, its starting place. Aug. 15, after a brief assault upon the works by the land forces, in which the squadron assisted, the capital surrendered unconditionally. 1 The casualties were comparatively few. By" this conquest of the Philippine Islands, virtually accomplished when the Spanish capacity for resistance was destroyed by Admiral Dewey’s victory of the Ist of May, victory was formally sealed. To General Merritt, his officers and men, for their uncomplaining and devoted services, for their gallantry in action, the nation is sincerely grateful. Their long voyage was made with singular success. and the soldierly conduct of the men, most of whom were without previous experience in the military service, deserves unmeasured praise.

Total Casualties of the War. The total casualties in killed and wounded in the army during the war was as follows: Officers killed, 23; enlisted men killed, 257; total, 280; officers wounded, 113; enlisted men wounded, 1,464; total, 1,577. Of the navy: Killed. *l7; wounded, 67; died as result of wounds, 1; invalided from service, 6; total, 91. It will be observed that while our navy was engaged in two great battles and in numerous perilous undertakings in blockades and bombardment, and more than fifty thousand of our troops were transported to distant lands and engaged in assault and siege and battle and many skirmishes in unfamiliar territory, we lost in both arms of the service a total of I.6GS killed and wounded; and in the entire campaign by land and sea we did not lose a gun or a flag or a transport ship, and with the exception of the crew of the Merrimac not a soldier or sailor was taken prisoner. Aug. 7. forty-six days from the date of the landing of General Shafter’s army in Cuba, and twenty-one days from tlie surrender of Santiago, the United States troops commenced embarkation for home, and our entire force was returned to the United States as early as Aug. 24. They were absent from the United States only two months.

It is fitting that I should bear testimony to the patriotism and devotion of that large portion of our army which, although eager to be ordered to tlhe post of great eet exposure, was not required outside of the United States. They did their whole duty and earned the gratitude of the nation. It is my regret that there seems to be no provision for their suitable rei'ognition. In this connection it is a pleasure for me to mention in terms of cordial appreciation the timely and useful work of the American National Red Cross, both in relief measures preparatory to the campaigns, in sanitary assistance at several of the camps of assemblage, and later, under the able and experienced leadership of the President of the society. Miss Clara Barton, on the fields of battle and in the hospitals at the front in Culm. In tracing these events we are constantly reminded of our obligations to the Divine Master for His watchful care over us and His safe guidance, for which the nation makes reverent acknowledgment and offers humble prayer for the continuance of His favor. Tire annihilation of Admiral Oervera's fleet, followed by the capitulation of Santiago, having brought to the Spanish Government a realizing sense of the hopelessness of continuing a struggle now becoming wholly unequal, it made overtures of peace through the French ambassador. On the 26th of July M. Cambon presented a communication signed by the Duke of Almodovar, the Spanish minister of state, inviting the United States to state the terms upon which it would be willing to make peace. July 30 the terms of this government were announced, substantially as in the protocol afterward signed. Aug. 10 the Spanish reply, dated Aug. 7, was handed by M. Cambon to the Secretary of State. It accepted unconditionally the terms imposed as to Cuba, Porto Rico and an island of the Ladrones group, but appeared to seek to introduce inadmissible reservations in regard to our demand as to the Philippines. Signing; of the Protocol.

Conceiving that discussion on this point could neither be practicable nor profitable, I directed that in order to avoid misunderstanding the matter should be forthwith closed by proposing the embodiment in a formal protocol of the terms in w'hich the negotiations for peace were to be undertaken. The vague and inexplicit suggestions of the Spanish note could not be accepted, the only reply being to present as a virtual ultimatum a draft of the protocol embaying the precise terms tendered to Spain in our note of July 30, with added stipulations of detail as to tbe appointment of commissioners to arrange for the evacuation of the Spanish Antilles. On the afternoon of Aug. 12 M. Cambon, as the plenipotentiary of Spain, and the Secretary of State, as the plenipotentiary of the United States, signed a protocol. Immediately npon the conclusion of the protocol I Issued a proclamation on Aug. 12, suspending hostilities on the part of th? United States, Aug. 18 the muster out of 100,000 volunteers, or as near that number as was found to be practicable, was ordered, Dec. 1,101,165 officers ana men had been mustered ont and discharged from the service; 9,002 more will be niusteired out by the 10th of the month. The military committees to superintend the evacuation of Cuba, Porto Rico and the adjacent islands were forthwith appointed. For Cuba, Major General Jas. F. Wade, Rear Admiral William T. Sampson and Major General Matthew C. Butler; for Porto Rico, Major General John C. Brooke, Rear Admiral Winfield S/ Schley and Brigadier General George W. Gordon, who soon afterward met the Spanish commissioners at Havana and San Juan respectively. The Porto Rican joint commission speedily accomplished its task, and by Oct. 18 the evacuation of the island was completed. The United State* flag was raised over the island at noon on that day. The administration of its affairs has been provisionally intrusted to a military governor until the Congress shall otherwise provide. The Cuban joint high commission has not yet terminated its labors. Owing to the difficulties in the way of removing th? large numbers of Spanish troops stul in Cuba, the evacuation cannot be completed before the Irftof January. Pursuant to the fifth article of the protocol, I appointed William R. Day, lately Secretary of State; Cushman K. Davis, William P. Frye and George Gray, Senators of th* United States, and Whitelaw

Reid to be the peace commissioners «■ the part of the United States. Proceeding in due season "to Paris, they there met on the Ist of October five commisrioßers similarly appointed by Spain. The negotiations have made hopeful progress, so that I trust soon to be able to lay a definite treaty of peace before the Senate, with a review of the steps leading to its signature. 1 do not discuss at this time the government or the future of the new possessions which will come to us as the result of the war with Spain. Until the Congress has legislated otherwise, it will be my duty to continue the military governments which have existed since our occupation and government of the people, security in life and property, and encouragement under a just and beneficent rule. As soon as we are in [xissession of Cuba and have pacified the island, it will bo necessary to give aid and direction to its people to form a government for themselves. This should be undertaken at the earliest moment consistent with safety and assured success. Until there is complete tranquillity in the island and a stable government inaugurated military occupation will be continued.

Relations with Other Countries. With the exception of the rupture with Spain, the intercourse of the United States with the great family of nations has betrn marked with cordiality and the close of the eventful year finds most of the issues that necessarily arise in the complex relations of sovereign states adjusted or presenting no serious obstacle to a just and honorable solution by amicable agreement. A long unsettled dispute as to the extended boundary between the Argentine Republic and Chili assumed an acute stage in the early part of the year, and afforded to this government occasion to express the hope that the resort to arbitration. already contemplated by existing conventions between the parties, might prevail despite the grave difficulties arising in its application. lam happy to say that arrangements to this end have been perfected. 1 have found occasion to approach the Argentine Government with a view to removing differences of rate charges imposed upon the cables of an American corporation in the transmission lietween Buenos Ayres and the cities of Uruguay and Brazil of through messages passings from and to the United States. Although the matter is complicated by exclusive concessions by Uruguay and Brazil to foreign companies, there is strong hope thata goodunderstanding will lie reached. In this relation I may be permitted to express my sense of the fitness of an international agreement whereby rhe interchange of messages over connecting cables may be regulated on a fair basis of uniformity. The sympathy of the American people has justly been offered to the ruler and the people of Austria-Hungary by reason o,f the affliction that has lately befallen them in the assassination of the Em-press-Queen of that historic realm. The Lattimer Affair. On the 10th of September, 1897, a conflict took place at Lattimer, Pa., between a body of striking miners and the sheriff of Luzerne County and his deputies, in which twenty-two miners were killed and forty-four wounded, of whom ten of the killed and twelve of the wounded were Austrian and Hungarian subjects. This deplorable event naturally aroused the solicitude of the Austro Hungarian Government, which, on the assumption that the killing and wounding involved the unjustifiable misuse of authority, claimed reparation for the sufferers. Apart from the searching investigation and the peremptory action of the authorities of Pentwylvania, the Federal Executive took appropriate steps to learn the merits of the case, in order to be in a position to meet the urgent complaint of a friendly power. The sheriff and his deputies, haring been indicted for murder, were tried and acquitted after protracted proceedings. A representative of the department of justice attended the trials and reported its course fully. With all the facte in Rs possession, this Government expects to reach a harmonious und<«'standing on the subject with that of Austria-Hungary. Despite the brief time allotted for preparation, the exhibits of this country at the Universal Exposition' at Brussels in 1897 enjoyed the singular distinction of a larger proportion of awards, having regard to the number and classes of arncles entered, than those of other countries. Hardly a year passes that this Government is not invited to national parficipation at some imi»ortant foreign cearter, but often on too short notice to permit of recourse to Congress for the power and means to do so. My predecessors have suggested the advisability of providing by a general enactment and a standing appropriarion for accepting sm-h invitations and for representation of this country by a commission. This plan has my cordial approval. I trust the Belgian restriction on the importations of cattle from the United States, originally adopted as a sanitary precaution, will at an early date be satisfied as to their present and future of hardship and discrimination so as to admit live cattle under due regulation of their slaughter after landing. I am hopeful, too, of a favorable change in rhe Belgian treatment of our preserved and salted meats. The .year’s events in Central Aonarica deserve more than passing mention. A menacing rupture Iwtween Costa ffiica and Nicaragua was happily cemposea by the signature of a conventiom between the parties, with the concurrence offlhe Guatemalan representative as a mwiator, the act being negotiated and on board the United States steamer Alert, then lying in Central American waters.

United States of Central America In my last annual message tte situation was presented with respect to the diplomatic representation of this Government tn Cenfral America, created by the assoctltSom of Nicaragua, Honduras and Salvador Trader the title of the Greater Republic of OtoiaJ America, and the delegation of their internal functions to the diet thereof. While the representative character of the diet was recognized by my predecessor and has been confirmed during my administration by receiving its accredited envoy find grafiftfig exequaturs to consuls commissioned under its authority, that recognition was qualified by the distinct understanding that tte responsibility of each of the competent sovereign republics toward the United States remained wholly unaffected. A convention «f delegates framed for them a federal comstltqtion under the name of the United States of Central America and provided for a central federal government and legislature. Upon ratification by the constituent States, the Ist of November last was fixed for the new system to go into operation. Within a few weeks thereafter the plan was severely tested by revolutionary movements arising, with a consequent demand for unity of action on the part of the military power ®f the Federal States to suppress them. Under this strain the new union seems to have bee* weakened through the withdrawal of its more important members. Nicaraana Canal Commission. The Nicaragua Canal Commission, under the championship of Rear Admiral John <A Walker, has nearly completed its lAora, and the results of its exhaustive inquiry Into the proper route, the feasibility and the bost of construction of an interoceanic canal by a Nicaraguan route will be laid before jta. The Government of Nicaragua as one bf its last sovereign acta before merging jjs powers In those of the newly formed UMtM States of Central America has optional, concession to another assailwm. to become effective on the expiration of the present grant. These circumstances suggest the urgency of some definite action by tte Congress at thia session if the labors of tte past are to be utilized and the Uniting Of

~• —-' t . •> y tte Attaaffieate Itarftfie Orens W a gna> tical waterway ia to he leudfißci. A eaavewtin 'in iHi i< ffir toe zeeftal aC toe late Uaitea States aa* Odffiaa rfsina ewnaitetoa ate toe rsaul ire ilia at efatea. wliieh were teSy fsn-wate* to toe tate caasmWon tat wet essteMtseA, eras ricmfA May i!4. 181*7, ata tas rezmiiaita assaitffieA ayea ta the Senate. Tte tens it toreros fixe! for ef-fei-ting toe ef rattetaHtato tavtas elapstA, tor easreMjsa taota anlieea toe tinse be extfctaeA by amratarM. ateto I » hh deavoriitg to bring abert, wrilto toe fife tally coiicnrrence es ttoe Ctoilliiaa GeveraoseniE. American latereste te tee Orieta. The Ftoitta States toss aeS heea aa Btalffermii tpeeratw es toe exszawiitaazy eveata transpiring in ttoe Chtoese esuyme, wtaeete IKirtHum of its maritiijße jaiortiiM-es are yaaaing under ttoe eooiitrrt .off naurwuna Eaarwyeaa powers; tat ttoe yrjugexx toat ttoe vast cant-J inreee witx-li ttoe emregy es war eittisesa ata toe necessity off «nr rtajOe yttaaetdiMH far Chinese eses has teuilh <uy to ntosse isgjiwn* may not toe prejnCiota tairwugSi ansy eseteslve treattßesn by it toe mew ..•otispmto tons obvlatta toe <of emr teomittiy beeMtan< an actor in ttoe eceme. In this relatioa 1 refer te the ejaumanifeation addressed tie ttoe Stpeaiber es toe Hiosse of ILej J'esrwintives by toe Secwtouiy ta tribe Treasury toe Mto eff tost Junse. tetsmmending an apyrajH-jnsatu for a «iKmsata&Nß to study ibe «?. nuuencuai m>4 totertrtal «m----diri.uis in the Chinese ronyiire ata rogust as to toe oyp«>,"t.uiut3«* for ant'd to the et'Lirgemen.t of mutikeis to China tor tlhe raw products and anaaniitocMiines <rf tee ratted Slates. I ewrtiaa'iy ua-ge tttoatt the twgimlueiidatlwu reorere at your hattas ttoe <N«sidrrat kru whjci Its iiuysOTanoe and ninmffiness merit.

Meanwhile, there may He jatKt gtroaml for disquietude in view ttoe lenir.rstt anta nreival of the old seul-lmeait -of atta jinej®diee to alien people wtoieli tprarratdies e««ute of the Chinese jencvimees. As to ttoe ease ®f the atiaeis aya «ur •riittretns to Scwtotaaa and at Kttfln to -he Uorntta Sttotea minister lias been in-wrntata tt* switwme ttoe fullest mea-sone -elf yrotetfliita. tatto toeall ata imperial, for any ntenaoed Amectou to*«rests, and to Aemam*. to case at Itawtosm Bajury to person -or firqpmy. iinsaaiaa ireipirati. u appropriate to She "case. ParticipatuM is the Pans ExyasatieK. There is a»«>w -every jsrtug»eett ttat Otoe piarticipatioii off the Faßita States to tthe ntaversai exposition to 4>e toelid to Paris to IMO will be on a scale commetn-ninatne with the advanced posilien held by .our peuadturts ata industries in tee world's vihoeff mourttat Ry a provision to tee sundry rivß nypoiflctottoa art of July J, ISSth. a sum met s» exseta f(wo,itK» was allot tod far the .argstotoatiinii es a commission to vatre ffw the ycwiper yreyaratioa and ins:a!Lati'«u -off Annrracan: exhibits. wild far tee fffcjday .off suEEabOe exhibits by tee several! executive <de®uirtn»eaitsi. particularly by the fiepartouwitt ••tf Agsii'iiCt ure, the Fite C.aismissbai ata the .Smithsonian institution, in the reycvsteaitton&ia «f the IJoveriimeait -off ttoe ITmilted Statutst Pursuant to that enactnM-ii: 1 aypstotta FetnlLnand W. I'eck, off Otieiign. CeSumatei.;tuer tJeneral, with an asststoni <ocmmii4»&Miser general and W'cnrtaty. Mr.. Ptitlk at euee proceeded to Paris, wihere has smeoess to e»larging tee soeqte ata varoety uaff ttoe rmEted States' exhibit bas betm most gratuiffytogt Eaibargoe. t m A aericaw Ptwdwctau Negotiations fa tee same etta wish Germany ha ve been srt on foXL MeoaiwhlSe am effort has beesa relaxed ie vtaxtoice nhe Imperial tieveromeul -of She teerteghMss; as our inspection off pete j»r odnrt* ff-«r expwdtation. and it is imsied teat tee effitiiro® a<dminis:ration off teis ta a-scae by tee Dsyoirttment of Agri mitrae wlili be rerragjaiited as a guaranty, off tee beaithSallmess ta the ffeta staples we -send abroad to e»«UMriies where their use is large and n'-'-rssaty. I transmitted to tee Senate Feb. last infornmtioin lonteing tbe jw.hiibdniiai igaEnta the importation -off ffrete ffrsfits ffirotn tbits eonntry, wh.iib bad tlbea recroitrlly breui .decreed by iSermany -wn-abe gronta -off Aatupre off disseminating the San Aose sroaie tojectThls prwautieuary mer.suw was pustfihed by Germany on tbe ■cone eff the dtesthc step* taken in several States off ttoe I'aiiMOi aupaiiast the spread off the pest. loater abe yoteiiMtion was extended to dried ffrnfcs »ff every kind, but was relaxed «• as I* affyßy willy to unpeeied fruit ata Smut waste- A*' was to be expected, the alarm wn-rhel He etee» countries, and Saitere-lata has xAsyted * similar inhibition. Effects mne to jeugress to Induce tee yTerman and Swiss, ttswevamrats to relax tee prshSßctioa to favw of dried fruits shewn to have b»eai enmed wader circumstances rendering tee exßstemot <sf animal life impassible.. Friewd ’y Kclatwm* with Great Britaia Our relations with Great Kritafia have intinned on the must ffirienffily ffsueSaag. Assenting t-o our request, tee ureiern&oa as Americans and their totuncstts to Sjpamfish jurisdiction was assumed by tee idiigoonatle and consular representatives es Great Entrain. who fulfilled their •drltotane amd .artounn trust with tact and aealL eflbtittos high iwannieudation. The long standing elalm eff Erenamd Campbell for damages for injuries sustaiimed ftrica a violent assault eomniaTted .aghaiiss biim by military ambrarities to tee IsSata «ff Haytrt, has io-en settled by tee agreeoneat! es ttat ripuWic to pay him to Jumrobcaa gold. Amacxattom eff Hawraiiaw Itaawda. Fending tee vaarauderatlßwin by tee Senate of the treaty signed Jw»e ®fi, MJC, by tee plenipotentiaries of the (’tutted States ata of the republic of Hawaiiii. pawKtocg Car tee annexation off tee tolatas. a peiiat letawtion to accomplish tbe sarnie purptue by accept ing the offered cess 4«n ata torarpamattoy the ceded tetrrilsry Sate the I’atoa was adopted by the fompres* aad apynovnd Jaßy 7, IrtK 1 Ibereupw® ffirretta tee I’afitta Stales steamer raialadeljiiiia tte etnivry Eesr Admiral Miller to Hemototo. an>d swunnstta to his hands litis Lmpur.aM 'legsHattve act to be delivered to the Itresideuit <*f the republic off Hawaii, witlh wihrea ttoe Adtelral and tbe United States mitdsttire none aiutrhwized To make .apprayriate anratugeanmas far transferring the sovereignty the tohataa to the FnJ ted States. Tlhiis was sjmplly. tat impressively, acoempiiteed «a tbe ttch ta August last, by the -delliveiy <«iff a .otirtiiiiita ctq.y off The ressdutloitss to fhesuidemt whs Itareupom yielded up to the representatives «f tbe GovemuMsnt «f the Vafitta States The sovereignty and yn>b®e puepeiity of tbe Hawaiian Isttatnds. Following tee tottere pr«viss.Hn es the joint resolution, I apyatoted S&dlby M. CBllotn off Uiiuois, Aeta T. M.trgnm .«f Atotame. Robert &. H 111 ftf Ettoois. sßaaif.«nd R. Dtae off Hawaii and Waiter F_ Cnw ta Hawaii as commtssi'.siHira to eaoifire amd ww—ta to Congress sate testokatiam .romrenriac the Hawaiian Irflauds as they sh«uM *en reeessary cr proper. The renimamownres havtoff fuitlied tbe mission eemfided to tbran. thrtr report will be laid beSute yen aut am eariy day. The questions taretafsre petatoff brtwedh Hawaii ata Japan growtoff amt as tthe alleged mistreatment as Jayauarse treaty tamtgrants were, I am pleased Ito toy. »i|frtated before tee act as transfer by the pmyameta I off a reasenaWe todrenmiitty to the Gar«x»fiieoit of Japan. Under tee provi<fl«ns off tee ftnlmt resMmtlon the ex'stitng .cnswuns tw4lbtni»m* es the Hawaiian Islands with the l adled States and with eteer'wnumtries reimato ouu'tamffta until legislation team atttarwtoe prortoe. C—trme««ie» wrath Mextan. The interpretation verttato prevsCuro as 1 the extradition ewaremitton es Itoe. 11. ItaL j has been at various times the ereaadaa sff coutroveray with tbe Goveraaeiemtt of Mex-| ice. An acute difference ar me to tbe came] es the Mexleam demand for the detaay offl Jesus Guerrera, whe, having tod a imarata-J Ing expedition near the bonder with teed proclaimed purpose es Miiatttog am toner 4-4 tian against Fretaemt Diaz, escaped Wml Texas. Extradition was reSinard mm thri ground lha% tbe aUJeged talmsr warn ytatM cal In its 'tearaeter, eta threeffete time within the treaty preriss es mom-inwiiifwdtr J The Government «ff Ferm has ffßwm the* prescribed notification es its tosemttaa tte abrogate tbe treaty es ata navigation cemrittaed with this eefififi try Aug 3L ISS7. 1 tare torfted s<lii r tioM by Fem as to the partfctaar pmartamn. It is desired to ammmll, to the tape es reath. Ing am arrangement whereby the nuMlndta articles may be provtstanaHily sared. Hie Majesty, the Czar, havtaff tern—tri ills propose to cable the Hiuifwitllal Enmsfa® mimflen at this repitai to the rank es es xadll liUHpA v * I t’ki, 'Uxl/VOI <UUI M’UHileVll Ml, > conferred toy tee act off Marte & ISBOI bl commisOtotenc ata actrtatito# tte actota repreeemtatires at St. tetesntaes to thi capacity es ambassador extzaonfitaiy cm