The Oregon mist., December 09, 1898, Image 1

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VOL. XV.
ST. HELENS, OREGON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1898.
NO. 51.
MIST.
ANNUAL MESSAGE
Important Features of
the President's
Address.
OUR LATE WAR A FEATURE
K Hnggsstlons Mads Regarding th
(lot.rmuint of Our Maw Tsrrllorl
Porelgn Halation Mensrnlly talls-faatory-llawallan
Annexation.
To the Bennl and House of Represent,
lives: Notwithstanding lh ad'led burdens
rendered namssury by the war, our people
rejnlr In a very satisfactory and steadily
lncrealng degre of prosperity, svidenced
by tli largest volume of business ever
recorded. ISvery manufacture ha been
productive, agricultural pursuits have
yielded abundant return, labor In tin
fluid of Industry I butter rewarded, rev
cnu legislation passed by the present
congress tin Increased th treasury's re
ceipt to the amount estimated by H
uthor, th finance of th government
hava been successfully administered and
It credit advanced to th rlrat rank; whll
It currency ha been maintained at th
world' highest atandard. Military serv
ice under a common nag and for a
righteous cause hiia strengthened tha
national spirit and served to cement mora
closely than aver the fraternal bond l
tween every section of th country.
A review of th relation of th United
Htalcs to other power, always spproprl
at, I thi year of primary Importance,
In view of the momentum Isaur which
have rlaen, demanding In on instance th
ultlmat determination by arm and in
volvln fur-reachlng consequence which
will requlr th earneat attention of tha
congress, '
Jn my lnt annual message, very full
consideration waa given to the question
of th duty of the government of th
United Btate toward Hpatn and th Cu
bau insurrection, a being by fur th
moat Important problem with which w
were called upon to deal. The consider
tluna then advanced, and tha exposition
Of the view therein expressed. dluloed
my n of th extreme gravity of the
(ituallon. ,
Batting aside, a logically unfounded
or practically Inadmissible, recogni
tion of th Cuban insurgents a belliger
ent, recognition of th Independence
of Cuba, neutral Intervention to end the
war by Imposing a rational compromise
between th contestants. Intervention In
favor of on or th other purty and th
forcible annexation of th Wand, I con
cluded It wa honeatly due to our friendly
relation with rlpaln that h should b
given a reasonable chanc to reallao her
xpectatlona of reform to which h had
become Irrevocably committed. .
Within a few weeka prevlouly he
had announced comprehensive plan
which It wa confidently aerted would
be efficacious to remedy the evil so
deeply affecting our own country, o In
Jurloua to th tru Interest "th
mother country, a well a to those of
Cut, and o repugnant to th universal
entlment of humanity.
Deatroetloa of the Maine.
At into Juncture, on th 15th of Febru
ary last, occurred the destruction of the
battleship Maine, while rightfully lying
In the harbor of Havana on a mission of
Internailonal courtesy and good will, J
catastrophe the suspicious nature and
horror of which stirred the nation heart
profound! It I a striking evidence of
the poise and sturdy good one dlstm
gulshlng our natiomil character that thi
hocking blow, falling upon a gonerou
people already deeply touched by pre
ceding event In Cuba, did not move them
to desperate resolve to tolerate no longer
tha existence of a condition of danger and
duorder at our doors that mde posslblo
such deed by whomsoever wrought,
Vet th Instinct of Justice prevailed, and
the nation anxiously awaited th 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 waa external by a subma
rine mine, and only halted, through lack
of positive testimony, to n th responsi
bility of Us authorship.
PWBPAHATIOWa FOR WAH. (
Cesinai' Appropriation of tfftr Mil.
lloa for National Defense.
Alt thos thing carried conviction to
the most thoughtful, even before the
finding of the naval court, that a crlsl
In our relations with Bpaln and toward
Cuba wa at hand. Br strong wa this
belief that It needed but a brief execu
tive suggestion to congree to receive Im
mediate answer to the duty of making
Instant provision for the possible and per
haps speedily probable emergency of war,
and the remarkable, almost unique, spec
tacle was presented of a unanimous vote
of both houses on the th of March ap
propriating eW.000.000 "for the national de
fense and for each and every purpose con
nected therewith, to be expended at th
discretion of the president."
That this aot of provision cam none
too oon wa disclosed when the applica
tion of the fund was undertaken. Our
ports were praotlcally undefended) our
navy needed large provision for Increased
ammunition and supplies, and even num
bers to cop with any sudden attack from
th navy of Spain, which comprised mod
ern vessels of th hlghet typ of ocntl
nental perfection. Our army also re
quired enlargement of men and muni
tlon. Th details of the hurried prepa
ration for th decided contingency Is told
In the reports of the secretaries of war
and of the navy, and need not be repeated
her. ' .
. It I umolcnt to ay that the outbreak
of war, when It did come, found our na
tlon not unprepared to meet the conflict,
nor wa th apprehension of coming atrlfe
confined to our own country. It wa felt
by the continental power, which, on April
, through their ambassador and envoys,
addressed to th executive an expression
of hope that humanity "and moderation
might mark the course of thi govern
ment and people and that further nego.
tlatlons would lead to an attempt, which,
while securing the malntenanc of peace,
would afllrm all necessary guarantees for
th re-establishment of order in Cuba.
Proposal of an Armistice.
Still animated by th hop of a peso,
ful solution and obeying th dictates of
duty, no effort wa relaxed to bring about
a apeedy ending of th Cuban atruggle.
Negotiations to thi erfeot continued
actively with the government of Bpaln
looking to th Immediate conclusion of a
ix month' armistice In Cuba with a
view to effect the recognition of her peo
pie's right to Independence. Beside thl,
the Instant revocation of the order of re
concentration wa asked, o that the sur.
ferera. returning to their home and
aided by united American and Spanish
effort, might be put In a way to support
themselves, and by orderly "sumption of
:. ., . . vtiYKitictive encr-
tne wen-nign i- -- -
gles of the Island contrlbut. to the rea.
toratlon of Its tranquillity and well-being.
Authority 10 Intervene.
Grieved and disappointed at this barren
utcom. of my gincr. .nd.avor. to reach
a practicable solution, 1 felt It my duty to
remit the whole question to congress. In
ths mejeiage of April 11, lKitg, i announced
that with this last overture In tha dlrec
tlon of Immediate peace In Cuba and It
disappointing reception by Spain tha ef
fort of the executive waa brought to an
end, I again reviewed the alternative
course of action which I had prepared,
concluding that the only course consonant
with International policy and compatible
With our firmly set historical traditions
was Intervention a a neutral to stop tha
war and check the hopeless sacrifice of
life, even though that resort Involved
"hwrtlls constraint unon both Dartina to
tha oc-.test, as well to enforce a truce as
to provide for eventual settlement."
On April 22 t proclaimed a blockade of
th northern coast of Cuba, Including
port on ald coast between Cardenas and
Huhla Honda and th port of Cienfuegos,
on the south coast of Cuba; and on th 23d
I called for volunteer to execute th pur
pos of th resolution.
Th Declaration of War.
Ily my messnge of April 28. congres wa
Informed of the aituatlon, and I recom
mended formal declaration of the exist
ence of a state of war between the United
State and Spain. Congress accordingly
voted on the ame day the act aporoved
April 25, lhOft, declaring the existence of
such war from and Including the 21st day
of April, and re-enacted th provision of
th resolution of April 20. directing the
president to use all the armed force of th
nation to carry that act Into effect.
Due notification of the existence of war
aa aforesaid waa given April 2S by tele
graph to all tha governments with which
the United States maintained relations. In
order that their neutrality might be as
sured during the war. The various govern
ments responded with proclamations of
neutrality, each after Its own method. It
Is not among the least gratifying Incident
of the struggle that the obligations of
neutrality wers Impartially discharged by
all, often under delicate and difficult cir
cumstances. The national defense fund of tfO.OOO.OOQ
was expended in large part by the
army and the navy, and ths objects for
which It was used are fully shown In th
reports of the several secretaries. It was
a most timely appropriation, enabling tha
government to strengthen It defense and
to msk preparations greatly needed In
case of war. Thle fund being Inadequate
to the requirement of equipment and tor
the conduct of the war, the patriotism of
congres provided th mean In th war
revenue act of June 13 by authorising a
I per cent popular loan, not to exceed
ttOO.OOO.OOa, and by levying additional im
post and taxes. Of the authorized loan,
2ua,(KXl,tW0 was offered and promptly taken,
the subscription so far exceeding the
call aa to cover It many time over.
While preference wa given to the (mail
er bid, no single allotment exceeded
KOOO. Thi wa a moat encouraging and
significant result, showing th vast re
source of the nation and the determina
tion of the people to uphold their coun
try' honor.
I-KOGHiasS OK TUB CONFLICT.
Ilrllllaat Series of Vlvtorle lor
American Arms.
It I not within th province of this
message to narrate the history of the
extraordinary war1 that followed the
Spanish declaration of April 21. but a
brief recital of It more salient features
I appropriate. The first-encounter of the
war In point of data took place April
27. when a detachment of the blockading
n ., ,4 a wnnnnluanii. In ore
at Matanaa. shelled the harbor fortifica
tions and demouanea several new wor
In construction.
Dewey at Manila,
The next engagement was destined to
mark a memorable epoch In maritime war
fare. The Paclllc fleet, under Commo-
n... v.n fl iin for Mimi
weeks at Hong Kong. Upon the colonial
proclamation or neutrality oeing wuu
and the customary 24 hours' notice being
I, 1 A tn Mlra hav near Hons
Kong, whence It proceeded to the Philip
pine Islands under telegraphic orders to
capture or destroy the formidable Span-
. . . . t ..uunhlul u Murtlln At
inn hod inc., . -
daybreak on May 1 the American force
entered Manna bay, ana auer a tew nou.p
. . nnw,,Arf tha tntol destruction
.... I-..UI, Hear cnnalutlnir of 10 war
ships and a transport, besides capturing
the naval station anu ion i lrd, mu,
annihilating the flpanlsh naval power In
the Pacltlo ocean and completely control
ling the bay of Manila, with the ability
to take the city at win. not n uie
lost on our ships, the wounded number
ing only seven, while not a vessel was.
....l.,!!., Ininrad. ITnr . this Sallant
achievement congress, upon my recom
mendation, lltly bestowed upon the actors
preferment and aubstuntlal reward.
rtxi., wattiManne to cause needless loss
of life and property prevented the erly
storming and capture of the city, and
haraa,iih the alMalute military occupation
of the whole group. The Insurgents,
meanwhile, naa resumea toe active nu-
.111.1 ativianifMl htf th . llnftCmtllftted
truce of December, 18M. Their forces In
vested Manila on tha northern and east
ern aide, but were coneirainea Dy amiri
Dewey and General Merrltt from attempt
ing an assault. It was fitting that what
ever was to be done in the way of de
cisive operations In that quarter should be
accomplished Dy in airong arm ui iu
United Statea alone.
Obeying the atern precept of war, which
n joins the overcoming of the adversary
and th extinction of hi power wherever
assailable as the speedy and our means
to win a peaoe, divided victory waa not
permissible, for no partition of the right
and responsibilities attending the enforce
ment of a Jusit n5 advantageous peace
could be thought of.
Ih. BilnntlAn n a iAfnnrAhpn-
alve aohem of general attack, powerful
toroe were assemuteu ni varum yu.u.a
our coast to Invade Cuba and Porto Rico.
Meanwhile, naval demonstration were
made at eeveral exposed point. May 11
the cruiser Wilmington and torpedo-boat
Wlnslow were unsuccessful In an attempt
to silence the batteries at Cardenas, In
Matanas, Ensign Worth Bagley and four
seamen falling. These grievoua fatalities
were strangely enough among the very
few which occurred during our naval
operation In thi extraordinary conflict.
Hobaon'a Heroism.
Th 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 Lieutenant Hob
son, aided by aeven devoted volunteers,
blocked the narrow outlet from Santiago
harbor by sinking the collier Merrlmac In
the channel under a fierce Are from the
shore batteries, escaping with their Uvea
as by a miracle, but falling into the
hands of ths Spaniards. It Is a mot grat
ifying lnoldent of the war that the brav
ery of thi little band of heroes wan cor
dially appreciated by th Spaniard, who
ent flag of truce to notify Admiral
Sampson of their afety and to compli
ment them upon their daring act. They
were subsequently exchanged, July 7.
By June 7 the cutting of the last Cuban
oable Isolated the Island. Thereafter the
Invasion wa vigorously proaeouted. June
-n i . V, .... nrnlantlna' Are. a land-
Ing force of W marine from th Oregon,
Marblehead ana xanaoe we ei.u
Guantanamo bay, where It had been to
termlned to establish a cable station. Thi
important and essential port wa. taken
from the enemy after evere lighting by
the marines, who were the first organised
force of the United States to land in Cuba.
The position so won was neia, aespiie m.
desperate attempts to aisioug our
By June 18 additional foroe wer landed
and Itrongly intrenched.
Jun th. gdvanc of tt irmdlDl
f army under Major-General Btiafter landed f
at Daiquiri, about IS miles east of Santl-
ago. This was accomplished under great '
difficulties, but with marvelous dispatch, '
On Jun 23 tha movement againit Santiago
was begun. ,
On the 24th the first serious engagement !
took place In which the First and Tenth !
cavalry and the First volunteer cavalry,
General Young' brigade of General
Wheeler' division, participated, losing
heavily. By nightfall, however, ground
within five miles of Santiago wa won.
The advantage was steadily Increased.
On July 1 a severe battle took place, our
force gplning the outer work of Santiago,
and Gl Caney and San Juan were taken
after a desperate charm and th Invest
ment of the city wa completed. The
navy co-operated by (helling th town
ana th coast rorta.
Ileatnirtlon of the Armada. '
On th day following this brilliant
achievement of our land forces, July 3,
occurred the decisive naval combat of the
war. The Spanish fleet, attempting to
leave th harbor, was met by the Ameri
can squadron under command of Commo
dore Sampson. In less than three hour
! all the Spanish ships were destroyed,
i Two torpedo-boats wer sunk and the Ma
, rla Teresa, Almirante Oquendo, Vizcaya
and Cristobal Colon were driven ashore,
The Spanish admiral and over 13110 men
were taken prisoners. While the enemy's
: Ion of life wa deplorably large, om
2uo perishing, on our side but one man
I wa killed and one man seriously wounded.
Although our ships were repeatedly struck,
I not one wa seriously Injured. Th men
also conspicuously distinguished them
selves, from th commanders to the gun
ners and the unnamed heroes) In the
boiler-rooms, each and all contributing
toward the achievement of this astound
ing victory, for which neither ancient nor
modern history affords a parallel In th
completeness of the event snd the marvel,
ou disproportion of caaualtle. It would
be Invidious to single out any for special
honor. Deserved promotion has rewarded
the mere conspicuous actor the nation's
profoundest gratitude Is due to all of those
brave men who by their skill and devo
tion In a few short hours crushed the sea
power of Spain and wrought a triumph
whose decisiveness and far-reaching ef
fects esn scarcely be measured. Nor can
we be unmindful of the achievements of
our builders, mechanics and artisan for
their skill In th construction of our war.
hip.
With th catastrophe of Santiago,
Spain' effort upon the ocean virtually
ceased. A spaamodlo effort toward th
end of June to send her Mediterranean
fleet, under Admiral Camera, to relieve
Manila waa abandoned, the expedition be
ing recalled after it had passed through
the Sues canal. . .
Surrender of Saatlnaro.
The capitulation of Buntiago followed.
The city was closely besieged 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 the
noncomhatants, protracted negotiation
continued from July 1 until July 16. when,
under menace of Immediate assault, ths
preliminaries of surrender were agreed
upon. On the 17th General Shatter occu
pied the city. .The capitulation embraced
the entire eastern end of Cuba. The num
ber of Spanish soldier surrendered was
22,000, all of whom were subsequently con
veyed to Spain at the charge of the
United State. The tory of thla uccess
ful campaign Is told in the report of the
secretary of war which will be laid be
fore you.
Invasion of Porto Rico.
With the fall of Santiago, the occupa
tion of Porto Rico became the next strat
egic necessity. General Mile had pre
viously been assigned to organise an ex
pedition for that purpose. Fortunately,
he waa already at Santiago, where he had
arrived on the 11th of July with reinforce
ments for General Shafter'a army. With
these troops, consisting of S415 Infantry
and artillery, two companies of engineer
and one company of the atgnal corps. Gen
eral MUea left Guantanamo July 21, hav
ing nine tranaports convoyed by th fleet
under Captain Hlgglnson, with the Mas
sachusetts (flagship), Dixie, Gloucester,
Columbia and Yale, the two latter carry
ing troop. The expedition landed at
Guanlca. July 25. which port was entered
with little opposition. Here the fleet waa
Joined by the Annapolis and Wasp, while
the Puritan and Amphitrlte went to San
Juan and Joined the New Orleans, which
waa engaged In blockading that port. The
major-general commanding was subse
quently reinforced by General Schwann's
brigade of the Third army eorpa, by Gen
eral. Wilson with a part of his division,
and also by General Brooke, with a part
of his corps, numbering In all 16.973 officers
and men. On July 27 he entered Ponce,
one of the most important points In the
island, from which he thereafter directed
operation for th capture of tha Island.
A a potent Influence toward peace, the
outcome of th Porto Rlcan expedition
Is due to those who participated In It.
Last Battle of the War.
The last scene of the war wa enacted
at Manila. It starting place. On August
IS, after a brief assault upon tha work
by the land force, In which the squadron
assisted, the capital surrendered uncondi
tionally. The casualties were compara
tively few. By this conquest of the' Phil
ippine Islands, virtually accomplished
when the Spanish capacity for resistance
was destroyed by Admiral Dewey's vic
tory of the first of May, the result of the
war was formally sealed. To General
Merrltt, his officers and men, for their un
complaining and devoted services, tor their
gallantry in action, the nation Is sincerely
grateful. Their long voyage waa made
with singular success, and the soldierly
conduct of the men, of whom many were
without previous experience In the mili
tary aervlce, deserves unmeasured praise.
Total Casualties.
The total casualties In killed and wound
ed In th army during th war was as fol
lows: Officers killed, 23; enlisted men killed,
267; total, 280; officer wounded, 113; en
listed men wounded, 1464; total, 1577.
Of the navy, killed, 17; wounded, (7;
died a result of wound, 1; Invalided from
ervlce, ; total, 21.
PEACE NBGOTIATIONS.
Spain's Overture for a Cessation of
Hostilities.
The annihilation of Admiral Cervera'
fleet, followed by the capitulation of San
tiago, having brought to the Spanish gov
ernment a realizing sense of the hopeless
ness of continuing a struggle now becom
ing wholly unequal, It made overtures of
peace through the French ambassador,
who,, with the assent of his government,
had acted as the friendly (representative
of Spain's Interests during the war. On
the 26th of July, M. Cambon presented a
communication, signed by the Duke of
Almodovar, the Spanish miniater ol state,
Inviting the United Statea to state the
terms upon which It would be willing to
make peace. July 30, by a communication
addressed to the Duke of Almodovar, and
handed by M. Cambon, the term of this
government were announced substantially
in the protocol, afterwards signed. On
August 10, the Spanish reply dated August
7 was handed by M. Cambon to ths sec
retary of state. It accepted uncondi
tionally the terms Imposed as to Cuba,
Porto Rico, and an Island of the Ladrone
group, but appeared to seek to Introduce
Inadmissible reservation in regard to our
demand as to th Phtllpplnea.
Conceiving that discussion on this point
could neither be practicable nor profitable,
I directed that, In order to avoid mis
understanding, the matter should be
forthwith closed by proposing the em
bodiment in a formal protocol of the
term In which th negotiation for peace
wer undertaken. Th vague and Inet
pllclt suggestion of th Spanish not.
could not be accepted, th only reply be- '
ing to present a a virtual ultimatum a
draft of the protocol, embodying the pre
else term tendered to Spain In our not
of July 20, which added stipulations of
details a to th appointment of com
missioner to arrange for the evacuation
of the Spanish Antilles, On August 12,
M. Cambon announced his receipt of full
powers to sign the protocol as submitted.
Terms of too Protocol.
Accordingly, on th afternoon of August
12, M. Cambon as ths plenipotentiary of
Spain and the secretary of state, as the
plenipotentiary of the United States,
signed the protocol providing:
"Article 1. Spain will relinquish all
claim of sovereignty over and title to
Cuba.
"Article 2. Spain will cede to the United
State the Island of Porto Rico and other
Islands now under Spanish' sovereignty In
the West Indies, and also an Island in
the Ladrones to be selected by th United
State.
"Article . The United State will occu- 1
py and hold the city, bay and harbor of
Manila, pending the conclusion of a treaty
of peace, which shall determine the con
trol, disposition ana government oi m
Philippines."
The fourth article provided for the. ap
pointment of Joint commissions on th
part of the United States and Spain to
meet In Havana and San Juan, respective
ly, for the purpose of arranging and car- .
rylng out the details or me mmi""
evacuation of Cuba, Porto Rico and other
Spanish Islands In the West Indie.
The fifth article provided for the ap
pointment of not more than Ave commis
sioners on each side to meet at Paris not
later than October 1, and to proceed to
the negotiation and conclusion of a
treaty of peace, subject to ratification ac
cording to the respective constitutional
forma of the two countries. .
The sixth and last article provides that
upon the signing of the protocol, hostili
ties between the two countries shall be
suspended, and that notice to that effect
should be given as soon as possible by
each government to the commanders of
Its naval force.
Immediately upon the conclusion or the
protocol, I Issued the proclamation of Au
gust 12, suspending hostilities on tha part
of the United State. The necessary or
der to that end were at once given by tel
egraph. The blockade of the port of Cu
ba and of San Juan de Porto Rico was In
like manner raised. On August 18, the
muster-out of 100.000 volunteer, or as near
that number as wan found to be practica
ble, was ordered. On December 1, 101.665 of
ficers and men had been mustered out and
discharged from th service; D002 more will
be mustered out by the 10th of the month;
also a corresponding number of generals
and general staff officer have been hon.
orably discharged frora the ervlce.
The military commissions to superintend
th evacuation of Cuba, Porto Rico and
the adjacent island were forthwith ap
pointed: For Cuba Major-General Jame F.
Wade, Rear-Admiral William T. Sampson,
Major-General Matthew C. Butler.
For Porto Rico Major-General John C.
Brooke, Rear-Admiral Wlnfleld Scott
Schley, Brigadier-General W. Gordon.
They soon afterwards met the Spanish
commissioners at Havana and San Juan,
respectively. The Porto Rico Joint commis
sion speedily accomplished its task, and
by October 18 the evacuation of the Island
waa completed. The United States flag
waa raised over the Island at noon that
day. The administration of Its affairs has
been provisionally Intrusted to a military
governor until congress shall otherwise
provide. The Cuban Joint high commis
sion ha not yet terminated its labors. Ow
ing to the difficulties In the way of remov
ing tha large number of Spanish troops
still In Cuba, the evacuation cannot be
completed before the 1st of January next.
The Pence Commission.
Pursuant to tha fifth article of the pro
tocol. I appointed William R. Day, lately
secretary of state; Cushman K. Davis,
WllllamP. Frye and George Gray, senators
of the United Statea, and Whltelaw Held,
to be peace commissioners on the part of
the United States. Proceeding In due
season to Paris, they there met, on the
1st of October, live commissioners sim
ilarly appointed on the part of 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 step leading to its
signature.
I do not discuss at this time the govern
ment or the future of the new possessions
which will come to us as the result of the
war with Spain. Such a discussion will
be appropriate after the treaty of peace
shall be ratified. In the meantime, and
until congress has legislated otherwise. It
will be my duty to continue the military
government which has existed since our
occupation and give their people security
In life and property and encouragement
under a Just and beneficent rule.
OUR FORSHGrl RELATIONS.
Aside Prom Spain We Have Had No
Serious Differences With Other
. Nations-
With the exception of the rupture with
Spain, the Intercourse of the United Statea
with the great family of nations has been
marked with cordiality, and the close of
the eventful year finds moat of the Issues
that necessarily arise In the complex rela
tion of sovereign states adjusted or pre
senting no serious obstacles to adjust
ment and honorable solution by amicable
agreement.
A long-unsettled dispute a to the ex
tended boundary between the Argentine
republic and Chile, stretching along the
Andean orests, from the southern bor
der of the Ataoama desert to the Magel
lan straits, nearly a third of the length
of the South American continent, as
sumed an acute stage In the early part
of the year and afforded this government
occasion to express the hope that the re
sort to arbitration, already contemplated
by existing conventions between the par
ties, might prevail, despite the grave diffi
culties arising in its application, I am
happy to say that arrangements to thla
end have been perfected, the questions of
fact upon which the respective commis
sioners were unable to agree being In
course of reference to her Brltannlo ma
jesty for determination. A residual dif
ference, touching the northern boundary
line across the Atacama desert, for which
existing treaties provided no adequate ad
justment, bid fair to be settled In like
manner by a Joint commission, upon which
the United States minister at Buenos
Ayres has been invited to serve aa um
pire In the last resort.
International Cable Agreement.
I have found occasion t approach the
Argentine government with a view to re
moving difference of rate charges Im
posed upon the cables of an American
corporation tn the transmission between
Buenos Ayres and the cities of Uruguay
and Brasll of through messages passing
from and to th United States. Although
the matter la complicated by exclusive
concessions by Uruguay and Brazil to
foreign companies, there I a strong; hope
that a good understanding will be reached
and that the Important channels of com
mercial ' communication between tbe
United Statea and th Atlantlo cities of
South America may be freed from an al
most prohibitory discrimination.
Foreign Ifixhlbltlans.
Despite the brief time allotted for prep
aration, th exhibits of this country at
the universal exposition at Brussels in
1887 enjoyed tha singular distinction of a
larger nrooortion of awards, having re
gard to the number and classes of articles
entered, than those of other countries. The
worth of such a result In making known
our national: capacity to supply tha world'
market I obvious.
Th Nlearasroa Canal.
!th Nicaragua canal commission, under
Rear-Admiral John O. Walker, appointed
July 24, 1'J7, und'r the authority of a ,
provision in the sundry civil act of June 4,
of that year, has nearly completed Its
labors, and the results of Its exhaustive
Inquiry Into the proper route, the feasibil
ity and the cost of construction of an in.
teroceanlo canal by the Nicaragua route,
will be laid before you. In the perform
ance of Its work the commission received ;
all possible courtesy and assistance from
the governments of Nicaragua and Costa
Rica, which thus testified their appreoia.
tlon of the Importance of giving a speedy
and practical outcome of the project that i
has for so many yeara engrossed the at
tention of the respective countrie. .
As the scope of recent Inquiry embraced ;
the whole subject with the aim of making '
plans and survey for a canal by th moat
convenient route, It necessarily included i
a review of the result of prevlou sur- t
vey and plana, and In particular those 1
adopted by the Maritime Canal Company ;
under its existing concessions from Nlca- j
ragua and Costa Rica, so that to this ex
tent these grants necessarily held an es-
sentlal part In the deliberations and con- I
elusions of the canal commission a they )
have held and must needs hold In the dls- :
mission of the matter by congress. Un- j
der these circumstances, and In view of ,
overtures made to the governments of
Nicaragua and Costa Rica by other par
ties for a new canal concession predicated
on the assumed approaching lapse of the
contracts of the Maritime Canal Company
with those states, I have not hesitated to
express my convictions that considerations
of expediency and International policy, as
between the several governments Inter
ested in the construction and control of
an Interoceanlc canal by this route re
quire the maintenance of the status quo
until the canal commission shall have re
ported and the United States congress
snail nave naa ine opportunity w yaw
Anally upon the whole matter during th
present sesalon without prejudice by rea
son of any change In the existing condi
tions. Nevertheless, it appear that the gov
ernment of Nicaragua, a one of Its last
sovereign acts before merging Its pow
ers in those of the newly formed United
States of Central America, has granted an
optional conceaalon to another association
to become effective on the expiration of
the present grant. It does not appear
that survey have been made or what
route Is proposed under this concession,
o that an examination of the feasibility
of Its plans Is necessarily not embraced
In the report of the canal commission.
All these circumstances suggest the ur
gency of some definite action by congress
at this session If the labors of the past
are to be utilized and the Unking of tbe
Atlantic and Pacific oceans by a practical
waterway Is to be realized. That the
construction of such a maritime highway
Is now more than ever indispensable to
that intimate and ready intercommuni
cation between our eastern and western
seaboards demanded by th annexation
of the Hawaiian Wands and the prospec
tive expansion of our influence and com
merce to the Pacific, and that our national
policy now more Imperatively than ever
calls for its control by this government,
are propositions which 1 doubt not con
gress will duly appreciate and wisely aot
upon.
The Paris EbiposHlon.
There is now every prospect that Ihe
participation of the United States in the
universal exposition to be held tn Paris
In 1W0 will be on a scale commensurate
with the advanced position held by our
products and industries in the world's
chief marts. The preliminary report of
Moses P. Handy, who, under the act
approved July 19, 1897, was appointed
special commissioner with a view of se
curing all attainable Information neces
sary to a full and complete understanding
by congress In regard to the participation
by this government in the Paris exposi
tion, was laid before you by my message
of December 6, 1897, and shows the large
opportunities to make known our national
progress in art, science and , manufac
tures, aa well as the urgent need of Im
mediate and adequate provision to enable
due advantage thereof to be taken. Mr.
Handy's death oon afterward rendered
It necessary for another to take up and
complete his unfinished work, and Janu
ary 11 last, Mr. Thomas W. Crldler, third
assistant secretary of state, was desig
nated to fulfill that task. His report was
laid before you by my message of June
14. 1898, with the gratifying result of
awakening renewed Interest In the pro
jected display.
Trade Relations With France and
Gersnnny. '
Th commercial arrangements made
with France on May 28, 1898, under the
provisions of section 2, of the tariff act
of 1897, went Into effect on June 1 follow
ing. It has relieved a portion of our ex
port trade from serious embarrassment.
Further negotiations are now pending
under section 4 of the same act, with a
view to th increase of trade between
the two countries to their mutual ad
vantage. Negotiations with other govern
ments, in part interrupted by the war
with Spain, are. In progress under both
sections of tha tariff act I hope to be
able to announce some of the results of
these negotiation during the present ses
sion of congress. -
AXSHXATION OF HAWAII.
Kxlstlnsr Law In Force Pending; Ae
. . tlon by Congress.
Pending the consideration by the senate
of the treaty signed June 16, 1S97, by the
plenipotentiaries of the United States and
of the republic of Hawaii, providing for
the annexation of the island, a Joint reso
lution to accomplish the same purpose by
accepting the offered cession and incor
porating the ceded territory Into the
Union was adopted by congress and ap
proved July 7, 1S98. I thereupon directed
the United Btates steamer Philadelphia
to convey Rear-Admlral Miller to Hono
lulu and entrusted to his hand this im
portant legislative act to be delivered to
the president of the republic of Hawaii,
with whom the admiral and the United
Btates minister were authorized to make
appropriate arrangements for transfer
ring the sovereignty of the islands to the
United States. This was simply but Im
pressively accomplished on August 12 last,
by the delivery of a certified copy of
the resolution to President Dole, who
thereupon yielded up to the representa
tive of the government of the United
States the sovereignty and public prop
erty of the Hawaiian islands. Pursuant
to the terms of the Joint resolution and
In exercise of authority thereby con
ferred upon me, I directed that the civil,
Judicial and military power heretofore
exercised by the officers of the govern
ment of the republic of Hawaii should
continue to be exercised by those officers
until congress should provide a govern
ment for the incorporated territory, sub
ject to my power to remove such officers
and to till vacancies. Th present offi
cers and troops of the republlo thereup
on took the oath of allegiance to the
United States, thus providing for the un
interrupted continuance of all the admin
istrative and municipal functions of the
annexed territory until congress shall oth
erwise enact. .
Following the further provision of the
joint resolution, I appointed the Honor
ables Shelby M. Cullom, of Illinois; John
T. Morgan, of Alabama; Robert R. Hitt,
of Illinois; Sanford B. Dole, of Hawaii,
and Walter F, Grler, of Hawaii, as com
missioners to confer and recommend to
congress such legislation concerning th
Hawaiian island as they should deem
necessary or proper.
Recommendations of tha Commission.
The commissioners having fulfilled the
mission confided to them, their report
will be laid before you at on early day.
It Is believed that their recommenda
tion will have the earnest consideration
du to th magnitude of the responsibility
resting noon you to give such shape le
the relationship of those mid-Paclflc lands
to our home union as will benefit bo:h in
the highest degree, realizing the aspira
tions of- the community that has cast its
lot with us ard elected to share our po
litical heritage, while, at the same time,
Justifying the foresight of those who for
three-quarters of a century have looked
to the assimilation of Hawaii a a natural
and Inevitable consummation In harmony
with our needs and In fulfillment of our
cherished traditions.
The questions heretofore pending be
tween Hawaii and Japan, growing out of
the alleged mistreatment of Japanese
treaty Immigrants, were, I am pleased
to say, adjusted before the act of trans
fer by the payment of a reasonable in
demnity to the government of Japan.
Under th provision of the Joint resolu
tion, the existing custom relations of the
Hawaiian islands with the United States
and with other countries remain un
changed until legislation shall otherwise
provide. The consuls of Hawaii, here and
tn foreign countries, continue to fulfill
their commercial agencies, while th
United Btates consulate at Honolulu is
maintained for all proper services per
taining to trade and the revenue. It
would be desirable that all foreign con
suls In the Hawaiian Islands should re
ceive new exequatur from this govern
ment, i
New Mnrltlma Poller.
The annexation of Hawaii and th
changed relation of the United Btates to
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines re
sulting from the war, compel the promnt
adoption of a maritime policy by frequent
steamship communication encouraged by
the United states, under the American flag,
with the newly acquired Islands. Spain
furnished to Its colonies, at an annual cost
of about 12,000.000, steamship line com
municating with a portion of the world
markets as well as with trade centers of
the home government. The United States
will not undertake to do less. It I our
duty to furnish th people of Hawaii with
facilities, under national control, for their
export and import trade. It will be con
ceded that the present situation calls for
legislation which shall be prompt, dur
able and liberal.
ARMY RKOBGA Fs.tklATION.
(Handing Fore of lOO.OOO Hen Needed
Under Present Conditions,
Under the act of congress approved
April 26, 1898, authorizing the president In
his discretion, upon a declaration of war
by congress or a declaration by congress
that war exists, I directed the Increase
of the regular army to the maximum of
62,000, authorized In said act.
There are now in tbe regular army 67.
862 officers and men. In said act it was
provided: "That at the end of any war tn
which the United States may become in
volved, the army shall be reduced to a
peace basis by transfer tn the same
arm of the service or absorption, by pro
motion or honorable discharge, under
such regulations as the secretary may es
tablish, of supernumerary command offi
cers and the honorable discharge or trans
fer of supernumerary enlisted men, and
nothing contained in this act shall be
construed as authorizing the permanent
increase of the command of enlisted force
of the regular army beyond that now pro
vided by the law in force prior to the
passage of this act except a to the in
crease of 26 major provided for in section
1 hereof."
The importance of legislation for the
permanent increase of the army Is there
fore manifest, and tbe recommendation
of the secretary of war for that purpose
ha my unqualified approval. There can
be no question that at this time and prob
ably 'for some time in the future 100,000
men will be none too many to meet the
necessities of the situation. At all events,
whether that number shall be required
permanently or not, the power should be
given to the president to enlist that fore
if in bis discretion it should be neces
sary, and the further discretion should
be given him to recruit within the above
limit from the inhabitants of the Islands
with the government of which we are
charged.
Yolnnteera to Be Sent Home.
It Is my purpose to muster out the en
tire volunteer army as soon as congress
shall provide for the Increase of the regu
lar establishment. This will be only an
act of Justice, and will be much appre
ciated by the brave men who left their
homes and employments to help the coun,
try tn its emergency. .
POSTAL SERVICED
Extraordinary Growth nad Gratifying
Increase la Efficiency, .
The postal ervl of the country ad
vance with extraordinary growth. Within
20 years both the revenues and expendi
tures of the poatofflce department have
multiplied three-fold. In the last 10 year
they have nearly doubled. Our postal
business grows much more rapidly than
our population. It now Involves an expen
diture of 8100,000,000 a year, numbers 73,000
postofflces and enroll 200,000 employes.
This remarkable extension of a service,
which is an accurate index of the public,
conditions, presents gratifying evidence of
the advancement of education, of the in
crease of communication and business
activity and of the Improvement of mail
facilities, leading to their constantly aug
menting use.
The war with Spain laid new and excep
tional labor on the poetoftlce department.
The mustering of the military and naval
force of the United State required spe.
clal mail arrangement for every camp
and every campaign. The communication
between home and camp wa naturally
eager and expectant. In some of . tile
larger places of rendezvous as many as
60,000 letter a day required handling.
This necessity wa met by the prompt
detail of experienced men from the es
tablished force and by directing all the
Instrumentalities of the railway mall and
postofnee service so tar as necessary to
this new need. Congress passed an act
empowering the postmaster-general to i
tabllsh an office or branch at every mili
tary camp or station, and under this au
thority the postal machinery was speea
lly put into effective operation. ,
Capital Centennial, -
In the year 1900 will occur the centen
nial anniversary of the founding of th
city of Washington for the permanent
capital of the government of the United
States by authority ol an act o( con
gress approved July 16, 1790. In May,
1800, the archive and general offices of the
federal government were removed to this
place. On the 17th of November. 1800, th
national congress met here for the first
time and assumed exclusive control of
the federal district and city. This inter
esting event assumes all the more signifi
cance when we recall the circumstances
attending the choosing of the site, the
naming of the capital In honor of the
father of his country, and the Interest
taken by him in the adoption of plans for
Its future development on a magnificent
scale.
These orglnal plana have been wrought
out with a constant progress and a sig
nal success, even beyond anything their
framers bad foreseen.
. Labor Law.
The alien contract law la ahown by t.x-
perience to need some amendment; a
measure providing better protection for
seamen Is proposed; the rightful applica
tion of the eight-hour law for the benefit
of labor and of the principle of arbitra
tion are suggested for consideration, and
t commend these subjects tQ the careful
consideration of congresa.
WILLIAM M'KINIBY.
ExacuUv Mansion, Deceijibcr 6, Vti,
EVERTS OF THE DAY
Epitome of the Telegraphic
News of the World.
TEESE TICKS KEOM THE WIEES
An Interesting Collection of Item Front
the Two Hemisphere Presented
In m Condenaed Form.
The Methodist general conference will
hold ita 1900 session in Chicago,
Chile is on a specie basis and no
more paper money will' be issned.
It is announced at Washington that
do more presidential pontnuieters will
be named nntil congress meets.
The battle-ships Oregon and Iowa
have been ordered to proceed from Mon
tevideo to Valparaiso, where farther
orders will await them.
Troubles has arisen in Africa bo-
tween Germany and tho Congo Free
State, relative to the respective bonn- ,
dary lines north of Lake Tunganika.
General Thomas Begalado, the head
of the revolutionary movement in Sal
vador, has usurped tbe presidency and
proclaimed himself chief executive of
tbe republic. "
Tbe attempt to effect a coalition be
tween the states of Nicaragua. Hon
duras and Salvador, to be conducted as
tbe Dnited Btates of Central America,
has failed completely.
Arrangements are being made by the
war department to disinter the remain
01 all the soldiers who lost their lives
in the campaign before Santiago and
biing them to this country.
Great improvement in tbe health of
the army has taken place within tbe
last two months, as shown by the lust
reports to the surgeon-genetal from the
field end general hospitals.
There is a band of American swin
dlers in Hamburg, Germany, who are
passing worthless American paper
money, for which they not only procure
valuable merchandise, bat even obtain
money in exchange from their victims.
It will probably be the end of Decem
ber or the beginning of January before
any farther news is received from the
men who have chosen to spend the
winter on the rich gold-bearing creeks
of tbe Klondike. About 600 men will
winter on tbe creeks in the Atlin river
country.
The navy department has made pub
lic a report from Admiral Sampson,
covering the operations of tbe United
8tates blockading neet off Santiago
alter the destruction ot Cervera '
squadron. Tbe report snores General
Shafter for making public important
telegrams 'and refusing to recognize
tbe admiral in the surrender.
Piairie fires have caused great dam
age in Oklahoma and Indian territory
daring the past few days.
A riot in a political clubfat Chicago
resulted in the death of one and tha
wonndingof several others. '
John Warnocb, a deputy sheriff, wag
shot and killed at Birmingham, Ala.,
by an escaped negro convict, whom ha
was trying to arreet. Tbe murderer
escaped.
An illicit whisky still as a side issue
of a plant for the nnlawful manufacture
and imitation of well-known btamls of
wine bas been nneartbed near the heart
of Chicago.
The cession o! Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippines was practically accom
plished at Wednesday's session of the
peace commission. These ate the
three main articles.
Two hunrded Uvea lost, 66 vessels
totally wieoked and 49 others hopeless
ly stranded, and tbe worst probably not
known, is tbe latest news from tbe fear
ful Atlantic storm.
A freight train on the Norfolk A
Western railroad went through a bridge
near Riverside, Va. The fireman was
killed, the engineer seriously scalded
and a brakeman fatally injured.
Aiticles incorporating the O. B. & N.
Company have been tiled with the sec
retary of state of Washington, and
show that the extensions in Oregon,
Washington and Idaho have long been
in contemplation.
At tbe Loyal Legion banquet given
in Manila 69 gnests were present.
Neatly every oommandery was repre
sented. General Andeison piesided
and Beat-Admiral Dewey was teceived
by a guard of honor from the Oregon
regiment.
Cubans are starving to death In Santa
Clara, and tbe lied Cross, has been ap
pealed to to furnish prompt relief.
Women and obildren are suffering. It
succor does not soon reach them all will
have died. The Cuban troops are also
in a pitifut condition foi lack of sup
plies. The Bed Cross will promptly
respond to the appeal, but is handi
capped by lack ot funds,
Claude M. Johnson, director of tho
bureau of engraving and printing, in
bis annual report shows that during the
year theie were 03,979,478 sheets of ,
stamps and 'government securities
printed ami delivered at a cost of $1,
570,598. This sum,, however, in
cludes (13,590 increase of stock, t30.
000 paid for machinery and $6, 4 1 a
paid to outside employes. ,
Minor Mews Iteins.
Tbe steamer Monarch cleared from
New Oileans for Liverpool with tlio
largest general cargo ever cari ied fvosn
that port, embracing 30,6!S0 bnlta of
cotton, 138,000 bushels of corn, 18,000
staves.' . -
Sarah Bonncll, an Abilene, ( f"-irj.)
young woman, bus received l'y of
half a million dollars from K-w Vwfc
friend interested in her nuisiti.ti ii.':;:.i
tion. She will go to I'm-is soon to cn;iw
plete her musical tsdueuiit'ii.