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settling in the South through fear of the violence that might be offered to their women.

In connection with tramway strikes in New York some serious rioting occurred in July. An attempt was made in Brooklyn to blow up by dynamite a part of the Elevated Railroad, and on the 20th in the fights with the large police force employed in protecting the tram lines in New York City many people were injured.

After the conclusion of the war with Spain, the treaty was not ratified till February 6 by the United States Senate. The ratifications were exchanged and certified to on April 11. Through this delay Aguinaldo, the leader of the Filippino insurgents, was encouraged to begin a war, and threatened to continue it at all costs until independence was secured. An American commission had been appointed by President M'Kinley in January to visit the Philippines and report upon the future government of the islands. On April 4 the commission, consisting of the following members-John G. Schurman, Dean C. Worcester, Charles Denby, Admiral George Dewey and General E. S. Otis-issued a proclamation in eleven articles explaining that the object of the United States Government aimed to promote the well-being, prosperity and happiness of the people in the Philippines, and their elevation and advancement. Their civil rights were to be guaranteed and protected, and their religious freedom assured. On April 15 the Filippinos issued a reply, stating that as they had no part in the negotiation of the Treaty of Paris they had no assurance of the fulfilment of American promises, and that although they stood alone they would fight to the death. The war meanwhile had begun, and it was made manifest in June that the hopes of Aguinaldo and his adherents were kept alive by the anti-imperialists and by political movements in the United States. On July 27 Aguinaldo appealed to the Powers of Europe for recognition of Filippino independence, claiming that he had conquered the whole country except Manilla before the signing of the treaty with Spain, and therefore that Spain could not cede the islands to the United States. In August Aguinaldo proclaimed himself dictator at a session of the Filippino Congress, and in the same month the Congress declined the offer of an autonomous government from the United States, and asked for a conference. The conference was allowed, but proved to be only a ruse to gain time and wring some acknowledgment of the Filippino Government from the United States Government. On October 18 General Otis received a message from General Pio del Pilar offering the following terms: For $50,000 to refrain from attacking Manilla with his army; for $250,000 to surrender his army after a sham battle, both sides firing into the air; and for $500,000 to accomplish the overthrow of the insurrection and the capture of Aguinaldo, Paterno, and the other leaders. Many engagements took place between the United States forces and the rebels. General Henry Lawton led a victorious expedi

tion from Manilla on April 8, and another in May. During twenty days' absence his force marched 130 miles, had twenty-two fights, capturing twenty-two towns, destroying 300,000 bushels of rice, killing 100 rebels and wounding 800, and with the loss. of six men killed and fifty-one wounded. A severe battle was fought near San Jacinto on November 12, in which Major John A. Logan, jun., was killed. General McArthur's force entered Tarlac, the Filippino capital, the same day, and scattered the Government; and General Lawton's cavalry captured Aguinaldo's secretary and several of his officers with the Government records. Other victories were won by the United States force, with the co-operation of the Navy, before the end of the year. On December 19 General Lawton, the second in command under General Otis, was killed at the attack on San Mateo by a Filippino sharpshooter.

Admiral Dewey, after his arrival in New York (Sept. 26) from Manila, was welcomed with great enthusiasm, and a great naval parade took place (Sept. 30) in his honour. Enormous crowds of spectators lined the shores, and a very brilliant and impressive display was made by the warships and other vessels in the harbour and rivers. On the following day the demonstrations were continued with a grand military parade in New York, the admiral receiving the freedom of the city and a gold lovingcup valued at $5,000. In Washington another demonstration was made (Oct. 3), and a magnificent sword awarded by Congress was presented to the hero of Manila by Secretary Long, in the presence of the highest officers of the republic. President M'Kinley spoke in praise of his distinguished services, and Admiral Dewey replied in a brief speech, expressing his thanks for the honour extended to him.

By virtue of the agreement made between Great Britain, Germany and the United States in November, the United States became possessed of Tutuila and its subsidiary islands of the Samoan group. Tutuila has one of the finest harbours in the Pacific.

In a convention of the American Bankers' Association held at Cleveland, Ohio, early in September, a resolution was passed unanimously recommending Congress in the next session to establish more unequivocally and firmly a gold standard, by providing that the gold dollar should be the standard and measure of all values. It recommended also that all obligations of the Government and all paper money, including National Bank notes, should be redeemed in gold, and that legal tender notes, when paid into the Treasury, should not be reissued except for gold. This recommendation was heeded by Congress in December, and a gold currency bill was adopted.

Eleven States elected State and judicial officers and members of the State Legislatures on Monday, November 6. The Republicans retained their majority in New York. In Ohio the Republicans elected Mr. George K. Nash Governor by over

40,000 majority. In Kentucky Mr. Wm. Goebel, the Democratic candidate, was declared elected, although both parties claimed the victory. Massachusetts, Iowa, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and South Dakota were carried by the Republicans. The elections in Kansas were only for county officers and judges in several districts, and the returns showed Republican gains throughout the State.

The exceptionally cordial relations with Great Britain were maintained, although the Irish influence in the United States was as usual counteracting. There were Germans, too, in Chicago and elsewhere who thought that Germany ought to hold the first place in American affections. During the year there were many proofs given in the United States of the highest good feeling and the warmest friendship for the mother country. The hospital ship Maine was wholly equipped for service in the Transvaal war by American subscriptions and with an American staff of surgeons and nurses, and great sympathy for Great Britain, which was keen and almost universal, was manifested during the progress of the South African war in a variety of ways. The majority of Americans did not forget the attitude of Great Britain during the Spanish-American war.

Permission was granted in November to the Victorian Club of Boston to erect a monument in the Central Burying Ground in memory of the British troops who fell in the battle of Bunker's Hill.

Reciprocity treaties with France, with Portugal and with Great Britain relating to Jamaica, Bermuda and Trinidad were signed in July.

A modus vivendi was agreed upon with Great Britain with regard to the line of boundary between Alaska and Canada. A provisional line was to be drawn around the head of the Lynn Canal, leaving the United States in occupation of the ports of entry to the Yukon district which are situated on the shores of this inlet. It fixed the limits temporarily of the border in the three principal passes, at the summit of the White Pass, the summit of the Chilkoot and a point on the Chilkat route, about a mile and a half above the village of Klukwan, where the Klehini River runs into the Porcupine Creek. The dividing line to join these various points and to continue along the south bank of the Klehini to a point within ten marine leagues of the ocean, the Klehini River remaining within Canadian territory. Canada was not satisfied with this arrangement, and would not consent to its being permanent. Arbitration was likely to be appealed to eventually.

Vice-President Hobart died at Paterson, New Jersey, on November 21. By his death the succession to the Presidency, in case of the decease of President M'Kinley within the unexpired term of his election for four years, would devolve upon the Secretary of State, and the Vice-President's office remained vacant.

President M'Kinley's Cabinet at the opening of the fiftysixth Congress was as follows: John Hay of Ohio, Secretary of State; Lyman J. Gage of Illinois, Secretary of the Treasury; Elihu Root of New York, Secretary of War; John W. Griggs of New Jersey, Attorney-General; Charles E. Smith of Pennsylvania, Postmaster-General; John D. Long of Massachusetts, Secretary of the Navy; Ethan A. Hitchcock of Missouri, Secretary of the Interior; and James Wilson of Iowa, Secretary of Agriculture.

The first session of the fifty-sixth Congress began on December 4. David B. Henderson, Republican, of Iowa, was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. William P. Frye, Republican, of Maine, was President, pro tempore, of the Senate. Parties stood as follows: In the Senate: Republicans, 55; Democrats, 26; Populists, 5; Independent, 1; Vacancies, 3. In the House of Representatives: Republicans, 186; Democrats, 160; Populists, 7; Silver Party, 2; Vacancies, 2.

President M'Kinley's annual message was delivered to both Houses on December 5. It was a very long document. It described the condition of the country as being exceptionally prosperous, especially with regard to commerce with other nations. Legislation was recommended in order to maintain. parity in the value of gold and silver coin, and to support the gold standard. He urged the necessity of a canal uniting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He reviewed the action of the Joint High Commission created by the United States Government and that of Great Britain for the adjustment of all unsettled questions between the United States and Canada, and said that it had made much progress with the settlement of many of these questions when it became apparent that an irreconcilable difference of views was entertained respecting the delimitation of the Alaskan boundary. The American commissioners proposed that the boundary question should be laid aside and the remaining questions of difference proceeded with. The British commissioners, however, declined, and an adjournment was taken till the boundary question should be adjusted by the two Governments. A modus vivendi for the provisional demarcation of the region about the head of the Lynn Canal had now been agreed upon, and it was hoped that the negotiations would end in the delimitation of a permanent boundary. Apart from these questions, a most friendly disposition and ready agreement had marked the discussion of the numerous matters arising in the vast intercourse of the United States with Great Britain. The Government had maintained an attitude of neutrality in the unfortunate contest between Great Britain and the Boer States of South Africa. The President dwelt on the necessity for a cable to Manila, described the settlement arrived at with regard to Samoa as satisfactory, reiterated that after the full establishment of peace in Cuba the island would be held by the United States only in trust for the inhabitants,

and described the award of the Anglo-Venezuelan Arbitration Tribunal at Paris as apparently equally satisfactory to both parties. As to the Philippines, the President said the islands could be abandoned, and opposed the suggestion that the United States should give the islands independence while retaining a protectorate. He did not now recommend any final form of government, but said the truest kindness to the insurgents would be the swift and effective defeat of their leader.

A resolution was adopted, by 302 votes to 30, in the House of Representatives for the appointment of a special committee to examine the case of Mr. Brigham Roberts, whose admission as a member of the House from Utah was objected to on the ground of his being a polygamist.

On December 6 Congress received the annual report of the Secretary of the Treasury, in which it was stated that the revenue for the year ended June 30 was $610,982,094 and the expenditure $700,093,564, showing a deficiency of $89,111,559.

For the current fiscal year the surplus of $40,000,000 was expected. The Secretary's report stated that the commerce of the year had been marked by three especially notable characteristics (1) A continuation of the phenomenal exports of last year; (2) a moderate increase in importations; and (3) the combined imports and exports formed the largest total ever shown by a single year in the history of the foreign commerce of the United States.

"The total imports of merchandise during the year were $679,148,489, as compared with $616,049,654 in the fiscal year 1898, and $764,730,412 in the fiscal year 1897, being less than in any fiscal year since 1887, with the single exception of 1894, when importations were being held back to obtain advantage of an expected reduction in tariff, and 1898, when they were abnormally low because of excessive importations in the preceding year in anticipation of an increased tariff. The exportations of 1899 were $1,227,023,302, as against $1,231,482,330 in the fiscal year 1898, and $1,050,993,556 in 1897, being the fourth year in our history in which the exports exceeded a billion dollars, and falling but $4,459,028 below those of the phenomenal year 1898, when the supply of breadstuffs abroad was unusually short, and that of the United States unusually large. The total of our foreign commerce for the fiscal year 1899 thus stands at $1,924,171,791, or $66,491,181 greater than in any preceding

year.

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Foreign commerce has much more than doubled since 1870, the total of the imports and exports combined being in 1870 but $828,730,176.

"The annual report of the Commissioner-General of Immigration shows that during the fiscal year 1899 there arrived at the ports of the United States and Canada 311,715 immigrants, of whom 297,349 were from Europe, 8,972 from Asia, 51 from Africa, and 5,343 from all other sources, making an increase

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