JnlILLSBR
UILLSKOItO, OREGON, TIIUKSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1898.
VOL. V.
NO. 38.
4
ANNUAL MESSAGE
Important Features
the President's
'Address.
Of
OUR LATE WAR A FEATURE
No Suggestions Made llegardlng the
Clnvernment of Our NewTerrltorlee
Foreign itolatlons Generally Satis
factoryHawaiian Annexation.
To the Senate and House of Itepresenta
tlves: Notwithstanding the added burdens
rendered necessary by the war, our people
rejoice In a very satisfactory and steadily
Increasing degree of prosperity, evidenced
by the largest volume of business ever
recorded. livery manufacture bus been
productive, agricultural pursuits have
yielded abundant returns, labor In the
fields of Industry Is better rewarded, rev
enue legislation passed by the present
congress hus Increased the treasury's re
ceipts to the amount estimated by lt
authors, the finances of the government
have been successfully administered and
It credit advanced to the flrat rank; while
Its currency has been maintained at the
world's highest slundard. Military serv
ice under a common Hag and for a
righteous cuuse has strengthened the
national spirit and served to cement more
closely than e,yer the fraternal bond be
tiin v.rv sent Ion of the country.
A review of the relations of the United
States to other powers, always appropri
ate, is this venr of primary Importance,
In view of the momentous Issues which
ss have risen, dvmnnciing in one insiancu m
': uitimniA ilntermlnatlon by arms ana in
volvlng far-reaching consequences wmcn
will require the earnest attention of the
congress.
In my last annual message, very fun
consideration was given to the question
of the dutv of the government of the
ttniind states toward Bpaln and the Cu-
ban Insurrection, as being by fur the
imnnrtiint nroblem with which we
wr (Milled uuon to deal. The considers
tlons then advanced, and the exposition
h. vi.ma therein exDressed. disclosed
my aense of the extreme gravity of the
$ situation. .. . j. a
Bolting aside, as logically unfounded
nraetirallv Inadmissible, recogni-
tlon of the Cuban Insurgents as belllger
nts, recognition of the Independence
j of Cuba, neutral Intervention to end the
'war by Imposing a rational compromise
v Ki,nn ih contestants. Intervention in
) favor of one or the other party and the
forcible annexation ot me leiano, i w i--.,a.a
i ua. hnnMtlv due to our friendly
relations with Bpaln that she should bo
f given a reasonable chance to reallie her
expectations or reiorm iu
become Irrevocably committed.
1 wiikin few weeks previously she
Shad announced comprehensive plans
which It win confidently asserted would
9 k. .m..axinn. to remedy the evns
I deeply affecting our own country, so In-
ftjurloua to the true Interest oi m
Smother country, aa well as to those of
Cuba, and so repugnant to the universal
'sentiment of humanity,
.-traction of the Maine.
At this Juncture, on the 15th of Febru-
.. Kuril Inn nf IMA
yry last, occurrea me mi"; -Ibattle-ehlp
Maine, while rightfully lying
tin the harbor of Huvana on a mission of
Ilntematlonal courtesy and good Will, a
"catastrophe the suspicious nature and
S hirh iirnd the nation's heart
Itirofoundly. It Is a striking evidence of
ik. nnU. unit aturdv good sonse ols
.ajulshlng our national character that this
. shocking blow, falling upon a generous
already deeply touched by pro-
Mdlnir events In Cuba, did not move them
to desperate resolve to tolerate no longer
' he existence of a condition of danger and
disorder at our doors that made possible
fucn a ueeu oy wiiuiii-vi iiwual.
; V.t the Instinct of justice crevnlled, and
the nation anxiously awaited the result
, of the searching Investigation at once set
fn foot. The finding of the navul board
Cf inquiry established that the origin. of
he explosion was external by a subma
rine mine, and only halted, through lack
f positive testimony, to nx tne responsi
bility of Its authorship.
J PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.
tongress' Appropriation ot Fifty Mil
lions for Nutlonnl Defense.
1$ All those things carried conviction to
'the moBt thoughtful, even before the
finding of the naval court, that a crisis
In our relations with Spain and toward
Cuba was at hand. Be strong was tills
belief that It needed but a brief execu
tive suggestion to congress to receive Im
mediate answer to the duty of making
iinstant provision for the possible and per
haps speedily probable emergency of war,
and the remarkable, almost unique, ipea
tkcle was presented of a unanimous vote
of both houses on the 9th of March ap
propriating 150,000,000 "for the national de
' Jsnse and for each and every purpose con
nected therewith, to be expended at the
lscretIon of the president."
If That thla act of provision came none
too soon was disclosed when the applica
tion of the fund 'was undertaken. Our
forts were practically undefended; our
javy needed large provision for Increased
nmunltlon and supplies, and even num-
ers to cope with any sudden attack from
he navy of Spain, which comprised mod-
rn vessels of trie highest type of conti
nental perfection. Our army also re
quired enlargement of men and muni
tions. The details of the hurried prepa
jktlons for the decided contingency Is told
tn the reports of the secretaries ot war
nd of the navy, and need not be repeated
ere.
lit Is sufficient' to say that the outbreak
tt war, when It did come, found our na
lion not unprepared to meet the conflict,
sor was the apprehension of coming strife
ilonflned to our own country. It was felt
my the continental powers, which, on April
through their ambassadors and envoys.
iodressed to tne executive an expression
hope that humanity and moderation
lght mark the course of this govern
ment and people, and that further nego-
sit Ions would lead to an attempt, which.
mile securing tne maintenance of peace,
puia amrm an necessary guarantees for
e re-establishment of order In Cuba.
Proposal of an Armistice.
still animated by the hope of a peace-
solution and obeying the dictates of
llty, no effort was relaxed to bring abour
If speedy ending of the Cuban strunirle.
Igotiatlons to this effect continued
iftlvely with the government of Spain
pklng to the Immediate conclusion of a
k months' armistice In Cuba with a
tw to effect the recognition of her peo
t's right to Independence. Besides this,
lm Instant revocation of the order of re
fpicentratlon was asked, so that the suf
nters. returning to their homes and
Iped by united American and Spanish
ion, migni De put in a way to support
I ssmselvea, and by orderly resumption of
I to well-nigh destroyed productive ener
es of the Island contribute to the rea
Iratlon of Its tranquillity and well-being.
Anthorltv to Intervene.
jh-leved and disappointed at this barren
looms of my iinoer endeavors to reach
actlcable solution, I felt It my duty to rarmy under Major-Oeneral Shafter landed f
It the whole question to congress. In at Daiquiri, about 16 miles eat of Santt-
prac
remit the whole q
the miwime of April 11, 18118, 1 announced
that with thla last overture In the direc
tion of Immediate peace In Culia and Its
disappointing reception by Spain the ef
fort of the executive was brought to an
end. I again reviewed the alternative
course of action which I had prepared,
i concluding that the only courac consonant
with Intel national policy and compatible
with our firmly act historical traditions
was Intervention as a ncutrul to atop the
war and checK the hopeless sacrinee oi
life, even though that resort Involved
hotlle constraint upon both parties to
the contest, as well to enforce a truce aa
to provide for eventual settlement."
On April 22 I proclaimed a Diocaaae or
the northern coast of Cuba, Including
porta on said coast between Cardenas and
lluhla Honda and the port of cienruegos,
on the south coast of Cuba; and on the 23d
I called for volunteers to execute the pur
pose of the resolution.
Tbe Ilrrlarallnn of War.
Tly my message of April 25, congress was
Informed of the situation, unB I recom
mended formal declaration of the exist
ence of a slate of war between the United
States and Sniiln. Congress
accordingly i
voted on the same duy the act approved
April 25. 1W. declaring the existence or.
such war from and Including the 21st day
of April, and re-enacted the provision of
the resolution of April 20, directing tne
president to use all the armed forces of the
nation to carry, that act Into effect.
Hue notification of the existence ot war
as aroresaid was given Apri zd oy ieie
graph to all the governments with which
the United States maintained relations, in
order thut their neutrality might be ua-
sured during the war. The various govern
ments responded with proclamations 01
neutrality, each after Its own method. It
la not among the least gratifying Incidents
of the struggle that the obllaatlons of
neutrality were Impartially discharged by
all. often under delicate and difficult cir
cumstances.
The national defense fund of f.iO,ouo,w
was expended in large pan uy me
army and the navy, and the objects for
which It was used are fully shown in me
reports of the several secretaries. It was
a most tlmoly appropriation, enabling the
government to strengthen Its defenses and
to make preparations greatly necaea in
cane of war. This fund being inadequate
to the requirements of equipment and for
the conduct of the war, the patriotism of
congress provided the means In the war
revenue act of June 13 by authorising a
3 per cent popular loan, not to exceed
1400,000,000, and by levying auuitionai im
posts and taxes. Of the authorized loan,
200,000,ooo was offered and promptly taken,
the subscriptions so lar exceeding me
call as to cover It many times over.
While preference was given to the small
er bids, no single allotment exceeded
S&000. This was a most encouraging and
significant result, showing the vast re
sources of the nation and the determina
tion of the people to uphold their coun
try's honor,
rnoGitKss OK TUB conflict.
Urllllant
Series ot Victories
American Arms.
for
It Is not within the province of this
message to narrate the history of the
extraordinary war that followed the
Spanish declaration of April 21, but a
brief recital ot Its more salient features
Is appropriate. The .first encounter of the
war In point of date took place April
27, when a detachment of the blockading
suiiadron made a reconnolssnnce In force
at Mutanzas, shelled the harbor fortifica
tions and demolished several new works
In construction.
Dewey at Manila.
The next engagement was destined to
mark a memorable epoch In maritime war
fare. The Pacific fleet, under Commo
dore Qeorge Dewey, had lain for some
weeks at Hong Kong. Upon the colonial
proclamation of neutrality being Issued
and the customary 24 hours' notice being
given, It repaired to Mlrs bay, near Hong
Kong, whence It proceeded to tne Philip-
pine Islands under telegraphlo orders to
capture or destroy tne formidable pan
Ish fleet then assembled at Mnnila, At
daybreak on May 1 the American force
entered Manila bay, and after a few hours'
engagement effected the total destruction
of ths Spanish fleet, consisting oi tu war
ships and a transport, besides capturing
tha naval station and forts at Cavlte, thus
annihilating the Spanish naval power in
the Paclllo ocean and oompletely oontrol
ling the bay ot Manila, with the ability
to take the city at will. Not a life was
lost on our ships, the wounded number
ing only seven, while not a vessel was
materially Injured. For this gallant
achievement congress, upon my recom
mendation, fitly bestowed upon the actors
preferment and substantial reward.
No uiTiaeu victory.
Only reluctance to cause needless loss
of life and property prevented the early
storming and capture of the city, and
therewith the absolute military occupation
of the whole group. The Insurgents,
meanwhile, had resumed the active hos
tilities suspended by the uncompleted
truce ot December, 1897. Their forces In
vested Manila on the northern and east
ern side, but were constrained by Admiral
Dewey and General Merrltt from attempt
ing an assault. It was fitting that what
ever was to be done In the way of de
olslvs operations In that quarter should be
accomplished by the strong arm ot tbe
United states alons.
Obeying the stern precept of war, which
enjoins the overcoming of the adversary
and the extlnotion ot his power wherever
assailable as the speedy and sure means
to win a peace, divided vlotory was not
permissible, for no partition of the rights
and responsibilities attending the enforoe.
ment of a Just and advantageous peaoe
could be thought ofw
Following the -adopttan of a comprehen
sive scheme ot general attack, powerful
foroeB 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
Wlnslow were unsuccessful In an attempt
to sllenoe -the batteries at Cardenas, In
Matanias, Ensign Worth Bagley and four
seamen falling. These grievous fatalities
were strangely enough among the very
few which oocurred during our naval
operations In this extraordinary conflict,
Hobson's Heroism,
The next act In the war thrilled not
alone the hearts of our countrymen, but
the - world, by Its exceptional heroism,
on tne night of June I Lieutenant Hob-
son, aided by seven devoted volunteers,
blocked the narrow outlet from Santiago
harbor by sinking the collier Merrlmac.in
the channel under a fierce fire from the
shore batteries, escaping with their lives
as by a miracle, but - falling Into the
hands of the Spaniards. It Is a most grat
ifying Incident of the war that the brav
ery of this little band of heroes was cor
dially appreciated by the Spaniards, who
sent a flag of truce to notify Admiral
Sampson of their safety and to compli
ment them upon their daring act. They
were subsequently exohanged. Julv 7,
By June 7 the cutting of the last Cuban
cable Isolated the island. Thereafter the
Invasion was vigorously prosecuted. June
10, under a heavy protecting Are. a land-
lng force of 600 marines from the Oregon,
Marblehead and Yankee was effected at
Quantanamo bay, where tt had been de-
termlned to establish a cable station. This
Important and essential 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 the
desperate attempts to dislodge our forces,
By June It additional foroei were landed
and strongly intrenched.
June, a the advance f tnt lnv4ln
ago. This was accomplished under great
dllllcultles, 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
cavalry and the Klrnt volunteer oavalry,
General Young's brigade of General
Wheeler's division, participated, losing
heavily. By nightfall, however, ground
within five miles of Santiago was won.
The advantage was steadily Increased.
On July 1 a severe battle took place, our
forces gelnlng the outerworks of Santiago,
and El Cuney and San Juan were taken
after a desperate charge and the Invest
ment of the city was completed. The
navy co-operated by shelling the town
and the coast forts.
Destruction of he Armada.
On the 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 the harbor, was met by the Amerl-
can squadron under command of Commo
dore Sampson. In less than three hours
all the Spanish ships were destroyed.
1,wo inuu-. - " "
Tilt K-IWO, iiiim aiun uiuciuu, . i.luj.
and Cristobal Colon were driven ashore.
The Spanish admiral and over 1300 men
were taken prisoners. While the enemy's
loss of life was deplorably large, some
2U0 perishing, on our side but one man
was killed and one man seilously wound' d.
Although our ships were repeatedly struck,
not one was seriously Injured. The men
also conspicuously distinguished them
selves, from the commanders to the gun
ners and the unnamed heroes In the
boiler-rooms, each and all contributing
toward tha achievement of this astound
ing victory, for which neither ancient nor
modern history affords a parallel In the
completeness of ths event and the marvel
ous disproportion of casualties. It would
be Invidious to single out any for special
honor. Deserved promotion has rewarded
ths mere conspicuous actors the nation's
profoundest gratitude Is due to all of those
bravs 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 can scarcely be measured. Nor can
we be unmindful of the achievements of
our builders, mechanics and artisans for
their skill In the construction ot our war-
hips.
With the catastrophe or Santiago,
Spain's effort upon the ocean virtually
ceased. A spasmodic effort toward the
end of June to send her Mediterranean
fleet, under Admiral Camara, te relieve
Manila was abandoned, the expedition oe-
Ing recalled after it had passed through
the fsuei canal.
Bnrrender of Santiago.
The capitulation of Santiago followed.
Tha city wae closely besieged by land,
while the entrance of our ships into tne
harbor cut off all relief on that side, After
truce to allow of the removal of the
noncombatants, protracted negotiations
continued from July 3 until July 16, when,
under menace of Immediate assault, tne
preliminaries of eurrendor were agreed
upon, On the 17th General Bhafter oocu.
pled the city. The capitulation embraced
the entire eastern end of Cuba, me num
ber of Spanish soldiers surrendered was
22,000, all of whom were subsequently con
veyed to Bpaln at the charge of the
United States. The story ot tnis success
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 Miles had pre
viously been assigned to organize an ex
pedition for that purpose, fortunately,
he was already at Santiago, where he had
arrived on the 11th of July with reinforce
ments for General Shatter's army. With
these troopB, consisting of 3415 Infantry
and artillery, two companies of engineers
and one company of the signal corps. Gen
eral MIK'S left uuamanamo juiy i, nav-
Ing nine transports convoyed by the Meet
under Captain Higglnson, with the Mas
sachusetts (flagship), Dixie. Gloucester,
Columbia and Yale, the two latter carry
ing troops. Ths expedition landed at
Guanlca, July 25, which port was entered
with little opposition. Here the fleet was
Joined by the Annapolis and Wasp, while
the Puritan and Amphltrlte went to Ban
Juan and Joined the New Orleans, which
was engaged In blockading that port. The
major-general commanding was subse-
quently reinforced by General Schwann's
brigade of the Third army corps, 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
operations for the capture of the Island,
Aa a potent Influence toward peace, the
outcome of the Porto Rtcan expedition
Is due to those who participated in it.
Last Battle of the War.
The last scene of the war was enacted
at Manila, Its starting place. On August
15. after a brief assault upon the works
by the land forces, 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 vlo
tory of the first of May, the result of the
war was formally sealed. To General
Merrltt, his officers and men, for their un-
oomplalnlng and devoted services, for their
gallantry In action, the nation Is sincerely
grateful. Their long voyage was made
with singular success, and the soldierly
oonduct of the men, ot whom many were
without previous experience In the mili
tary service, deserves unmeasured praise.
Total Casualties.
The total casualties in killed and wound
ed In tbe army during the war was as fol
lows:
Officers killed, 23; enlisted men killed,
257; total, 280; officers wounded, 113; en
listed men wounded, 1464; total, 1577.
Of the navy, killed, 17: wounded. 67:
died as result of wounds, 1; Invalided from
service, 0; total, 91.
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.
Spain's Overtures for Cessation of
Hostilities.
The annihilation of Admiral Cervera's
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 minister of state,
Inviting the United States 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 terms ot this
government were announced substantially
In the protocol, afterwards signed, on
August 10, the Spanish reply dated AugUBt
7 was handed by M. Cambon to the sec
retary of Btate. 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 reservations In regard to our
demand as to the Philippines.
Conceiving that discussion on this point
could neither be practicable nor prontabie,
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
terms In which the negotiations for peace
were undertaken. Tha vagus and Inex
plicit suggestions ot the Spanlab not
could not be accepted, the only reply be- '
In to present as a virtual ultimatum a
draft of the protocol, embodying the pre
cise terms tendered to Spain in our note
of July 30, which added stipulations of
dntuils aa to the appointment of com
missioners to arranKe for the evacuation
ot the Spanish Antilles. On August 12,
M. Cambon announced his receipt of full
powers to sign the protocol as submitted.
Terms of the Protocol.
Accordingly, on the afternoon of August
12, M. Cambon as the plenipotentiary ot
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
States the Island ot Porto Itlco and other
uilands now under Spanish sovereignty In
the West Indies, and also an Island In
the Ladrones to be selected by the United
States.
"Article 3.i.The Uo'tcd States will occu
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 and government of the
Philippines."
The fourth article proviaea tor tne ap-
polntment of Joint commissions on the
part or me uniieu omim nu ui""
meet In Havana and San Juan, respective
ly, for the purpose of arranging and car
rying out the details of the stipulated
evacuation of Cuba, Porto Rico and other
Spanish Islands In the West Indies.
The fifth article provided for the ap
pointment of not more than five commis
sioners on each side to meet at Paris not
later than October 1, and to proceed to
the negotiation and conclusion ot a
treaty of peace, BUbject to ratuicauon bc
cording to the respect ve constitutional
forms of the twq countries. i
The sixth and last article proV'dei i that ;
upon the signing of the Ptocol. 1 hotm. ,
ties between the two countries shall be
"iiprf. nd that notice to that effect
should be given as soon as possible by
each government to the commanders of
its naval forces,
Immediately upon the conclusion of the
protocol, I Issued the proclamation of Au
gust 12. suspending hostilities on the part
of the United States. The necessary or
ders to that end were at onoe given by tel
egraph. The blockade of the ports of Cu
ba and of San Juan de Porto Rico was In
like manner raised. On AugUBt 18, the
muster-out of 100,000 volunteers, or as near
hat nnmher as was found to be practica
ble, was ordered. On December 1, 101,655 of
ficers and men had been mustered out and
discharged from the service; 0O2 more w"
be mustered out by the 10th of the month;
also a corresponding number of generals
and general staff officers have been hon-
rabty discnargea irom ine seiviuu.
mu, "iBV'io
The military commissions to superintend
the evacuation of Cuba, Porto Rico and
the adjacent Wands were forthwith ap
pointed:
For Cuba Major-fleneral James F.
Wade, Rear-Admiral William T. Sampson,
Major-General Matthew v. Butler.
For Porto Rico Major-General John (J.
Brooke. Rear-Admiral Wlnfield Scott
Schley, Brigadier-General W. Gordon.
They soon afterwards met tne spantsn
commissioners at Havana and San Juan,
respectively. The Porto Rloo Joint oominls-
on speedily accomplished Its tasK, ana
by October 18 the evacuation of the Island
was completed. The United states nag
was raised over the island at noon that
day. The administration of Its affairs hus
been provisionally intrusted to a military
governor until congress shall otherwise
provide. The Cuban Joint high commis
sion has not yet terminated Its labors. Ow
ing to the difficulties In the way of remov
ing the large number of Spanish troops
till In Cuba, the evacuation cannot be
completed before the 1st of January next.
The Peace Commission.
Pursuant to the fifth article of the pro
tocol, I appointed William R. Day, lately
secretary of state; Cushman K. Davis,
William P. Frye and George Gray, senators
of the United States, and Whitelaw Held,
to be peace commissioners on the part or
the United States. Proceeding In due
season to Paris, they there met, on the
1st of October, five eommtssloners slm
ilarly appointed on the part of Spain. Tho
negotiations have made hopeful progress,
eo 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.
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. Suoh a discussion will
be appropriate after the treaty of peace
hall be ratified. In the meantime, and
until eongress 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.
OCR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Aside From Spain We Have Had No
Serious Differences With Other
Nations.
With the exception of the rupture with
Spain, the Intercourse of the United States
with the great family of nations has been
marked with cordiality, and the olose of
the eventful year finds moat of the Issues
that necessarily arise In the complex rela
tions of sovereign states adjusted or pre
senting no serious obstacles to adjust
ment and honorable solution by amicable
agreement.
A long-unsettled dispute as to the ex
tended boundary between the Argentine
republic and Chile, stretching along the
Andean crests, from the southern bor
der of the Atacama 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 ot
fact upon which the respective commis
sioners were unable to agree being In
course of reference to her Britannic 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, bids fair to be settled In like
manner by a Joint commlesion, upon which
the United States minister at Buenos
Ayres has been invited to serve as um
pire In the last resort.
International Cable Agreement.
I have found occasion to approach the
Argentine government with a view to re
moving differences of rate charges im
posed upon the cables of an American
corporation in the transmission between
Buenos Ayres and the cities of Uruguay
and Brazil of through messages passing
from and to the United States. Although
the matter Is complicated by exclusive
concessions by Uruguay and Brazil to
foreign companies, there Is a strong hope
that a good understanding will be reached
and that the Important channels of com
merclal communication between the
United States and the Atlantic cities of
South America may be freed from an al
most, prohibitory discrimination.
. .-X" Foreign Exhibitions.
Despite the brief time allotted for prep
aration, the exhibits of this country at
the universal exposition at Brussels In
1897 enjoyed the singular d'stlnctlon of a
larger proportion 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 the world's
markets Is obvious.
The Nicaragua Canal.
Ths Nicaragua canal commission, under
Rear - Admiral John 0. Walker, appointed '
July 24, 1K97, under the authority of a
provlslon In the sundry civil art of June 4,
of that year, has nearly completed Its
labors, and the results of Us exhaustive
Inquiry Into the proper route, the feasibil
ity and the cost of construction of an In
teroceanlc canal by the Nicaragua routs,
will be laid before you. In the perform
ance of its work the commission received
all possible courtey and assistance from
the governments of Nicaragua and Costa
Rica, which thus testified their apprecia
tion of the Importance of giving a speedy
and practical outcome of the project that
has for so many years engrossed the at
tention of the respective countries.
As the scope of recent Inquiry embraced
the whole subject with the aim ot making
plans and surveys for a canal by the mont
convenient route, It necessarily Included
a review of the results of previous sur
veys and plans, and In particular those
adopted by the Maritime Canal Company
under Its existing concessions from Nica
ragua and Costa Rica, so that to this. ex
tent these grants necessarily held an es
sential part In the deliberations and con
clusions of the canal commission as they
have held and must needs hold In the dis
cussion of the matter by congress. Un
der these circumstances, and In view of
overtures made to the governments of
Ncaragua an(j 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 lnteroceanic canal by this route re
quire the maintenance of the status quo
until the canal commission shall have re-
baye had m oppQrtunlty t0 pas
finaly upon tbe wnole matter during the
eBt Besaon wltnou, prejudlct Dy rea
h , h exlItlng condl.
...
tlons
Nevertheless, It appears that the gov
ernment of Nicaragua, as 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 conceaslon to another association
to become effective on the expiration of
the present grant. It does not appear
that surveys have been made or what
route is proposed under this concession,
so 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 linking of the
Atlantic and Paclflo oceans by a practical
waterway Is to be realized. That the
construction of such a maritime highway
: r , .,, 7 ,
ta .nvT mnr than ver tnrilRnnaahla tn
------ .
" intimate ana reaay mtercommuni.
seaboards demanded by the annexation
of the Hawaiian Islands and the prospec
tive expansion ot our lnfluenoe 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 I doubt not con
gress will duly appreciate and wisely act
upon.
The Paris Exposition.
There is now every prospect that Ihe
participation of the United States in the
universal exposition to be held In Paris
tn 1900 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 tn 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 Urge
opportunities to make known our national
progress in art, science and manufac
tures, as well as the urgent need ot lm
mediate and adequate provision to enable
due advantage thereof to be taken. Mr.
Handy's death soon afterward rendered
it necessary for another to take up and
complete his unfinished work, and Janu
ary 11 last, Mr, ThomaB W. Cridler, third
assistant secretary ot state, was desig
nated to fulfill that task. His report was
laid before you by my message of June
14. 1S98. with the gratifying result of
awakening renewed Interest In the pro
jected display..
Trade Relations With France and
Germany.
The commercial arrangements made
with France on May 28, 1898, under the
provisions of section 3, of the tariff act
of 1S97, went into effect on June 1 Know
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
view to the Increase of trade between
the two countries to their mutual ad
vantage. Negotiations with other govern
ments, in part interrupted oy tne war
with Spain, are in progress under both
sections of the tariff act. I hope to be
able to announce some ot the results of
these negotiations during the present ses
sion at congress.
ANNEXATION OF HAWAII.
Existing; Lavrs in Force Pendlnsr Ac
tlon by Congress.
Pendlnsr the consideration by the senate
of the treaty signed June 16, 1897, by the
plenipotentiaries of the United states ana
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 lncor
noratlne the ceded territory into the
TTnlnn was adoDed bv congress and ap
nroved Julv 7. 1898. I thereupon directed
the United States Bteamer Philadelphia
to convey Rear-Admiral Miller to Hono
lulu and entrusted to his hands this Im
portant legislative act to be delivered to
the president ot tne repuouo oi mmu,
with whom the admiral and the United
States minister were authorized to maae
appropriate arrangements for transfer
ring the sovereignty of tne islands to me
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 powers 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 fill vacancies. The present offi
cers and troops of the republic 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 the
Hawaiian islands as they should deem
necessary or proper.
Recommendations of the Commission,
The commissioners having fulfilled the
mission confided to them, their report
will be laid before you at an early day.
It Is believed that their recommenda
tions, will have ths earnest consideration
4ut t the magnitude ot the responsibility
renting upon you ti
the relationship of t
to give such shape to
those mld-Pai iflc lands
to our home union as wi.l 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, whi e, at the same time.
Justifying the foresight of those who for
three-quarters of a century have looked
to the assimilation of Haw II as a natural
and Inevitable consummation in harmony
with our needs and In fulfilment 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 the provisions of the Joint resolu
tion, the existing customs relations of the
Hawaiian islands with the United States
and with other eountrlea remain un
changed until legislation shnll otherwise
provide. The consuls of Hiwatl, rn;re and
In foreign countries, con Inue to fulfill
there commercial agencies, while the
United States 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-
celve new exequaturs from this
govern-
ment.
New Maritime Policy.
The annexation of Hawaii and ths
Cuba. Porto Rico and the Philippines r. ':
suiting from the war, compel the prompt i 'ie United States, to be styled the tor
adoption of a mar time policy by frequent ritory of Hawaii. The bill contains
,the,l?;8!1.i,C?m.Ir'unlc10?. en.coura8ed b'! provisions for government of the terri-
the United states, under the American flag, f . i - i
with the newly acquired Islands. 8rin lory 8iv,n8 u legislative, executive
furnished to Its colonies, at an annual cost
of about $2,000,000, steamship lines com-1
municatmg with a portion of the world s
markets as well as with trade centers of I
the home government. The United States1
will not undertake to do less. It is our
duty to furnish the people of Hawaii with '
faculties, under national control, for their
capuii mm impui i imuc n win De con
ceded that the present situation calls for
legislation which shall be prompt, dur
able and liberal.
ARMY REORGANIZATION.
Standing; Farce of 100.000 Men Needed
Vader Present Conditions.
Under the act of congress aoproved
April 26, 1898, authorizing the president In
his discretion, upon a declaration of war
by congress or a declaration by congress
mat war exists, 1 directed the Increase
of the regular army to the maximum of
62,000, authorized in said act.
There are now in the regular army 57.-
862 officers and men. In said act it was
provided: "That at the end of any war in
which the United States may become In.
volved, the army shall be reduced to a
peace basis by transfer in 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 oy tne law in force prior to the
passage of this act except as to the In
crease of 25 majors provided for in section
hereof.
The importance of legislation for the
permanent increase of the army is there-
fore manifest, and the recommendation
of the secretary of war for that purpose
has my unqualified approval. There can
be no question that at this time and prob
ably tor some time In the future 100,000
men will be none too many to meet tha
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 force
If In his 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 ot which we are
charged.
Volunteers 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 ot 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 In its emergency.
POSTAL SERVICE.
Extraordinary Growth and Gratifying
Increase In Efficiency.
The postal service of the country ad
vances with extraordinary growth. Within
20 years both the revenues and expendi
tures of the postofflce department have
multiplied three-fold. In the last 10 years
they have nearly doubled. Our postal
business grows much more rapidly than
our population. It now Involves an expen
diture of (100,000,000 a year, numbers 73,000
postofficea and enrolls 200,000 employes.
This remarkable extension of a Bervlce,
which is an accurate index of the publio
conditions, presents gratifying evidence of
the advancement of education, of the In
crease of communication and business
activity and of the Improvement ot mall
facilities, leading to their constantly aug
menting use.
The war with Spain laid new and excep
tional labors on the postofflce department.
The mustering of the military and naval
forces of the United States required spe
cial mall arrangements for every camp
and every campaign. The communication
between home and camp was naturally
eager and expectant. In some of the
larger places ot rendezvous as many as
50,000 letters a day required handling.
This necessity was met by the prompt
detail ot experienced men from the es
tablished force and by directing ail the
Instrumentalities of the railway mail and
postoffice service so far as necessary to
this new need, Congress passed an act
empowering the postmaster-general to es
tablish an office or branch at every mili
tary camp or station, and under this au
thority the postal machinery was speed
ily put Into effective operation.
Capital Centennial,
In the year 1900 will occur the centen
nial anniversary of the founding of the
city of Washington for the permanent
capital of the government of the United
States by authority of an act of con
gress approved July 16, 1790. In May,
1800, the archives and general offices of the
federal government were removed to this
place. On the 17th of November, 1800, the
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 tn 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 plans have been wrought
out with a constant progress and a sig
nal success, even beyond anything tholr
framers had foreseen.
Labor Laws.
The alien contract law Is shown by ex
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
ot labor and of the principle ot arbitra
tion are suggested for consideration, and
I commend these subjects to the careful
consideration of congress.
WILLIAM M'KINLET.
Executive Mansion, December 6, .IBjf,
TO GOVERN HAWAII
President Transmits Report
of the Commission.
THREE BILLS ACCOMPANY IT
First of These Provides for General Or
ganization of the Ter- '
rltory.
Washington, Dec. 8. The president
today transmitted to congress the report
of the Hawaiian commission, together
with the text of bills drawn by the
commission for government of the
islands as pait of the United States.
Three bills are formnlated for the con
sideration of congress. The fiist and
principal one outlines a general plan of
government and the other two deal with
subordinate questions.
The main bill provides for the forma-
t,on of the "nds into a territory tif
no judicial officers. A governor, sec-
retary of the territory, United States
district judge, United States district at-
t i ri i c. . 1 i .
torney and DnlteJ States marshal ate to
De appointed by the president and an
internal revenue district and a customs
district created.
The offices of president, minister for
foreign affairs, finance, public instruc
tion, auditor-general, deputy auditor
general, surveyor-general and material
are abolished.
The officers of the territory under the
new regime are attorney-general, super
intendent of public works, superintend
ent of public instruction, auditor and
deputy auditor, surveyor, treasurer, and
a chief sheriff, to succeed to the duties
of marshal of the republio, all to he ap
pointed by the governor.
Probably the most important portion
of the bill is section 4, defining citizen
ship, which piovides: "All white per
sons, including Portuguese and persons
of African descent, and all persons de
scending from the Hawaiian race on
either paternal or maternal side who
were citizens of the republic of Hawaii
immediately prior to the transfer of
sovereignty thereof to the United States
are hereby declared citizens of the
United States."
Provision is made for a .legislature,
to consist of two houses; a senate, to
consist of 15 members, and a house of
tepresentatives, consisting of SO mem-,
bers. The members are to be elected
by general election.
Sessions of the legislature are limit
ed to 60 days.
Five registration districts are provid
ed, and the governor of the territory
is anthorized to appoint registration
boards with the advice of the senate.
The bill also provides for the elec
tion of a delegate to the house of repre
sentatives in congress, this delegate to
possess the same powers and privileges'.
now accorded to other delegates in con
gress. The governor is to appoint a -chief
justice and two associate justices
of the supreme court, the judges of the
oircuit court, the members of the board
of health, commissioners of public in
struction, prison inspectors, boards of
registration, inspectors of election and
other public offices that may be created
by law and all officers whose salaries
exceed $3,000 per annum. Other pro
visions of the report are as follows:
The governor is to possess the veto
power, but his veto may he overridden
by a two-thirds vote of both houses of
the legislature. The legislature is au
thorized to create town, oity ot county
municipalities. Foreign goods and ar
ticles imported into the islands after
July 7, 1898, are, if afterwards brought
into the United States, to pay the same
duty charged upon like articles which
are imported fiom any foreign country.
Existing laws of Hawaii, not incon
sistent with the constitution and laws
of the United States or this act, con
tinue in force subject to repeal or
amendment by the legislature of Ha
waii or by congress. The laws of Ha
waii relating to public or government
lands will continue in force until
changed by congress. Laws relating to
agriculture and forestry are continued
in force.
The bill also provides that the con
stitution and laws of the United States
looally applicable shall have the same
force and effect in the territory of
Hawaii as elsewhere iq the United '
States.
Bill for Sugar-Beet Kounty.
Salem, Or., Dec. 8. While looking
after other business interests at the
oapital, Turner Oliver is incidentally
doing what he can to further the inter
ests of a bill ptoviding for a sugar-beet
bounty. It is his purpose to have in
troduced at the coming session of the
legislature the bill introduced at the
special session, which failed to get
through. The report that a colony of
Mormons have settled in the Grand
Bonde valley, in pursuance of a con
tract to supply the factory with sugar
beets, Mr. Oliver says, is not correct.
A number of farmers are under con
traot, he says; to furnish beets to the
faotory, but there is no Mormon colony.
Washington, Dec. 8. The transport
Puebla arrived at Manila today. No
deaths are reported.
Massacred by Niger Tribesmen.
London, Dec. 8. The British for
eign office has received news that
Lieutenants Keating and Gale and 19
native soldiers were massacred in Oa
tober, while parleying with the tribes
wen of the Niger territory between
Jobna and Ilo.
San Francisco, Deo. 8. Another
body, supposed to be that of ,ln!ge
Carter, an Eastern racing judge, wai
fonnd in the ruins of the Baldwin ho,
tel today.