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About The Corvallis gazette. (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 1898)
m r VOL. XXXV. COKVALLIS, BENTON COUNTY, OREGOX, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1898. XO. 39. She ANNUAL MESSAGE Important Features the President's Address. of OUR LATE WAR A FEATURE Mo Suggestions Made Regarding the Government of Our New Territories Foreign Relations Generally Satis factory Hawaiian Annexation. To the Senate and House of Representa tives: 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. Every manufacture has 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 has increased the treasury's re ceipts to the amount estimated by its authors, the finances of the government have been successfully administered and Its credit advanced to the first rank; while its currency has been maintained at the world's highest standard. Military serv ice under a common flag and for a righteous cause has strengthened the national spirit and served to cement more closely than ever the fraternal bonds be tween every section of the country. A review of the relations of the United States to other powers, always appropri ate, is this year of primary importance, In view of the momentous issues which have risen, demanding in one instance the ultimate determination by arms and in volving far-reaching consequences" which will require the earnest attention of the congress. In my last annual message, very full consideration was given to the question of the duty of the government of the United States toward Spain and the Cu ban insurrection, as being by far the most important problem with which we were called upon to deal. The considera tions then advanced, 'and the exposition of the views therein expressed, disclosed my sense of the extreme gravity of the situation. Setting aside, as logically unfounded or practically Inadmissible, recogni tion of the Cuban insurgents as belliger ents, recognition of the independence of Cuba, neutral intervention to end the war by imposing a rational compromise between the contestants, intervention in favor of one or the other party and the forcible annexation of the island. I con cluded it was honestly due to our friendly relations with Spain that she should be given a reasonable chance to realize her expectations of reform to which she had become irrevocably committed. Within a few weeks previously she had announced comprehensive plans which it was confidently asserted would be efficacious to remedy the evils so deeply affecting our own country, so in jurious to the true Interest of the mother country, as well as to those of Cuba, and so repugnant to the universal sentiment of humanity. Destruction of tne Maine. At this juncture, on the 15th of Febru ary last, occurred the destruction of the In the harbor of Havana orr n mission 01 international courtesy and Sod wUl, a catastrophe the suspicious nature and horror of which stirred the nation's heart profoundly. It is a striking evidence of the poise and sturdy good sense distin guishing our national character that this shocking blow, falling ufon a generous people already deeply touched by pre ceding events in Cuba, did not move them to desperate resolve to to'.erate no longer the existence of a condition of danger and disorder at our doors that made possible such a deed by whomsoever wrought. Tet the instinct of justice prevailed, and the nation anxiously awaited the 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 was external by a subma rine mine, and only halted, through lack of positive testimony, to fix the responsi bility of its authorship. PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. Congress' Appropriation of Fifty Mil lions for National Defense. All those things carried conviction to the most thoughtful, even before the finding of the naval court, that a crisis In our relations with Spain and toward Cuba was at hand. Sc strong was this belief that it needed but a brief execu tive suggestion to congress 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 vcjte of both houses on the 9th of March ap propriating $50,000,000 "for the national de fense and for each and every purpose con nected therewith, to be expended at the discretion of the president." That this act of provision came none too soon was disclosed when the applica tion of the fund was undertaken. Our ports were practically undefended; our navy needed large provision for increased ammunition and supplies, and even num bers to cope with any sudden attack from the navy of Spain, which comprised mod ern vessels of the highest tj-pe of conti nental perfection. Our army also re quired enlargement of men and muni tions. The details of the hurried prepa rations for the decided contingency is told in the reports of the secretaries of war and of the navy, and need not be repeated here. It is sufficient to say that the outbreak of war. when it did come, found our na tion not unprepared to meet the conflict, nor was the apprehension of coming strife confined to our own country. It was felt by the continental powers, which, on April 6, through their ambassadors and envoys, addressed to the executive an expression of hope that humanity and moderation might mark the course of this govern ment and people, and that further nego tiations would lead to an attempt, which, while securing the maintenance of peace, would affirm all necessary guarantees for the re-establishment of order In Cuba. Proposal of an Armistice. Still animated by the hope of a peace ful solution and obeying the dictates of duty, no effort was reiaxed to bring about a speedy ending of the Cuban struggle. Negotiations to this effect continued actively with the government of Spain looking to the immediate conclusion of a six months' armistice in Cuba with a view to effect the recognition of her peo ple's right to independence. Besides this, the instant revocation of the order of re concentration was asked, so that the suf ferers, returning to their homes and aided by united American and Spanish effort, might be put in a. way to support themselves, and by orderly resumption of the well-nigh destroyed productive ener gies of the island contribute to the res toration of its tranquillity and well-being. Authority to Intervene. Grieved and disappointed at this barren outcome of my sincere endeavors to reach a practicable solution, I feit it my duty to remit the whole question to congress. In the message of April 11, 1898, I announced that with this last overture in the direc tion of immediate peace in Cuba 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, concluding that the only course consonant with International policy and compatible with our firmly set historical traditions was Intervention as a neutral to stop the war and check the hopeless sacrifice of life, even though that resort Involved "hostile constraint upon both parties to the contest, as well to enforce a truce as to provide for eventual settlement." In view of all this congress wag asked to authorize and empower the president to fake measures to secure a full and final termination of hostilities between Spain and the people of Cuba and to secure to the island the establishment of a stable government, capable of maintaining or der and observing its international obli gations, in securing peace and tranquil lity and the security of its citizens as well as our own, and for the accomplish ment of those ends to use the military and naval forces of the United States as might be necessary, with added authority to continue generous relief to the starv ing peop'.e of Cuba. The response of congress, after nine days of earnest deliberation, during which the almost unanimous sentiment of your body was developed on every point, save as to the expediency of coupling the proposed action with a formal recognition of the republic of Cuba as the true and lawful government of that island a proposition which failed of adoption the congress, after a conference on the 19th of SVpril. by a vote of 42 to 34 in the senate and 311 to 6 in the house, passed the memorable joint resolution declaring "First That the people of the island of Cuba are, and by right ought to be, free and independent. "Second That it is the duty of the Unltel States and the government of the United States hereby demands that the govern ment of Spain at once relinquish its au thority in the Island of Cuba and with draw Its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters. "Third That the president of the United States be and is hereby directed and em powered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United States and the militia of the several states to such extent as may be necessary to carry these resolu tions into effect. "Fourth That the United States hereby disclaims any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or con trol over said Island, except for the pacifi cation thereof, and asserts Its determina tion, when that is accomplished, to leave the government and control of the island to Its people." Rnptnre of Negotiations. This resolution was approved by the ex ecutive on the next day, April 20. A copy was at once communicated to the Spanish minister at this capital, who forthwith announced that his continuance in Washington had thereby become impos sible, and asked for his passports, which were given him. He thereupon withdrew from Washington, leaving the protection of Spanish interests in the United States to the French ambassador and the Aus-tro-Hungarian minister. Simultaneously with its communication to the Spanish minister. General Wood ford, the American minister at Madrid, was telegraphed confirmation of the text of the joint resolution and directed to communicate It to the government of Spain with the formal demand that R at once relinquish Its authority and govern ment in the Island of Cuba, and withdraw Its forces therefrom, coupling this demand with announcements of the intentions of this government as to the future of the Island, in conformity with the fourth clause of the resolution, and giving Spain until noon of April 23 to reply. Spain, having thus denied the demand of the United States, and initiated that com plete form of rupture of relations which attends a state of war, the executive pow ers authorized by the resolution were used by me to meet the enlarged contingency of actual war between Spain and the United States. On April 22 I proclaimed a blockade of the northern coast of Cuba, Including ports on said coast between Cardenas and Bahia Honda and the port of Cienfuegos, on the south coast of Cuba; anl on the 23d I called for volunteers to execute the pur pose of the resolution. The Declaration of War. By my message of April 25, congress was informed of the situation, and I reeom. mended formal declaration ot tiie exist ence of a statr. of war between the United States and SnatS?-' Congress, accordingly voted' on' the surne day the ac? acr-iaved April 25, 3 898, declaring the existence of such war from and including the2l3t day of April, and re-enacted the provision of the .resolution of April 20, directing the president to use all the armed forces of the nation to carry that net into effect. Duo notification of the existence of war as aforesaid was given April 25 by tele graph to all the 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 Incidents of the struggle that the obligations of neutrality were impartially discharged by all, often under delicate and difficult cir cumstances. In further fulfillment of international duty, I issued, April 26, a proclamation an nouncing the treatment proposed to be ac corded to vessels and their cargoes as to blockade, contraband, the exercise of the right of subjects and the immunity of neu tral flags and neutral goods under the enemy's flag. A similar proclamation was made by the Spanish government. In the conduct of hostilities, the rules of the declaration of Paris, Including abstention from resort to privateering, have accord ingly been observed by both belligerents, although neither was a party to that dec laration. The national defense fund of 150,000,000 was expended in large part by the army and the navy, and the objects for which it was used are fully shown in the reports of the several secretaries. It was a most timely appropriation, enabling the government to strengthen its defenses and to make preparations greatly needed in case 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 authorizing a 3 per cent popular loan, not to exceed J400.COO.000, and by levying additional im posts and taxes. Of the authorized loan, $200,000,000 was offered and promptly taken, the subscriptions so far exceeding the call as to cover it many times over. While preference was given to the small er bids, no single allotment exceeded $5000. 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. PROGRESS OF THE CONFLICT. Brilliant Series of Victories for American Arms. 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 of 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 squadron made a reconnoissance in force at Matanzas, 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 George 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 the Philip pine islands under telegraphic orders to capture or destroy the formidable Span ish fleet then assembled at Manila. At daybreak on May 1 the American force entered Manila bay, and after a few hours' engagement effected the total destruction of the Spanish fleet, consisting of 10 war ships and a transport, besides capturing the naval station and forts at Cavite, thus annihilating the Spanish naval power In the Pacific ocean and completely control ling the bay of 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 wag materially Injured. For this gallant achievement congress, upon my recom mendation, fitly bestawed upon the actors preferment and substantial reward. No Divided 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 tke. whole group. The insurgents, meanwhile, had resumed the active hos tilities suspended by the uncompleted truce of December, 1897. Their forces in vested Manila on the northern and east ern side, but were constrained by Admiral Dewey and General Merritt 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 by the strong arm of the United States alone. Obeying the stern precept of war, which enjoins the overcoming of the adversary and the extinction of his power wherever assailable as the speedy and sure means to win a peace, divided victory was not permissible, for no partition of the rights and responsibilities attending the enforce ment , of a Just and advantageous peace could be thought of. Following the adoption of a comprehen sive scheme of general attack, powerful forces were assembled at various points on our coast to Invade Cuba and Porto Rico. Meanwhile, naval demonstrations were made at several exposed points. May 11 the cruiser Wilmington and torpedo-boat Winslow were unsuccessful in an' attempt to silence the batteries at Cardenas, in Matanzas, Ensign Worth Bagley and four seamen falling. These grievous fatalities were strangely enough among the very few which occurred during our naval operations in this extraordinary conflict. Meanwhile, the Spanish naval prepara tions had been pushed with great vigor. A powerful squadron under Admiral Cer vera, which had assembled at the Cape Verde Islands before the beginning of hos tilities, had crossed the Atlantic ocean and by its erratic movements in the Caribbean sea delayed our military operations, while baffling the pursuit of our fleets. For a time fears were felt lest the Oregon and Marietta, then nearlng home after their long voyage from San Francisco of over 15,000 miles, might be surprised by Admiral Cervera's fleet, but their fortunate arrival dispelled the apprehensions and lent much needed reinforcements. Not until Admiral Cervera took refuge in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, about May S, was it practicable to plan a systematic military attack upon the Antillean possessions or Spain. Several demonstrations occurred on the coast of Cuba and Porto Rico in prepara tion for the larger event. On May 13 the North Atlantic squadron shefled San Juan de Porto Rico. On May 30 Commodore Schley's squadron bombarded the forts guarding the mouth of Santiago harbor. Neither attack had any material result. It was evident that well-ordered land opera tions were Indispensable to achieve a de cided advantage. 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 the night of June 3 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 6hore batteries, escaping with their Hves 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 exchanged, July 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 fire, a land ing force of 600 marines from the Oregon, Marblehead and Yankee was effected at Guantanamo bay, where it had been de termined 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 16 additional forces were landed and strongly intrenched. June 22 the advance ofo the invading army under Maj.r-General Shatter landed st Ziaiquir, about 15 miles east of Santi ago. This -ras .accomplished under great difficulties, but with marvelous dispatj On June t&g-roovernent against, 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'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 gaining the outer works of Santiago, and El Caney 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 the 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 Ameri can squadron under command of Commo dore Sampson. In less than three hours all the Spanish ships were destroyed. Two torpedo-boats were sunk and the Ma ria Teresa, Almirante Oquendo, Vizcaya 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 200 perishing, on our side but one man was killed and one man seriously wounded. 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 the achievement of this astound ing victory, for which neither ancient nor modern history affords a parallel in the completeness of the event and the marvel ous disproportion of casualties. It would be Invidious to single out any for special honor. Deserved promotion has rewarded the mere conspicuous actors 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 can scarcely be measured. Nor can we be unmindful of the achievements of our builders, mechanics and artisans for their skill in the construction of our war ships. With the catastrophe of 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, to relieve Manila was abandoned, the expedition be ing recalled after it had passed through the Suez canal. Surrender of Santiago. The capitulation of Santiago 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 noncombatants, protracted negotiations continued from July 3 until July 15, when, under menace of immediate assault, the preliminaries of surrender were agreed upon. On the 17th General Shafter occu pied the city. The capitulation embraced the entire eastern end of Cuba. The num ber of Spanish soldiers surrendered was 22,000, all of whom were subsequently con veyed to Spain at the charge of the United States. The story of this 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 Hth of July with reinforce ments for General Shatter's army. With these troops, consisting of 3415 infantry and artillery, two companies of engineers and one company of the signal corps, Gen eral Miles left Guantanamo July 21, hav ing nine transports convoyed by the fleet under Captain Hlgginson, with the Mas-. j sachusetts (flagship), Dixie, Gloucester, tjoiumDia and xaie, tne two latter carry ing troops. The expedition landed at Guanica, July 25, which port was entered with little opposition. Here the fleet was joined by the Annapolis and Wasp, while the Puritan and Amphitrlte went to San 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. As a potent Influence toward peace, the outcome of the Porto Rlcan expedition is duo 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 16. 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 vic tory of the first of May, the result of the war was formally sealed. To General Merritt, his officers and men, for their un complaining and devoted services, for their gallantry in action, the nation is sincerely grateful. Their long voyage was made with singular success, and the soldierly conduct of the men, of 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 the 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, 6; total, 91. It will be observed that while our navy was engaged in two great battles and In numerous perilous undertakings in the blockades and bombardments, and more than 50,000 of our troops were transported to distant lands and engaged in assault and siege and battle and many skirmishes In unfamiliar territory, we lost in both arms of the service a total of 1668 killed and wounded, and in the entire campaign by landand sea we did not lose a gun or a flag, or a transport or a ship, and, with the exception of the crew of the Merrl mac, not a soldier or sailor was taken prisoner. On August 7, 46 days from the date of landing of General Shafter's army in Cuba, and" 21 days from the surrender of Santiago, the United States troops com menced embarkation for home, and our entire force was returned to the United States as early as August 24. They were absent from the United States only two months. PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. Spain's Overtures for a 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 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 the 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 reservations in regard to our demand as to the Philippines. 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 terms in which the negotiations for peace were undertaken. The vague and inex plicit suggestions a the Spanish note could not ba acceMsBlthe onjv reply be lng to present as a virtual ultlmaTum aVy clse terms tendered to Spain in our note of July 30, which added stipulations of details as to the appointment of com missioners to arrange for the evacuation of te 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 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 States the island of Porto Rico and other Islands now under Spanish sovereignty in the West Indies, and also an island in the Ladrones to je selected by the United "Article 3. The United 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 provided for the. ap pointment of joint commissions on the part of the United States and Spain to 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 ip 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 of a treaty of peace, subject to ratification ac cording to the respective constitutional forms 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 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 once 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 August 18, the muster-out of 100,000 volunteers, or as near that number 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; 9002 more will be mustered out by the 10th of the month; also a corresponding number of generals and general staff officers have been hon orably discharged from the service. The military commissions to superintend the evacuation of Cuba, Porto Rico and the adjacent islands were forthwith ap pointed: For Cuba Major-General James F. Wade, Rear-Admiral William T. Sampson. Major-General Matthew C. Butler. For Porto Rico Major-General John C. Brooke, Rear-Admiral Winfleld 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 was completed. The United States flag was raised over the is'.and 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 has not yet terminated Its labors. Ow ing to the difficulties in the way of remov ing the large number of Spanish troops still 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 Wjlliam R. Day, lately secretary of state; Cushman K. Davis, William P. Frye and George Gray, senators of the United States, and Whitelaw Reld, to be peace commissioners on the part of the United States. Proceeding in due season to Paris, they thee met, on the 1st of October, five 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 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. 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 FOREIGN RELATIONS. Aside From Spain We Have. Had No Serlons Differences With Other Nations. With the exception of the rupture with Spain, the intercours'e of the United States with the great family of nations has been marked with cordiality, and the close of t-le eventful year finds most of the Issues ttat 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.jn 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 tics, might prevail, despite the grave diffi culties arising in its application. I am happy to say that arrangements to this 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 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 commission, 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 noving 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 mercial communication between the United States and the Atlantic cities of South America may be freed from an al most prohibitory discrimination. 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 distinction 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. The Nicaragua canal commissionunder Rear-Admiral John G. Walker, appointed July 24, 1897, under 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 teroceanic 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 apprecia tion of the importance of giving a speedy and practical outcome of the project that item- 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 of making plans and surveys for a canal by the most fz convenient route, it necessarily included "evi'-yw w. ' -e re'uis previous 6ur"yn ye tfiio plans, ana in adopted by the MaritiiK. Company unde iaw.iscipr concessions fri m 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 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 interoceanle 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 shall have had the opportunity to pass finally upon the whole matter during the present session without prejudice by rea son of any change In the existing condi tions. -. ..-2 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 JUnlted States of Central America, has granted an optional concession 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 underthls 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 Pacific oceans by a practical waterway is to be realized. That the construction of such a maritime highway is new more than ever Indispensable to that intimate and ready Intercommuni cation between our eastern and western seaboards demanded by the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands 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 I doubt not con gress will duly appreciate and wisely act upon. A convention providing for the revival of the late United States and Chilean claims commission and the consideration of claims which were duly presented to the late commission, but not considered because of the expiration of the time lim ited for the duration of the commission, was signed May 24, 1897, and has remained unacted upon by the senate. The term therein fixed for effecting the exchange of ratifications having elapsed, the con vention fails unless the time be extended by amendment, which I am endeavoring to bring about, with the friendly con currence of the Chilean government. The Paris Exposition. There is now every prospect that the participation of the United States in the universal exposition to be held in Paris in 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 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, as well as the urgent need of im 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. Thomas W. rldler, 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 Germany. The commercial arrangements made with France on May 28, 1898, under the provisions of section 3, 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 j under section 4 of the same act, with a view to the increase of trade between the two countries to their mutual ad- -- w nr---' vantage. Negotiations with other govern- ; with Spain, are in progress under bptn sections of the tariff act. I hope tft be able to announce some of the results of these negotiations during the present ses sion of congress. ANNEXATION OF HAWAII. Existing Laws in Force Pending Ac tion by Congress. Pending the consideration by the senate of the treaty signed June 16, 1897, 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, 1898. I thereupon directed the United States steamer 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 of the republic of Hawaii, with whom the admiral and the United States 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 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 shou'd 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 terr.tory 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. Grier, 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 ha'vlng 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 the earnest consideration due to the magnitude of the responsibility resting upon you to give such shape ' to the relationship of those mid-Pacific lands to our home union as will benefit both 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 as 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 the provisions of the joint resolu tion, the existing customs relations of the Hawaiian Islands with the United States and with other countries remain un changed until legls ation shall otherwise pro viae, me consuls of Hawaii, here and roreign rvmnt.rfes. o'ij fxlBiji.' commercial at encles. Awhile" the United States consulate at WrniV,fiT tw-i maintained for all proper services oer- taming to trade and the revenue. would be desirable that all foreign con suls in the Hawaiian Islands should re ceive new exequaturs from this govern ment. New Maritime Policy. The annexation of Hawaii and the' changed relations of the United States to Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines re sulting from the war, compel the prompt ZS, r , r y y irequenr .- .... ..p,. uj the United states, under the American flag, with the newly acquired Islands. Spain furnished to its colonies, at an annual cost of about $2,000,000, steamship lines com municating with a portion of the world's markets as well as with trade centers of the home government. The United States will not undertake to do less. It is our duty to furnish the 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 REORGANIZATION. Standing; Force of 100,000 Men Needed Under Present Conditions. Under the act of congress approved April 26, 1898, authorizing the president in lf Cretin' Up? a, de?)aratJon of war by congress or a declaration by congress that 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 waa provided: "That at the end of any war in which the United States may become in volved, the army shall be reduced to 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 by the law In force prior to the passage of this act except as to the in crease of 25 majors provided for in section 1 hereof." The Importance of legislation for the permanent Increase of the army is 'here- 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 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 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 of which we are charged. Volnnteers 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 in Its emergency. 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, I860, 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 fed.ral 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 fas its future development on a magnificent scale. These orginal plans have been wrought out with a constant progress and a sig nal success, even beyond anything their framers had foreseen. Departmental Reports, The several departmental reports will wa in in nip v nil. i i pv f vc in c ren r Via In 14 hofnrn vnn TIiot ivllra In M-t h rtptol, fha ..-nrtimt f th .ir.in 1 ug miu --.-y." v j s v g j sa governnient during the past year .and die-, cuss many questions upon ' whioh con- gresg may be called upon to act EVENTS OF THE DAY Epitome of the Telegraphic News of the World. TERSE TICKS FROM THE WIRES An Interesting Collection of Items From the Two Hemispheres Presented in a Condensed Form. Thirty-seven people were drowned in the wreck of the steamer Clan Drum rnond in the bay of Biscay. A gift to Wellesley college of $50,000 from the estate of Charles T. Wilder has just been announced. The 50th anniversary of Francis Joseph's accession to the throne was celebrated throughout Austria. Three coal barges were lost and the lives of 10 or 12 men were sacrificed in the recent Atlantic storm oft Bargate. The Philippine insurgents demand 7,000,000 peeetas for the release of 40 friars imprisoned sinoe the commence ment of the war. A fire fiend attempted to burn John Wanamaker's big department store in Philadelphia, but was arrested before serious damage was done. The liabilities of Gillett, the ab sconding Kansas cattle-plunger, con tinue to grow, the latest estimate plac ing the total at $1,500,000. An. unsuccessful attempt was made to bold np and rob a Missouri Pacific passenger train near Sedalia, Mo. One bandit was captured and another was severely wounded. Agninaldo is said to be preparing to make resistance, and Spanish sympa thizers in Madrid declare 60,000 men armed with Mausers will oppose Amer ican control of the Philippines. Secretary Ijong has ordered the cruiser New York to Havana. On his arrival, Sampson will hoist his flag on the cruiser, and it is expected she will bring the admiral north next month. A German government official, in an interview with a correspondent of the press in Berlin confirmed the report that Germany is negotiating with Spain for the purchase of "the Caroline Islands. Advices from New Guinea say the native tiibes living on Musa river late ly raidad the Masini villages, in Col lingwood bay, and massacred 15 coast people. There are no police to deal with the murderers. News from Samoa states that the na tives held a meeting October 13 to discuss the question of the kingship. A number of conciliatory speeches era ; aiivereri. bnt i.r opn'"1tT "ii 'r'WnOr WHS anrleciS10Iiray'i at. - - jatmm- i Two men have been arrested at Lon- It don cn charges Of having robbed the Duchess of Sutherland of valuable jew elry in France last month. Part of the stolen jewelry was in the possession of the robbers when they were arrested Chile is on a specie basis and no more paper money will be issued It is Announced at Washington that no more presidential postmasters will be named until congress meets. The battle-ships Oregon and Iowa have been ordered to proceed from Mon tevideo to Valparaiso, where further orders will await them. Troubles has arisen in Africa be- tween Germany and thw Congo Free State, relative to the rasnecH v hnnn- dary lines north of Lake Tanganika. General Thomas Regalado, the head of the revolutionary movement in Sal vador, has usurped the presidency and proclaimed himself chief executive of the republic. The attempt to effect a coalition be- tween the states of Nicaragua, Hon I duras and Salvador, to be conducted as I the United States of Central America, has failed completely. Arrangements are being made by the war department to disinter the remains of all the soldiers who lost their lives in the campaign before Santiago and bring them to this country. Great improvement in the health of the army has taken place within the last two months, as shown by the last reports to the surgeon-general from the field and 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, but even obtain money in exchange from their victims. It will probably be the end of Decem ber or the beginning of January before any further news is received from the ! men who have chosen to spend the winter on the rich gold-bearing creeks ; 0f the Klondike. About 500 men will I : a ,i; .!. TVAUld V'l 1 bllo 1.1 WM L.JVJ itilli J m TVI country. The navy department has made pub lic a report from Admiral Sampson, covering the operations of the United States blockading fleet off Santiago after the destruction of Cervera's squadron. The report scores General Shafter for making public important telegrams and refusing to recognize the admiral in the surrender. Minor News Items. The steamer Monaroh cleared from New Orleans for Liverpool with the largest general cargo ever carried from that port, embracing 20,630 bales of cotton, 128,000 bushels of corn, 19,000 staves. Sarah Bonnell, an Abilene, (Kan.) young woman, has received a legacy of half a million dollars from a New York friend interested in her musical educa tion. She will go to Paris soon to com plete her musical education. Prisoners when arrested in Morocco are required to pay the policeman for his trouble in taking them to jail. Professor Henry Van Ingen, the ar tist who had been art instructor of Vaasar college since its opening in 1866, died suddenly of angina pectoris at his home in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., aged 65 years. John H. Buckman. captain United Rtata naro otiro,l ar.liatwt ir tha, . . navy 18 years belore tbe civil war and served with Dewey. At Fort Fisher he raced Lieutenant Bob Evans np a sc-dins ladder LATER NEWS. Virden rioters will be prosecuted as fast as information can be obtained against them. The Carlist movement in Spain is gaining ground owing to the apathy of the Spanish government. The official trial of the new torpedo Farragut. in San Francisco bay wae a uuuceHtuui one in eeiv reapcut,. Meyer of Louisiana, has introduced in the house a bill appropriating $12, 000,000 for the construction of a wide, deep channel from deep water of the Mississippi riv.r to deep water of the Gulf of Mexico. 1 The history of the document which will certify the passing of the oldest colonial power in the world and the advent of the newest was epitomized by Judge Day in a-eingle sentence: "A peace treaty to contain anything which the victors put into it." News has been received of one vessel boarded by the Spaniards during the late war. She was the British bark Nellie Brett, and after a thorough ex amination was allowed to proceed. The boarding ciew was from the Al fonso XI II, aftei wards sunk by the Americans. Senor Ronier, Mexican minister to Washington, has notified Secretary Hay that Mexico has determined to ad vance her mission here to the rank of an embassy. Consequently, as soon as the necessary steps are taken, the United States minister to Mexico, Clayton, will become an ambassador. Representative Cousins, of Iowa, has the honor of introducing the first bill in the house at this session. It is en titled "a bill declaring a standard of value in the United Stares," and pro vides that the standard of value in the United States is hereby declared to be and is the standard gold dollar of 25.8 grains of standard gold, 900 fine. In conformity witn the require ments of the law the secretary of the treasury has transmitted to congress the estimates of appropriations re quired for the service of the fiscal year, ending June 30, 1900, as fur nished by the several exceutive depart ments. Those estimates include the permanent annual appropriation ag gregating $593,048,378, as against $808,875,885, the amount of the ap propriation including deficiencies and miscellaneous expenses for the fiscal year of 1898, and $103,647,885, the amount of the estimates of 1809. The estimates given below are tha appropriations for Oregon and Wash ington for the coming year: Gray's harbor, Washington, $500,000; Ya quina bay harbor, Oregon, $400,000; custom-house, Portland, Or., '$200, 000; Columbia river and Willamette river below Portland, $150,000; Co lumbia river at the Cascades, $100, 000; entrance to Coos bay and harbor. ' iTllllitftfllllllnillMlilllllW III " ' I lighthoTnMffi mUKmafu&i- bia river, $24,0righthouse at Bur rows' island, Washington, $15,000. Superior Judge Rhodes Borden died at his home at San Francisco. A boiler in a sawmill near Mont rose, Colo., exploded, killing three men. General Miles has prepared a draft for a bill providing for a standing army of 100,000 men. It is reported that the Great North ern has purchased an line to Portland and will soon come into that city over its own tracks. Mad Mullah's fanatical movement has been partly checked, and a "strong British force is held in readiness to move against the Rebels. The appeal of General Lord Kitch ener, of Khartoum, for funds to found a Gordon memorial college at Khar toum met with an immediate response in London. Over f 70,000 out of the 100,000 aaked for has already been subscribed. During the past week five bodies have been picked up on the beach be tween Florence and Gardiner, Or., with a few miles' space. They are supposed to be the bodies of sailors of the wrecked Atalanta. If so, they must have been carried 40 miles by the ooean currents. The young king of Spain has had a very pleasant windfall in the shape of a legacy of 3,000,000 pesetas, be queathed to him by an old gentleman named Solar, who had a close though unacknowledged relationship to the king, being the natural son of Ferdi nand VII, and great uncle of King Al fonso. Advices from Russia say the reports of threatened famine there are growing more gloomy every day. Count Leo Tolstoi has petitioned the government for permission to form relief commit tees to cope with the distress, and the czar himself has contributed 500,000 roubles to the Red Cross Society to aid the starving peasants. Thurlow Weed Barnes has brought suit in the New York supreme court against the American-China Develop ment Company for $1,000,000 for ser vices in obtaining railroad concessions from the imperial Chinese government, through the Chinese minister at Washington. The concessions are worth in net profit at least $12,000,000 to the company, and they may be worth $24,000,000. California mine owners assert the gold ontput of the state has been cui- tailed at least 50 per cent by a pro longed drought. Oliver Clement, aged 18, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., has married Mrs. Hannah McGinnis, aged 50. She was his step mother's stepmother. Though one of the youngest general officers in the confederate army Gen eral Wheeler was the oldest in the na tional service against Spain. The rapid expansion of our export trade is illustrated by some figures just prepareed by the treasury bureau of statistics showing the gains in our ex ports to Africa. The workmen oi the Libby Glass company in Toledo, O., have completed the largest cut glass bowl ever made in the world, for presentation to Presi dent McKinley. It weighs 75 pounds. The death of Colonel Amos Webster, in Washington, leaves General Horace Porter as the only surviving member of General U. S. Grant's persona) Staff.