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Executive Asks Discretionary ' Power to Intervene. DOES NOT CALL CUBA FREE. He Opposes Recognition of the Insurgent Government. EXBABSIIMEVIEW OF FACTS Whole Perplexing Situation Is Laid Before Congress. President Asks ..Authority to Take Measures for the Termination of Hostilities in Cuba -- Would Use Army and Navy If Necessary--Only Hope of Relief from a Condition • Which Can No Longer Be Endured Is Enforced Pacification of the Island --Maine Disaster Showed tnat Spain Cannot Protect Netitrals in iler Own Ports. President McKinley on Monday sent his Cuban message to Congress. He favors intervention to terminate hostilities in the island and asks discretionary authority, but opposes recognition of present Cuban government. The full text of the mes­ sage follows: Obedient to that precept of the constitu­ tion which commands the President to give from time to time the Congress in­ formation of the state of the Union and to recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient, it becomes my duty now to ad­ dress your body with regard to the grave crisis that has arisen in the relations of the United States to Spain by reason of the warfare that for more than tfcree years has raged in the neighboring island of Cuba. I do so because of the intimate connection of the Cuban question with the state of our own Union and the grave relation the course which it is now incum­ bent upon the natiou to adopt must needs bear to the traditional policy of our Gov­ ernment ir it is to accord with the pre­ cepts laid down by the founders of the republic and religiously observed by suc­ ceeding administrations to the present day. The present revolution is but the suc­ cessor of other similar iusurrections which have occurred in Culm against the domin­ ion of Spain, extending over a period of nearly hair a century, each of which, dur­ ing its progress, has subjected the United States to great effort and expense in en­ forcing its neutrality laws, caused enor­ mous losses to American trade and commerce, caused irritation, annoyance and disturbance among our citizens and by the exercise of cruel, barbarous and uncivilized practices of warfare, shocked the sensibilities and offended the humane sympathies of our people. Ravaged by Fire and Sword. Since the present revolution began in February, 1S95, this country has seen the fertile domain at our threshold ravaged by fire and sword in the course of a struggle unequaled in the history of the island and rarely paralleled as to the number of the combatants and the bitterness of the con­ test by any revolution of modern times where a-dependent people, striving to IK? free, have been opposed by the power of the sovereign state. Our people have be­ held a once prosperous community reduc­ ed to comparative want, its commerce vir­ tually paralyzed, its exceptional produc­ tiveness diminished, its fields laid waste, its mills in ruins and its people perishing by tens of thousands from hunger and destitution. We have found ourselves constrained, in the observance of that strict neutrality which our laws enjoiu and which the law of nations commands, to police our own waters and watch our own seaports in prevention of any unlaw­ ful act in aid of the Cubans. Our trade has suffered, the capital invested by our citizens in Cuba has been largely lost and the temper and forbearance of our peo­ ple have been so sorely tried as to beget a perilous unrest among our own citi­ zens, whieh has inevitably found its ex­ pression from time to time in the national legislature, so that issues wholly external to our own body politic engross attention and stand in the way of that close devo­ tion to domestic advancement that be­ comes a self-contented commonwealth whose primal maxim has been the avoid­ ance of all foreign entanglements. All this must needs awaken, and has, indeed, aroused the utmost concern on the part of this Government as well during my prede­ cessor's term as my own. Evils of Reconcentration. In April, 1S9G, the evils from which our country suffered through the Cuban war became so onerous that my predecessor made an effort to bring about a peace through the mediation of this Government in any way that might tend to an honor­ able adjustment of the contest between Spain and her revolted colony on the basis of some effective scheme of self- government for Cuba under the flag and sovereignty of Spain. It failed through the refusal of the Spanish Government then in power to consider any form of mediation, or, indeed, any plau of settle­ ment which did not begin with the actual submission of the insurgents #the mother country, nnd then only on such terms as Spain herself might see tit to grant. The war continued unabated. The re­ sistance of the insurgents was in no wise diminished. The efforts of Spain were increased, both by the dispatch of fresh levies to-Cuba and by the addition to the horrors of the strife cf a new and inhu­ man phase, happily unprecedented in the ruodecn history of civilized Christian peo­ ples. The policy of devastation and con­ centration inaugurated by the captain general's bando of Oct. 21, 1890 in the province of Pinar del Rio, was' thence extended to embrace all of the island which the power of the Spanish arms was able to reach by occupation or by military operations. The peasantry, including ail dwelling in the open agricultural interior, were driven into the garrison towns or isolated places held by the troops. The raising acd niovemeot of provisions of all kinds were interdicted. The fields were laid wnste, dwellings unroofed and fired, mills destroyed, and, in short, everything that could desolate the land and render it unfit for human habitation or support was commanded by one or the other of the contending parties and executed by all the powers at their disposal Herded in the Tonjns, By the time the present administration took office* a. year ago reconcentration--so- called--liad been made effective over *he better-partof the four central and west­ ern produces--Santa Clara, Matanzas, Havana and Pinar del Rio. The agricul­ tural population, to the estimated num­ ber of 300,000 or more, was herded with­ in the towns and their immediate vicin­ age, deprived of the means of support, t rendered destitute of shelter, left "poorly | clad and exposed to the most unsanitary conditions, As the scarcity of food increased with the devastation of the depopulated areas of production, destitution and want be­ came misery and starvation. Month by month the death rate increased in an alarming ratio. By March, 1897, accord­ ing to conservative estimates from offi­ cial Spanish sources, the mortality among the reconcentrados from starvation and the disease thereto incident exceeded 50 per centum of their total number. No practical relief was accorded to the des­ titute. The overburdened towns, already suffering from the. general dearth, could give no aid. So-called zones of cultiva­ tion,. established within the immediate area of effective military control about the cities and fortified camps, proved illus­ ory as a remedy for the suffering. The unfortunates, being for the most part women and children, with aged and help­ less men, enfeebled by disease and hun­ ger, could not have tilled the soil without tools, seed or shelter for their own sup­ port or for the supply of the cities. Re­ concentration, adopted avowedly as a war measure in order to cut off the resources of the insurgents, worked its predestined result. As I said in my message of last December, it was not civilized warfare; it was extermination. The only peace i*- could beget was that of the ..wilderness and the grave. „ Meanwhile the military situation in the island had undergone a noticeable change. The extraordinary activity that charac­ terized the second year of the war, when the insurgents invaded even the hitherto unharmed fields of Pinar del Rio, and carried havoc and destitution up to the walls of the city of Havana itself, had relapsed into a dogged struggle in the central and eastern provinces. The Span­ ish arms regained a measure of control in Pinar del Rio and parts of Havana, but under the existing conditions of the rural country, without immediate improvement of their productive situation. Even thus partially restricted the revolutionists held their own, and their submission, put for­ ward by Spain as the essential and sole basis of peace, seemed as far distant as at the outset. Promise of Autonomy. In this state of affairs my administra­ tion found itself confronted with the grave problem of its duty. My message of last December reviewed the situation and detailed the steps taken with a view of relieving its acuteuess and opening the way to some form of honorable settle­ ment. The assassination of the prime minister, Canovas, led to a change of gov­ ernment in Spain. The former adminis­ tration, pledged to subjugation without concession, gave place to that of a more liberal party, committed long in advance to a policy of reform involving the wider principle of home rule for Cuba and Pu­ erto Rico. The overtures of this gov­ ernment, made through its new envoy, General Woodford, and looking to an im­ mediate and effective amelioration of the condition of the island, although not ac­ cepted to the extent of admitted media­ tion in any shape, were met by assurances that home rule, in an advanced phase, would be forthwith offered to Cuba, with­ out waiting for the war to end, antl that more humane methods should thenceforth prevail in the conduct of hostilities. In­ cidentally with these declarations the new government of Spain continued and completed the polk?y already begun by its predecessor of testifying friendly regard for this nation by releasing American citizens held under one charge br an­ other connected with the insurrection, so that by the end of November not a single person entitled in any way to our national protection remained in a Spanish prison. While these negotiations were in prog­ ress the incrcasiug destitution of the un­ fortunate reconcentrados and the alarm­ ing mortality among them claimed ear­ nest attention. The success which had attended the limited measure of relief among them by the judicious expenditure through the consular agencies of the money appropriated expressly for their succor by the joint resolution approved May 24, 1897, prompted the humane ex­ tension of a similar scheme of aid to the great l>ody of sufferers. A suggestion to this end was acquiesced in by the Span­ ish authorities. On the 24th of December last I caused to be issued an appeal to the American people, inviting contributions in money or in kind for the succor of the starving suf­ ferers in Cuba, following this on the 8th of January by a similar public announce­ ment of the formation of a central Cuban relief committee, with headquarters in New York City, composed of three mem­ bers representing the American National Red Cross and the religious and business elements of the community. The efforts of that committee have been untiring and accomplished much. Arrangements for free transportation to Cuba have greatiy aided the charitable work. The president of the American Red Cross and represent­ atives of other contributory organizations have generously, visited Cuba and co-op­ erated with the Consul General and the local authorities to make effective distri­ bution of the relief collected through the efforts of the central committee. Nearly $200,000 in money and supplies has al­ ready reached the sufferers, and more is forthcoming. The supplies are adn^tted duty free, and transportation to the in­ terior has been arranged, so that the re­ lief, at first necessarily confined to Ha­ vana and the larger cities, is now ex­ tended through most, if not all, of the towns where snaring exists. Thousands of lives have already been Vived. Reconcentrado Order Revoked. The necessity for a change in the condi­ tion of the reconcentrados is recognized by the Spanish government. Within a few days past the orders of General Wcy- ler have been revoked, the reconcentrados are, it is said, to be permitted to return to their homes and aided to resume the self- supporting pursuits of peace; public works have been ordered to give them employ­ ment, and a sum of $000,000 has been appropriated for their relief. The war in Cuba is pf such a nature that, short of subjugation or extermina­ tion. a final military victory for either side seems impracticable. The alternative lies in the physical exhaustion of the one or the other party, or perhaps of both--a condition which in effect ended the ten years' war by the truce of Zanjon. The prospect of such a protraction and con­ clusion of the present strife is a contin­ gent hardly to be contemplated with equanimity by the civilized world, and least of all by the United States, affected and injured as we are deeply and inti­ mately by its very existence. Realizing this, it nppeared to be my duty, in a spirit of true friendliness, no less to Spain than to the Cubans, who have so much to lose by the prolongation of the struggle, to seek to bring about an immediate termination of the war. To this end, I submitted, on the 27th ultimo, as a result of much representation and correspondence, through the United States minister at Madrid, propositions to the Spanish government looking to an armistice until Oct. 1 for the negotiation of peace with the good offices of the Pres­ ident. In addition I asked the immediate revo­ cation of the order of reconcentration. so as to permit the people to return to their farms and the needy to be relieved with grevisions and supplies from the United tates, co-operating with the Spanish authorities so as to afford full relief. The reply of the Spanish cabinet was received on the night of the Hist ultimo. It offers, as the means to bring about peace in Cuba, to confide the preparation thereof to the insular department, inas­ much as the concurrence of that body would be necessary to reach a final result, it being, however, understood, that the powers reserved' by the constitution to the central government, are not lessened or diminished. As the Cuban parliament does not meet until the 4th of May next, the Spanish government would not object, for its part, to accept at once a suspen­ sion of hostilities, if asked for by the in­ surgents from the general in chief, to whom it would pertain, in such case, to determine the duration and conditions of the armistice. •.. , The propositions submitted by General Woodford and the reply of the Spanish government were both in the form of brief memoranda, the texts of which are before me, and are substantially in the language above given. The function of the Cuban parliament in the matter of "preparing" peace and the manner of its doing so are not expressed in the Span­ ish memorandum; but from General Woodford's explanatory reports of pre­ liminary discussions preceding the'final conference it is understood that the Span­ ish government stands ready to give the insular congress full powers to settle the terms of peace with the insurgents, whether by direct negotiation or indirect­ ly by means of legislation does not ap­ pear. With this last overture in the direction of immediate peace and its disappointing reception by Spain the executive was brought to the end of his effort. Three Measures Left, In my annual message of December last I said: "Of the untried measures three remain: Recognition of the insurgents as belliger­ ents; recognition of the independence of Cuba; neutral intervention to end the war by imposing a rational compromise be­ tween' the'"contestants and intervention in favor of one or the other party. I speak not of forcible annexation, for that can­ not be thought of. That, by our code of morality, would be criminal aggression." Thereupon I reviewed these alterna­ tives, in the light of President Grant's measured words, uttered in 1875, when, after seven years of sanguinary, destruct­ ive and cruel barbarities in Cuba,: he reached the conclusion that the recogni­ tion of the independence of Cuba was im­ practicable and indefensible; and that the recognition of belligerence was not war­ ranted by the facts, according to the tests of pubiic law. I commented especially upon, the latter aspeCt'bf the question, pointing out the inconveniences and posi­ tive dangers of a recognition of belliger­ ency which, while adding to the already onerous burdens of neutrality witlritumiy- own jurisdiction, could not in any way extend our influence or effective offices in the territory of hostilities. Nothing has since occurred to change my view in this regard--and I recognize as fully now as then that the issue of a proclamation of neutrality, by which process the so-called recognition of bel­ ligerence is published could, of itself and unattended by other action, accomplish nothing toward the one end for which we labor, the instant pacification of Cuba and the cessation of the misery that af­ flicts the island. Jackson on Recognition. Turning to the question of recognizing at this time the Independence of the present Insurgent government In Cuba, we find safe precedents In our history from an early day. They are well summed up In President Jackson's message to Congress Dec. 31, 1836, on the subject of the recognition of the inde­ pendence of Texas. He said: "In all the contests that have arisen out of the revolu­ tions of France, out of the disputes relating to the crews of Portugal and Spain, out of the separation of the American possessions of both from the European governments and out of the numerous and constantly occur­ ring struggles for dominion In Spanish Amer­ ica, so wisely consistent with our Just prin­ ciples has been the action of our govern­ ment' that we hafe, under the most critical circumstances, avoided all censure and en­ countered no other evil than that produced by a transient estrangement of good will In those against whom we have been by force of evidence compelled to decide. "It has thus made known to the world that the uniform policy and practice of the Uni­ ted States Is to avoid all Interference In dis­ putes which merely relate to the internal government of other nations, and eventually to recognize the authority of the prevailing party without reference to our particular in­ terests and views as to the merits of the original controversy. "But on this, as on every other trying occasion, safety is to he found In a rigid ad­ herence to principle. "In the contest between Spain nnd tlie re­ volted colonies we stood aloof and waited, not only until the ability of the new States to protect themselves was fully established, but until the danger of their being again subjugated had eutlrely passed away. Then, and not until then, were they recognized. Such was our course in regard to Mexico her­ self. Case of Texas, "it Is true that with regard to Texas the civil authority of Mexico has been expelled. Its invading army defeated, the chief of the republic himself captured and all present power to control the newly-organized gov-,; eminent annihilated within its confines. But, on the other hand, there Is, In appear­ ance at least, an immense disparity of physi­ cal force on the side of Texas. The Mexican republic, under another executive, Is rally­ ing Its forces under a new leader and men­ acing a fresh Invasion to recover Its lost do­ minion. "Upon the issue of this threatened Invasion th« independence of Texas mrty be consid­ ered as suspended; and were there nothing peculiar In the situation of the United States and Texas, our acknowledgment of Its Inde­ pendence at such a crisis could scarcely be regarded as consistent with that prudent re­ serve with which wo have hitherto held our­ selves bound to treat all similar questions." Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceeded to couslder the risk that there might be Im­ puted to the United States motives of sellish interest in view of the former claim on our part to the territory of Texas and of the avowed purpose of the Texaus in seekiug rec­ ognition of independence as an lucldent to the incorporation of Texas hi the Union, con­ cluding thus: "l'rudence, therefore, seems to dictate that we should still stand aloof nnd maintain our present attitude. If not until Mexico Itself, or one of the great foreign powers, shall rec­ ognize the Independence of the new govern­ ment. at least until the lapse of time or the course of events shall have proved beyond cavil or dispute the ability of the people of that counfy to maintain their separate sov­ ereignty and to uphold the government con­ stituted by thein." Neither of the contending parties can justly complain of tills course. By pursuing It we are but carrying out the long-established policy of our government, a policy which has secured to us respect and influence abroad and Inspired confidence at home." Test of Independence. These are the words of the resolute and patriotic Jackson. They are evidence that the United States, in addition to the test Im­ posed by public law as the condition of the recognition of Independence by a neutral state (to wit, that the revolted states shall "constitute in fact a body politic, having a government In substance as well as in name, possessed of the elements of stability," arid forming de facto, "if left to itself, a state among the nations, reasonably capable of discharging the duties of state") has im­ posed for its own grievance In dealing with cases like these the further condition that recognition of Independent statehood is not due to a revolted dependency until the dan­ ger of Its being again subjugated by the parent state has entirely passed away. This extreme test was in fact applied In the .case of Texas. The Congress to whom President Jackson referred the question as one "prob­ ably leading to war," and therefore a proper subject for a "previous understanding with that body by whom war can alone be de­ clared. and by whom all the provisions for sustaining its perils must be furnished," left the matter of the recognition of Texas to the discretion of the executive, providing mere­ ly for the sending of a diplomatic agent when the President should be satisfied that the republic of Texas had. become "an inde­ pendent state." It was so recognized by President Van Buren, who commissioned a charge d'af­ faires March 7, 1837, after Mexico had/tban- doued an attempt to reconquer the Texan territory, and when there was at the time no bona fide contest going ou between the Insurgent province and its former sovereign. Grant Favored Intervention. President Grant, in 1S75, after discussing the phases of the.contest as it then appeared, and its hopeless and apparent Indefinite pro­ longation, said: "In such event I am of opinion that other nations will be compelled to assume the re­ sponsibility which devolves upon them, nnd to seriously consider the only remaining measures possible, mediation and interven­ tion. Owing, perhaps, to the large expanse of water separating the Island from the peninsula, the contending parties appear to have within themselves no depository of comipon confidence, to suggest wisdom when passion and excitement have their sway, and assume the part of peacemaker. "In this view. In the earlier days of the contest, the good offices of the United States as a mediator were tendered la good faith, without any selfish purpose. In the interest of humanity nnd in sincere friendship for both parties, but were at the time declined by Spain with the declaration nevertheless that at a future time they would be Indispen­ sable. No Intimation has been received that in the opinion of Spain that time has been reached. And yet the strife continues with all its dread horrors and all Its injuries to the interest of the United States and of other nations. Each party seems quite capa­ ble of working great. Injury and damaae to the other, as well as to all the relations and Interests dependent on the existence of peace In the Island; but they seem incapable or reaching any adjustment and both have thus, far failed of achieving any success, < whereby one party shall possess and control the Island to the exclusion of the other. Under the circumstances, the agency of others, either by mediation or by Interven­ tion, seems to be the only alternative which must; sooner or later, be invoked for the termination of the strife." Quotes Grover Cleveland. In the last annual message of mv immedi­ ate predecessor during the pendiug struggle it was said: "When the inability of Spain to deal suc­ cessfully with the insurrection has become manifest, and It is demonstrated that her sovereignty Is extinct in Cuba for all pur­ poses of Its rightful existence, and when a hopeless struggle for its re-establishment has degenerated into a strife which means noth­ ing more than the useless sacrifice of human life and the utter destruction of the very subject matter of the conflict, a situation will be presented In which our obligations to the sovereignty of Spain will be super­ seded by higher obligations, which we can hardly hesitate to recognize and discharge." In my annual message to Congress De­ cember last, speaking to this question, I said:, "The near future will demonstrate whether the Indispensable condition of a righteous peace. Just alike to the Cubans and to Spain as well as equitable to all pur Interests so Intimately Involved In the welfare of Cuba Is likely to be attained. If not. the exig­ ency Of further and othffpaction by the United States will remalhWto be. taken. When that tithe comes that action will be determined in the line of Indisputable right and duty., It will be faced, without mis­ giving or hesitancy in the light of the obli­ gation this government owes to Itself, to the people who have confided to It the protection of their Interests and - honor,, and to hu­ manity. "Sure of the right, keeping free from nil offense ourselves, actuated only by upright and patriotic considerations, moved neither by passion nor selfishness, the government will continue Its watchful care over the rights and property of American citizens, and will abate none of its efforts to bring about by peaceful agencies a peace which shall be honorable and enduring. If it shall hereafter appear to be a duty imposed, by our obligations to ourselves, to civilization and humanity to intervene with force, It shall ,be without fault on our part, and only because the necessity for such action will bo so clear as to command the support and approval of the civilized world." Recognition Not Necessary. "It Is to be serlousJy considered whether the Cuban Insurrection possesses beyond dis­ pute the attributes of statehood which alone can demand the recognition of belligerency iu Its favor." The same requirement must certainly bo no less seriously considered when the graver Issue of recognizing Inde­ pendence Is In question, for no less positive test can be applied to the greater act than to the lesser, while on the other hand, the influence and consequences of the "struggle upon the Internal policy of the recognizing state. Which form important factors when the recognition of belligerency Is concerned, are secondary, If not rightly ellmlnable fac­ tors when the real question Is whether the community claiming recognition Is or Is not Independent beyond peradventure. Nor from the standpoint of expediency do I think it would be wise or prudent for this government to recognize at the present time the independence of the so-called Cuban re­ public. Such recognition Is not necessary in order to enable the United States to Inter­ vene and pacify the Island. To commit this country now to recognition of nny partic­ ular government In Cuba might subject us to embarrassing conditions of International obligation toward the organization so rec­ ognized. In case of Intervention our con­ duct would be subject to the approval or disapproval of such governments; we would be required to submit to its direction and to assume to It the mere relation of a friend­ ly ally. When It shall appear hereafter that there Is within the islnnd a government capa­ ble of performing the duties nnd discharging the functions of a separate nation, nnd hav­ ing as a matter of fact the proper forms and attributes of nationality, such government cau be promptly and readily recognized and the relations and Interests of the United States with such uatious adjusted. There remain the alternative forms of In­ tervention to end the war, either as nn Im­ partial neutral, by imposing a rational com­ promise between the contestants or as the active ally of the one party, or the other. As to the first. It Is not to be forgotten that during the last few mouths the relations of the United States have virtually been one of friendly Intervention In many ways, each not of Itself conclusive, but all tending to the exertion of a potential influence toward an ultimate pacific result, just and honorable to all Interests concerned. The spirit of all our acts hitherto has been an earnest, un­ selfish desire for peace and prosperity In Cuba, untarnished by differences between us nnd Spain nnd unstained by the blood of American citizens. r!'% ;c^Gfi»U||ds for Intervention. TheVf-Orcibie intervention of the United States as a neutral to stop the war. accord­ ing to the large dictates of humanitv and following many lihitorlcal precedents where neighboring states have interfered to check the hopeless sacrifice of life by Internecine conflicts beyond their borders, is justifiable on rational grounds. It Involves, however, hostile constraint upon both the parties to the contest, as well to enforce a truce as to guide the eventful settlement. The grounds for such Intervention may be briefly eummarlzed ns follows: 1. In the cause of humanity and to put an end to the barbarities, bloodshed, starva­ tion and horrible miseries now existing there, and which the parties to the conflict are either unable or unwilling to stop or mitigate. It Is no answer to say this Is all In another country, belonging to another nation, and Mierefore, none of our busi­ ness. It is ally our duty, for it Is right at our door. 2. We owe it to our citizens In Cuba to afford them that protection nnd Indemnity for life and property which no government there can or will afford, and to that end to terminate the conditions that deprive them of legal protection. 3. The right to Intervene may be Justified by the very serious Injury to the commerce, trade aud business of our people and by the wanton destruction of property and devasta­ tion of the Island. Fourth.-- And which Is of the utmost Im­ portance. The preseut condition of affairs In Cuba Is a constant menace to our people, and entails upon this government nn enor­ mous expense. With such a conflict, waged for years in nn island so near us, and with which our people have such trade and busi­ ness relations--when the lives and liberty of our citizens are In constant danger, and tholr property destroyed and themselves ruined--where our trndlng vessels are liable to seizure and are seized at our very door, by war ships of a foreign nation, the expedi­ tions of filibustering that we are powerless to prevent altogether, and the Irritating questions and entanglements thus arising-- all those, and others that I need not men­ tion, with the resulting strained relations, are n constant menace to our peace and com­ pel us to keep ou a semi-war footing with a nation with which we are at peace. Destruction of the Maine. These elements or danger nnd disorder al­ ready pointed out have been strikingly Illus­ trated by a tragic event which has deeply and justly moved the American people. I have already transmitted to Congress the report of the naval court of Inquiry on the destruction of the battle ship Maine In the harbor of Havana during the night of the 15th of February. The destruction of that noble vessel has filled the national heart with inexpressible horror. Two hundred and fifty- eight* brave sailors and marines and two officers of our navy, reposing in the fancied security of a friendly .harbor, have been hurled to death--grief and want brought to their homes and. sorrow to the nation. The nav.il court of inquiry which. It Is needless to say, commands the unqualified confidence of the government, was unani­ mous in its conclusion that the destruction of the Maine was caused by an exterior ex­ plosion, that of a submarine mine. It did not assume t'o place the responsibility. That re­ mains to be fixed. in any event the destruction of the Maine, by whatever exterior cause. 1h a patent and impressive proof of a state of things in Cuba that Is Intolerable. That condition is thus shown to be such that the Spanish government cannot assure safety aiid se­ curity to a vessel of the America HMUtory in the harbor of Havana ou a mission of^peace and rightfully there. Further referring in this connection to re­ cent diplomatic correspondence, a dispatch from our minister to Spain of the 20th ultimo contained the statement that the Spanish minister for foreign affairs nssiired hlin pos­ itively that Spain will do all that the highest honor and justice require in the matter of the Maine. The reply above referred to of the 31st ultimo also contained an expression of the read 'ness of Spain to hubmit to an arbitration of all the differences which can arise lp this matter, which Is subsequently explained bv tiie note of the Spanish minis­ ter at Washington of the 10th lust., as fol­ lows: "As to the question of fact which springs from the diversity of views between the re­ port of the American and Spanish boards. Spain proposes that the fact be ascertained bv nn impartial investigation by experts, u :hleh decision Spain nccepts In advance." To this I have made no reply. The long trial has proved that the object for which Spain has waged the war cannot be obtained. The tire of Insurrection may flame or may smolder with varying seasons, but It has not been and it is plain that It cannot be extinguished by presest methods. The only hope of relief and repose from a condltion which cannot longer be endured la the enforced^ pacification of Cuba. In th* name of humanity, In the name of civiliza­ tion, in behalf of endangered American In­ terests which give us the right and the duty to speak and to act, the war in Cuba must stop. Asks Authority to Use Force. Iu view of these facts and these considera­ tions. I ask Congress to authorize and em» power the President to take ̂ measures to se­ cure a full and final termination of hos­ tilities between the government of Spain and the people of Cuba, and to secure In the Island 'the establishment of a stable gov­ ernment capable of maintaining order and observing Its international obligations, In­ suring peace and tranquility and the security of its citizens as well as our own, and to use the military and naval forces of the United States as may be necessary for these purposes. And in the interest of humanity nnd to aid In preserving the lives of the starving people of the island, I recommend that the dlstrU button of food supplies be continued and that an appropriation be made out of the public treasury to supplement the charity of our citizens. • The issue is now with the Congress. It Is a solemn responsibility. I have exhausted every effort to relieve the intolerable condi­ tion of affairs which is at our doors. Pre­ pared to execute every obligation Imposed upon me by the constitution and the law, I await your action. A " Yesterday, and slfcce the preparation of the foregbiug message, official Information was received by me that the latest decree of the Queen Regent of Spain directs General Blanco, in order to prepare and "facilitate peace; to proclaim a suspension of hostilities, the duration and details of which have not yet been communicated to nie. This fact, with every other pertinent consideration, will, I am sure, have your just and careful, attention in the solemn deliberations upon which you are about to enter. If this meas­ ure attains a successful result, then our as­ pirations as a Christian, peace-loving people will be realized. If It falls It will be only another justification for our contemplated action. WILLIAM M'KINLEY. ILLINOIS STATE NEWS OCCURRENCES DURING PAST WEEK. THE COAL OUTPUT FOR THE YEAR. Statistics for 1897 Show Increased Tonnage and Value. From a preliminary statement compiled by E. W. Parker, statistician of the Unit­ ed States geological survey, it is shown that the total output of coal in the United States in 1S97 amounted approximately to 198,250,000 short tons, with an aggre­ gate value of $198,100,000, a fraction less than $1 per ton. Compared with 1S9G this shows an in­ crease in tonnage of 0,270,000 tons or about 3.3 per cent. The iucrease Ln the value of the product was only $1,700,000, a little less than .9 per cent. Iu twenty out of the twenty-nine States producing bituminous coal, the average price per ton in 1S97 was less than it was iu 1896, the general average for the United States being S3 cents in 1898 and 81.G in 1897. The decline of 1.4 cents on a total pro­ duct in 1897 of 146,000,000 tons repre­ sents a decrease of something over $2,000,- 000 from what would have been the value if the price had been the same as it was in 1896. Considering the industry by States, Pennsylvania holds her usual position. The combined product of anthracite and bituminous coals from the Keystone State amounted to 106,000,000 short tons, nearly 54 per cent of the total output, Pennsyl­ vania's percentage of the total bituminous output was 37 per cent, her output of soft coal being 54,000,000 tons. Illinois remains in second place, with a total of over 20,000,000 short ions. West Virginia comes third, having increased her output nearly 7,000,000 tons over 1896 and leading Ohio, which conies fourth, by nearly 1,250,000 tons. Alabama reached her maximum output of 5,893,770 tons and stands fifth. Iowa, sixth, lacked only 85,000 tons of reaching 5.000,000 tons. Maryland produced 4,442,000 tons and In- diaua a little over 4,000,000 toi COVETS PART OF CHINA. Sweeping Demand of France for Four Provinces. Although the French Government has made such sweeping demands for an ex­ tension of French influence in China, it is believed in Paris that the ministry does not expect that its request will be granted entire by au.v means. If France gets all he asks for, she will acquire the dominant power over a territory half the size of France herself,, and that territory is one in which England has already acquired large interests. The four provinces which France desires a lien upon comprise an area of 37S.000 square miles, and are sit­ uated directly south of the Yaug-tse-Ki- ang valley. The English already have an agreement with China, restraining her from alienating to another power anf part of this valley. The total population of the coveted territory is 53,000,000. In an Underground Asiatic City. The Russians have made a singular discovery in Central Asia. In Turke­ stan, on the right bank of the Amou Daria, is a chain of rocky hills near the Bokharan town of Karkl, aud a num­ ber of large eaves, which, upon exam­ ination, were found to lead to au un­ derground city, built apparently long before the Christian era. According to effigies, inscriptions and designs upon the gold aud silver money unearthed from among tlie ruius, the existence of the town dates back to some two cen­ turies before the birth of Christ. The underground Bokharan city is about two versts long, and is composed of an enormous labyrinth of corridors, streets aud squares, surrounded by houses and other buildings two or three stories high. The edifices contain all kinds of domestic utensils, pots, urns, vases, and so forth. In some of the streets falls of earth and rock have obstructed the passages, but generally the visitor can walk about freely without so much as loweriug his head. The high degree of civilization attained by tlie inhabitants of tlie city is shown by the fact that they built in several stories, by the symmetry of the streets and squares, and by the beauty of the baked clay and metal utensils, and of the orna­ ments and coins which have been found. It is supposed that centuries ago this city, so concealed in the bow­ els of the earth, provided an entire pop­ ulation with a refuge from the incur­ sions of nomadic savages aud robbers. Canton Man Lnds His Life in a Chi­ cago Hotel -- Presbyterian Minister Becomes a Boniface--A Chapter of Hunting Accidents. Suicidc by Gas. Charles II. Hesser of 231 East Chest­ nut street. Canton, was found dead in bed in bis room in the Saratoga Hotel in Chicago. The room was tilled with gas. It is believed Hesser committed suicide- through inability to obtain employment. A letter was found in his room from his wife iu Canton, in which she pleaded with him to cheer up and not be despondent, as he was sur£j.oJ«id work if he persevered. There was another letter from .T.- H. Trimble of Peoria which inclosed £25. At one time Hesser was in comfortable cir­ cumstances. Some years ago lie worked for the "Cable Lumber Company of Dav­ enport. Iowa, and later, was a partner in he firm of At lee & Hesser, lumber deal- rs, Canton. Butterine Law Voi 1. . Butterine men won a victory at Chicago in their fight on the law which declared it illegal to use" coloring matter in the sub­ stitute for butter. Judges Hanecy and Brent'ano held that the law was- uncon­ stitutional. Judge Chetlaiu gave, a dis­ senting opinion on this point,' holding that the Legislature did not go beyond its power when it made the bill a law. The decision of the judges was unanimous in sustaining the writ of habeas corpus and releasing all the men made defend­ ants by the proceedings instituted by the Illinois Dairymen's Union against \V. .1. Moxley, Gus Lindqnist, C. Hawe% and fifty-nine others. Unfortunate Huntinjr Trip. A hunting trip taken along the Calumet river by August Grampner and Jacob Heppenmier of Chicago culminated in the shooting of Grampner in the face by a sportsman and the blowing off of Heppen- uiier's right arm at the elbow by the acci­ dental discharge of his own shotgun. Grampner was alone in a boat when a charge of birdshot, which he declares was discharged at him maliciously by a hunt­ er living oil the banks of the stream, struck him ih the face. Heppenmicr's mishap was caused by his haste to reach the side of his wounded companion. Preacher Turns Publican. Rev. M. L. Johnson, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, has left Nashville and removed his family to Niles, Mich., where he has assumed the management of a large hotel. Mr. Johnson failed to no­ tify the board of church directors as to his departure and tendered no resignation. The Presbyterian is the most fashionable church of the city and tlie action of the pastor has caused a sensation among the members. Mr. Johnson before leaving re­ marked that there was more money in running hotels than there was in preach­ ing the gospel. iiniu for Union Men. Samuel (Sompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, addressed a hit'ge publje meeting at Rock Island. He showed a w nit en agreement he had secur­ ed from the officers of th? Armour Pack­ ing Company, in which they consent to the organization of their employes and say they will gladly meet the committees of such organization to hear whatever grievances may arise and do all in their power to adjust differences without strife. *r- Fire in a Big Factory. Fire that caused damage estimated at $50,000 threatened the entire destruction of the extensive plant of tlie Ileywood Bros. •& Wakefield Company's furniture and rattan goods factory at Chicago. But for the efforts of the firemen and S00 em­ ployes, who swarmed over the roofs of adjoining buildings with water buckets and extinguishers, the fhunes would not have been confined to the structure in which they started. Chicagoan Killed at Cedar Uapids. Michael ,T. Griffin, a veteran railroad man of Chicago, who had been night switchman in the Burlington, Cedar Rap­ ids and Northern yards at Cedar Rapids for the past seven months, fell under the wheels of a passenger coach there and, as a result of his injuries, died in a few minutes. Steel Barrels. Pittsburg papers announce that the manufacture of steel barrels will prob­ ably be started soon as a new indus­ try in that busy city. The Standard Oil Company wishes to get rid of wood­ en barrels and is trying to substitute steel barrels for them. The manufac­ ture of steel barrels has been attempt­ ed in England With success, and the Standard Oil officials have been watch­ ing the experiments there with inter­ est. The Englishmen have driven away all doubts of the successful construc­ tion of the ban*els, and accord.tig to prominent steel manufactures the starting of the industry in P^„csburg is not far off. The late Archbishop Tc.it had a large and kindly tolerance t'c* human stupid­ ity. A bore had wrfcten him a series of letters in regard to some question of church discipline, to which for some time the Arebt/ishop did not reply. Finally be turned them over to his sec­ retary and sai»l: "Tell the fellow he ia an ass, but ssy so. kindly" Brief State Happening*. A school building for the blind.children of Chicago has been ordered built. Gov. Tanner has issued a proclamation naming Friday, April 22, as Arbor day. The Tri-State Medical Association has ?losed its meeting at Dubuque. Iowa. It will gather for tlie next convention at Quincy. Wife Murd erer Chris Merry received disappointing news. Gov. Tanner refused to again interfere in his case and Merry will probably die on the gallows. Captain S. E. Blunt, commandant at the Rock Island arsenal, has been busy ship­ ping war supplies east the last few days. A night shift of men has been put on. thus, doubling, the capacity in most of the shops. Ella Ryan, 14 years old. and Ivatie Shannon, 15 years old, were struck by a Wabash engine and fatally injured at Stewart avenue and Twenty-fifth street, Chicago, after leaving the Bohemian church on Portland avenue. At Springfield, Judge Allen has issued an order to restrain the strikers or others from interfering in any manner with the operation of the mines of the Big Muddy Coal Company, at Cartersville, where there is a strike iu operation. A strike has existed at the Selz-Schwab shoe factory at Elgin for several weeks, owing to a ctit in prices of "certain work. No one is employed and the lockout is complete. A member of the State Board of Arbitration is trying to effect a recon­ ciliation between operatives and employ­ ers, but failed. Mayor Taylor, in the name of Decatur citizens, sent a draft for $225 to Presi­ dent Peeples of the Shawneetown Na­ tional Bank to be used for the benefit of flood sufferers. The women of Decatur sent by express big packages of food and clothing for the destitute. The wage dispute between the Western Stone Company and its Leniont quarry- men came to a sudden end. for a time at least, the other day, when President Mar­ tin B. Madden appeared in the drainage canal town and announced the closing for an indefinite period of the Leinont plant. Jeremiah and John Ryan, brothers, aged 68 aud 81 years respectively, died at their homes in Elgin on the same day. They were well-known advocates of tern- perauee. Chicago carpenters have won their strike and have returned to work, nearly all tlie prominent bosses having signed the scale tlie 5,000 union men demanded. The body of a man supposed to be Frank Nelson, a,shoemaker, was found on the E. W. Stonewood farm in the town of Benton. He lay in a dry ditch, with uotli- on but his shirt and undershirt. Oth­ er clothes were found a half mile away. It is thought that the map was crazy and died of exposure. At &iolin?, Annie Nesser, 3 years owl was burned to death while playing near at fire\ * C'. i Chicago carpenters,' plasterers, presrf feeders and electrical workers are out oni strike. At Hillsboro, W. J. Webb and iwife celebrated the sixtieth anniversary off their marriage. Representative Frank Murdock of Galesburg declines absolutely to be a cani didate for renomination. The plant of the Decatur Gaslight an& Coke Company has been solcf to the A. GFi Danforth syndicate of Peoria for $130,- (XX). Rev. A. M. Dandy, Decatur, formerly; of Jacksonville and Lincoln, has beenl. elected president ef Chaddock College, \ Quincy. At Aurora, the factory of the Aurora Flush Tank Company was damaged byj lire.to the extent of $5,000; loss fully cov­ ered by insurance. , i ' At Charleston, the late freeze did great damage to small fruits, Farmers and! gardeners say that strawberries, Cherries and peaches are killed. Mrs. Mary Ann McBride. colored, died at Mount CarmeL. She was born in In­ diana in 1796 and was 102 years of age* She had been sick for the past year. J. C. Hubinger. the Keokuk millionaire, was granted a thirty-year street railway franchise at Qnincjy Tfce ordinance takes in ten miles of streets not traveled by the" present street Railway. The Republican congressional Committee . of the twenty-second district has certi­ fied the name of George W. Smith to the- Secretary of State as the Republican can­ didate for re-election to Congress. . Fire destroyed the Great Eastern, £| World's Fair hotel on St, Lawrence ave- nue. Chicago. The structure was owned! by Benton Mauzy and. was 400 feet long and 125 feet wide. The loss is $30,000. ^h'e Oak Park residences were entered! and plundered by burglars while the oc­ cupants were attending the evangelisti© meetings held by Dwight L. Moody. Jew­ elry and silverware were stolen in each' place. - Rev. Dr. Charles J. Little, head of Gar­ rett Biblical Institute, has been appointed} by Bishop Merrill to fill the pulpit of the First Methodist Church at Evanstoh un-{ til the meeting of the Rock River con­ ference in October. Fred Stiff, a Chicago fireman, was fa-t tally injured while on his way to aid inf- fighting a fire. He endeavored to shift! his position on the wagon while the? horses were inoving at great speed, hSstj his hold and was dashed to the ground.! His skull was fractured. F. L. Baxter, secretary of the Manie-j tique (Mich.) branch of the Chicago Lum-f ber Qfmpany, treasurer of the Manistiquei Telephone Company and auditor of thej Manistique and Northwestern Railway^ shot and killed himself in his room at tiiei Tremont House, Chicago. The commissioners for the Peoria hos-r pital for the incurable insane accepted plans for the two main buildings and theyt will be sent to Springfield for Gov. Tan-| ner's approval. The plan contemplates! accommodations for 2.000 people. Thej principal structure will be three storiesf high. The style of the buildings is Eliza-1 bethau throughout. i Modern Woodmen in large numbers from northern Illinois and southern Wis-( ^consin met in Rock ford and decided to} hold the big annual picnic in Rockfordt June 2. Beloit was selected as the place? for next year's gathering. The officers elected were: President, E. H. Howell; secretary, A. N. Bart; treasurer, B. A. Oliver, all of Beloit. F. G. Connelly, treasurer and business' manager for Thomas W. Keene, the tra-t redian, is missing. Serious fears are en- tertained that he has been robbed andi wounded or murdered. He had about $2,-: 000 in his possession. In Connelly's room! at the Gault House, Chicago, his valise; and trunk were found. | In the traug waaf several hundred dollars. Both Mr. Keenet and Mr. Hanford have implicit faith i» Connelly's honesty. The question of the constitutionality ofT the senatorial reapportionment act passed! at the late special session of "the Legisla-t ture will doubtless be speedily passed) upon by the Supreme Court. Ex-Attorney; General Maurice T. Moloney aud his part­ ner, T. J. Seofield of Chicago, represent­ ing the Democrats, and ex-United State® Senator John M. Palmer and ex^Spv. J4 X W. Fifer, representing the Republicans, had a conference and entered into a stipu**-- ' lation to preseut the case to the court onr an agreed statement of facts in the cas%ofi William Mooney, who was nominated for; the office of State Senator by the Demo^ crats of the twenty-fifth senatorial dis-f trict, the county of Will. Upon the recommendation of the State board of pardons Gov. Tanner at Spring­ field declined to interfere with the execu­ tion of the sentence of Edward Shannon,- condemned to die at Wheaton. Shannont was convicted of murdering his wife on ai railroad train at Belvidere Sept. 18. 1896. His trial in the Dupage County Circuit Court was finished last October. He ist 70 years old. Before the murder his wife had obtained a divorce, and he declared! no other man should ever li^e with her4 She boarded a train leaving Belvidere and! he shot her. His attorneys asked the par­ don board to recommend the commutation of the sentence to life imprisonment on the ground that he was insane. Attorney General Akin has had the Covenant Mutual Benefit Association con­ troversy laid before him. Certain holders of beneficiary certificates issued prior to 1S90 had asked him to institute proceed­ ings to prevent the association from car­ rying into effect a new rate of assessment! higher than the rate that obtained when the certificates were issued.* The Attor­ ney General, in order that he might be fully informed in the matter, called for arguments pro and eon. It was insisted; on the one hand that the new rate assess­ ments changed the contract with the early' policy holders and were illegal, While it; was held on the other hand that the com­ pany might lawfully make the change. Gov. Tanner was surprised by.an in­ formal gathering at the executive mansion the other night, the occasion being the Governor's fifty-fourth birthday anniver­ sary. The party consisted of about sixty gentlemen, including the State officials. The receipts from all sources for the sis months ending March 31 at the office oC the Secretary of State in Springfield amount to $105,377. Of this amount $75,- 179 was in fees for foreign corporations, and the balance was distributed in fees from the filing of anti-trust affidavits, no- *" tariol commissions, justice of the peace commissions and miscellaneous fees. Alice Clarke, aged 4 years, daughter o® ex-Mayor C. C. Clarke- of Peoria, was burned to death at Memphis, Tenn. She „ was visiting with the family of Col. J. K. Speed, brother-in-law of Mrs. Clarke, and while p'wying before an open grate* her clothing caught fire, A horse itpon which 11-year-old Earl Curtis was riding iu Park Ridge plunged into a moving freight train oti the Chicago and Northwestern Railway, instantly killing its rider and injuring itself so that it had to be shot. The tlagmaa at the crossing dragged the boy from beneatt* the wheels, saving the body from mutila­ tion. The boy's ds uth was caused by • fractured skull.